Legislative Action Assignment

Q: How creative should the presentations be? Are we required to have links to video clips?

A: No, video clips are by no means required (and, if included, shouldn’t take more than 2-3 minutes), but keep in mind that one component of the final presentation grade is creativity (see grading rubric below). However, while creativity is always encouraged, it is not a substitute for substance. The most important thing is quality information. Thorough, well-researched presentations that lack “extras” like video clips will earn a higher grade than presentations that rely on style alone and contain little tangible research.

Q: How many slides do we need?

A: This can vary, depending on the amount of information on the slides and the information in the accompanying “script” or narrative you prepare. Generally, a rule of thumb tends to be 1-2 minutes of “speaking” per slide, if you were to deliver the presentation in person. As individual presentations, I might anticipate somewhere between 12-15 slides. Again, however, there are no hard and fast rules, and the best approach is to prepare a well-researched set of slides and script/narrative.

Q: Should our slides include citations to sources?

A: Yes! This is what you prepared for with your annotated outline/reference list assignment. You should use short citation format on each slide, indicating the source(s) from which the information on each slide is drawn. Your final reference list will be an attachment you upload (or a final slide in your presentation), so I can cross-reference the short citations in your slides with your reference list.

TIPS

1. If I had to sum up what I am looking for in your presentations in one phrase, it would be demonstrated expertise. The purpose of these presentations is for you to demonstrate that you have developed expertise on your policy, and that you can knowledgeably (and concisely!) educate an audience about the important issues surrounding your policy. Failure to demonstrate expertise (for example, by not identifying a firm thesis statement describing your “expert conclusion” about your policy) will result in point loss.

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