Description
Unit 4 Formative #3: Seminar topic and research
Students will use this formative as a rough draft of their summative presentation. Students will develop a unique topic statement, thesis, and research information to present to the class. This will be developed individually in class with the help of Mr. Russell. No duplicates.
Topic statement
The topic statement of your seminar should have to do with something taught or talked about in class this year. It must link back to one of the major world religions examined in this course. Your topic will take the form of a question such as:
What are the differences between the Muslim and Christian perspectives of Jesus Christ?
Or
Can Rastafarianism be considered a new branch of Christianity?
Or
Can the literary beat movement of the 1950 be classified as a legitimate “school” of Buddhism?
Thesis
A thesis is a statement that your presentation will attempt to prove. It is your starting point for your research and your presentation. Your thesis will seek to answer your topic question. Examples:
The Muslim and Christian perspectives of Jesus are very different insofar as the identity and character of Jesus is contrasted in the New Testament and the Koran.
Or
Rastafarianism cannot be considered a new branch of Christianity and is in fact it own religion based on folk and indigenous practices as well as elements of recent world history.
Or
Despite its licentious lifestyle, the beat moment can be considered a legitimate school of Buddhism due to its direct connection to the Rinzai school of Zen through dharma linage.
Research
Your next step is to research your topic to prove your thesis statement. Come up with three or four “proofs” that your thesis is valid. Note, it may be necessary to change your thesis at this point, especially if your thesis is obviously wrong. This is OK and expected!
Submissions
Students will submit their topic statement, Thesis, and research documents to managebac. This includes weblinks and rough drafts of your work.
Students will produce and deliver a seminar presentation on a topic of their choice regarding World Religions. This project will be completed in groups of two. The presentation will be given either live or via video.
Topics and research for this presentation will be developed during Formative #3
Presentations will confirm to the following criteria:
– Must be between 30 minutes (min) and 40 minutes (max) long.
– Clearly state your Topic and Thesis
– Successfully prove your thesis
– Create a PowerPoint presentation containing relevant information to be expanded on by the presenter (I.E – Don’t just read the PowerPoint)
– Contain visual elements (Pictures, graphs, charts, etc…)
