Today I met with each of you individually to discuss your poster proposals, your upcoming poster presentation, and your plans for your final writing project. At your conference I provided you with a grade update. Your grade is made up of the following points possible so far: attendance and book checks = 120 points, blog posts = 200 points, reading quizzes = 80 points (this includes your two dropped or extra credit quizzes), midterm exam = 200 points, and poster proposal = 50 points. The total points possible so far = 650 points. You have 20 attendance points (these will be factored in as extra credit), your 200 point final writing project, and your 150 point poster presentation left to get to our course total of 1000 points. Your grade update is in the lower left hand corner of your poster proposal grading rubric, and it includes your points total, percentage, and letter grade; I also noted any absences in orange. Feel free to calculate your possible final grade based upon the grading scale in the syllabus and the student grade worksheet posted on the left hand side of the blog. If you have questions about your grade, please feel free to contact me.
Research and Poster Presentations
During your individual conference I discussed your poster proposal with you in detail. Be sure to follow my recommendations for changes as you work on your final poster presentation. Try to make your research question(s) as specific as possible. Remember: this should not be a yes or no question or a question you can answer in one word. If I suggested you expand and clarify your thesis/argument/conclusion, go back and add details. Your conclusion/thesis/argument should be the answer to your research question and should show how you are adding to the conversation and using the scholarship you have read. It should be around three sentences of your own words. If I suggested you do more research, use the MLA International Bibliography and Project Muse; you can access that website on the left hand side of the blog under "Resources." You poster MUST include a title, your research question(s), and your thesis/conclusion/argument. I also suggest you consider including quotes from your secondary sources (critical articles), a quote or image from your primary source, and several images. Your poster should be visually appealing and not include too much text. Please spend some time reviewing the poster presentation assignment guidelines and grading rubric document; you can access that document on the left hand side of the blog under "Course Documents." I will be grading your final poster on overall content (research question, research, analysis of your chosen primary text, and your argument/thesis/conclusion), structure (layout and design of your poster), and clarity. Also, be sure to review the questions your peers might ask you after you present; you can access that document on the left hand side of the blog in the document "Poster Prez: Brief Reports."
Additional Assistance
I would also be happy to give you some feedback over email or in an additional conference if you have a quick question about your research question, a source, your thesis, or your poster layout. Do not wait until the last minute on Friday to ask questions!
Course Evaluations
Please take a few minutes to complete your course evaluation sometime in the next week or so. I highly value your feedback and use evaluations to improve my teaching. These evaluations are anonymous, and I will not see these until after grades are posted. You will have the opportunity to complete your evaluation at the end of class next week; you may bring your own laptop or use one of the computers in our lab.
Homework
Your completed poster is due to me via email (krystal.j.howard@wmich.edu) by Friday, April 15 at midnight. Please send a single slide, PowerPoint document as an attachment. Title your document with your first and last name, the course number, and the word "poster": JaneSmith3830Poster. If you do not turn your poster in by this time and labeled in this way, you will not be able to present next week. Remember: this project is worth 20% of your final grade.
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