Oral Presentation Requirements

• You will be assigned a date on which to present. Your presentation should be about 10 minutes in duration, 15 minutes maximum.  Expect to lead a question and answer session afterwards. 
  
• The topic should be focused. "Email in Today's World" is too broad and would not be acceptable.  "Is Spam causing a decline in email usage?" would be fine as it presents a potential controversy about a clearly defined topic.  "Software Risks" is too vague.  "Aircraft disasters and Fly-by-Wire" is good.
• Select a topic about which you can present a controversy.  "How software patents work" is too bland.  "Computer Scientist seeks overturn of trivial patents" might be more controversial.  The topic must be about computer technology; other technologies such as genetic manipulation or solar energy are not acceptable.  To identify a suitable topic a good place to start is the textbook.
• The topic must be current.  The talk should center around an event or issue that occurred within the last 3 months.  For example, you can't talk about how flaws in electronic voting systems cast doubt on the legitimacy of the election of G. Bush in 2000.  If there is some new computer voting technology that appeared within the last 3 months, it's okay to refer to the 2000 election fiasco as a motivating factor.
  
• It's okay to explain your personal interest in this topic and to share your bias or opinion, but your talk must clarify the nature of the controversy and present both sides of the issue.  Discuss both the benefits and the disadvantages of technology as it relates to your issue.
• An important point you must include is an explanation of how the technology works. You can't get full credit unless you explain how the technology works and the role it plays in this issue.  For example, in a lecture about Electronic Voting, you would explain how electronic voting machines operate and explain how the electronic voting process differs from using paper ballots.
• Prepare a list of all the references you use.  You should investigate the topic using a variety of traditional library resources as well as online resources.  Do not simply summarize a chapter from the textbook.
• You may not choose a topic presented by another student. Inform the instructor in advance of your topic choice.  Send an email three days prior to the class meeting you are scheduled to present containing a description of your topic and your reference list. (If you are scheduled to talk Wednesday, the instructor must receive your email before Monday.)
• It is suggested that you create a few overhead transparencies of the key points in your talk to show to the class.  Create an electronic version of your slides in Portable Document Format (PDF). Include your reference list. Post the PDF of your talk on the class "Discussion Board" on Blackboard prior to your presentation.  Give the discussion thread the name of your talk, e.g., "U.S. fails to ratify E-Waste export limits".
  
• Create two multiple choice exam questions (and the solutions) about your presentation. (You do not need to present the questions, just include them in your electronic submission).
• Study the evaluation criteria for presentations that the instructor will use to grade your talk.