IB Oral Presentation:  Six Easy Steps to Success!

 

This presentation will count 15% toward your final IB score in English.  It is based on a work or works studied in Part 4 of your syllabus.

  • Step 1:  Choose a work from Part 4 of the syllabus.  For us, that means:
    • Conrad
    • Morrison
    • Kincaid
    • Szymborska

 

  • Step 2:  Choose a topic that reflects your personal interests.  Topics may be based on any aspect of any of the work(s) studied, including:
    • cultural setting of the work or related issues
    • thematic focus
    • characterization
    • techniques and style
      • NOTE:  Just about any idea works for the oral presentation, as long as it is based on one of the four books listed above.  If you have any questions come and ask!
  • Step 3:  Choose a presentation format that suits the work you like best and the topic you have chosen.  Just like in the second world lit paper, you have the choice of either an expository presentation (that explains  and analyzes) or a more creative presentation.
    • If you feel “safer” working with an expository presentation, here are some thoughts.  You could . . . .
      • introduce a writer or a work, as if your audience were not familiar with your writer or your work.
      • explain a particular aspect of an author’s work
      • examine a particular interpretation of a work
      • discuss the setting of a particular writer’s work against another body of material, such as details on social background or political views
        • Be careful, though to stay focused on the literature and not to turn this into a socio-political discussion that goes too far away from the text
      • comment on the use of a particular image, idea, or symbol in a text
      • compare two passages, two characters, two works, two somethings
      • comment on an extract from one of the works (this would be a very in-depth analysis of one part of the work)
        • This is a neat idea – select a few paragraphs, a chapter, a particular scene and analyze this one scene in terms of the whole work.  Provide a copy of the passage you are using, though.
    • If you feel creative, here are some thoughts.  You could . . .
      • perform a monologue by a character at some important point in the work
      • pretend you are a character in later life and reminisce back to the work;
      • pretend you are the author of the work and that you are reacting to a particular interpretation of elements of his work in a given context
  • Step 4:  Whatever you choose, you must remember that the FOCUS of the presentation is critical.  Whatever the topic and type of presentation chosen, candidates will be expected to show:
    • knowledge and understanding of the work
    • thorough appreciation of the aspect discussed
    • knowledge and use of an appropriate linguistic register
    • consideration of the effects of the author’s choices and how they affect the work
  • Step 5:  The structure of your presentation will obviously vary depending on what you choose to do.
    • Some will follow a very logical sequence (like an expository comparison), but a role play or creative idea might not be suited to that same kind of rigid structure.
    • Whatever the activity chosen, all presentations must have a coherent structure.
    • Remember:  If you decide to use a powerpoint presentation, it should add to, rather than replace, your presentation.  Maps, pictures, diagrams, quotations, or anything else that will add to your presentation would be great.  Remember to save your presentation as a 2007 document so that it will be compatible with my system.
  • Step 6:  Rehearse your presentation.  You will do your presentation without any interruption or assistance.  Your presentation should be 7 to 10 minutes long.  Any time that you don’t spend actually presenting during your ten minute time may be used for questions after your presentation is finished.
    • When you are done, the class as whole or the teacher may choose to discuss your topic with the class “to probe further into [your] knowledge and understanding of the work(s) or topic.

TIPS from a kid on ibscrewed:

1) don’t do it the night before.
2) engage the audience. try to memorize your speech, give eye contact, speak loudly, use voice inflection— all those presentation skills.
3) make sure you hit time.
4) make sure your thesis is clear and concise.
5) if you use a PPT, do not make blocks of text or become too dependent on it.
6) generally, being able to “freestyle” instead of depending on your notes shows that you understand the content and know how to express it.
7) the iop can be very similar to an essay so make sure that throughout your presentation you keep referring back to your thesis. since this is an oral presentation, a little repetition helps the audience to remember the main core of your presentation.