IN YOUR OWN VOICE

In this section you will give an oral presentation about your ow n family.

GIVING ORAL PRESENTATIONS

In academic courses you will sometimes be called on to

give oral presentations in class. Here are some

guidelines to keep in mind:

• Plan what you want to say, but do not write it out and memorize it. Instead, make notes on index cards.

• Organize your notes carefully so that you present your ideas in a logical order.

• Using your notes, practice giving your presentation in front of a mirror or with a friend.

• When you give your presentation in class, speak slowly and clearly, and look at your audience.

• Consider using a visual aid, such as a chart, a map, photographs, or drawings, to help bring your presentation alive.

1 Choose one of the following topics about your family that you think will be of interest to your classmates.

1 A family member who is – or was – an important influence on you

2 An important lesson that you learned from someone in your family

3 An object that has special meaning for your family (for example: a house, a photograph, or a piece of jewelry)

4 A topic of your own

Plan your presentation carefully and prepare to speak for three to four minutes. Include the following information in your talk:

• the name(s) of the family member(s) you arc speaking about

• one or two specific examples that illustrate the topic (such as an event in which something a family member did influenced you or the reason an object is important to your family)

3 Try to include a visual aid in your presentation. You might want to show an object, a photograph, or a map. If you do not have any of these items, consider making a poster that shows vour family tree. Or you could make a drawing to illustrate vour topic.

4 First, practice your presentation with a partner. Then give your presentation in front of the class. Be prepared to answer questions from your partner and your classmates.

Q ACADEMIC LISTENING AND NOTE TAKING: Family Lessons

In this section you will hear and take notes on a two-part lecture given by Ms. Beth Handman, an educational consultant. The title of the lecture is Family Lessons. Ms. Handman will explain how children leam lessons within a family, no matter what type of family they come from.

BEFORE THE LECTURE

PERSONALIZING THE TOPIC

1 Work with a partner. Read the following eight examples of bad behavior in children listed below. Discuss the best and worst ways for parents to react to each of these behaviors. The "best way" means a way that is likely to teach good behavior to the child. The “worst way” is a way that will probably not be successful in teaching good behavior. Make brief notes about your ideas.

1 Sarah, a 2-year old, keeps throwing her food on the floor and cries until her parents pick it up.

Best way to react:___________________________________________________

Worst way to react:__________________________________________________

2 David, a 5-year old, is angry and frustrated. He hits his baby sister.

Best way to react:___________________________________________________

Worst way to react:__________________________________________________

3 Ronnie, a 6-year old, runs up and down the aisles when his parents take him to the supermarket and screams when they tell him to stop.

Best way to react:___________________________________________________

Worst way to react:__________________________________________________

4 Sheila, an 11-year old, is caught copying a classmate’s test.

Best way to react:_____________

Worst way to react:__________________________________________________ –

5 Stephen, a 12-vear old, takes money from his father’s wallet.

Best way to react:___________________________________________________

Worst way to react:__________________________________________________

6 Tim, a 13-year-old, begins to smoke cigarettes.

Best way to react:___________________________________________________

Worst way to react:__________________________________________________

7 Erica, a 15-year old, refuses to go to bed until 2 a. m.

Best way to react:___________________________________________________

Worst way to react:__________________________________________________

8 Freddie, a 17-year old, comes home really late and won’t explain to his parents where he has been.

Best way to react:________________________________________________

Worst way to react:_______________________________________________

2 Using your notes, compare your answers with other classmates.