Symbolic Systems 201

Digital Technology, Society, and Democracy

Autumn Quarter 2021-2022

Todd Davies

Guidelines for Student Presentations

During Week 10 and Finals Week, each student will present a book, approved by the instructor, relating to the course themes. A list of suggested books is on the course website, although you may propose a book not on the list, or one from a previous course syllabus. Student presentations, based on each student's chosen book, will be given 25 minutes each (including discussion). Book assignments and presentation times will be finalized in class in Week 9. 

1. Preparing for class presentation sessions: Each student presenter is expected to distribute to the class electronically an excerpt (15 pages of less) from the book they are going to present. Everyone should read all these excerpts before class.
   
2. Comments for student presentation sessions: To assure that each presenter has an interactive experience with other students in the class, each student will be assigned a book on which to post a blog comment by 6pm prior to the class session. These assignments will be made during class in Week 7.
   
3. One week before your presentation: Send to the email list a pdf file of a 15 pages or less excerpt of your reading for everyone one week before your presentation. This can be generated through scanning if you do not have access to a digital copy of the entire book. Scanning services are available at Lathrop Library.
4. For your presentation: 

• Prepare a handout summarizing the main points, and including any quotes, diagrams, or other material that you might want to refer to, since the rest of us will not have the book or full readings in front of us. The handout should be a visual aid for your presentation. Bring 13 copies of the handout to class (including one for yourself).

• Spend about 7 minutes summarizing the arguments and issues that are discussed in the book or reading set you are presenting, including those parts that were not read by the whole class.

• Say a bit about how your chosen excerpt (read by the whole class) fits into and compares with the rest of what you have read (1-2 minutes).
  

• Have the student assigned to comment on your book read their comment, and then respond to the comment. Spend the remainder of your time engaging with the class in discussion about the book you have presentation and the student comment on it.