Don't Call Us Out of Name: The Untold Lives of Women and Girls in Poor America. by Lisa Dodson. 1999 Boston: Beacon Press

Keeping Women and Children Last. by Ruth Sidel. 1998 New York: Penguin

Making Ends Meet: How Single Mothers Survive Welfare and Low Wage Work. by Kathryn Edin & Laura Lein. 1997 New York: Russell Sage

Out of Sight Out of Mind: Homeless Children and Families in Small-Town America. by Yvonne M. Vissing. 1996. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky

Ordinary Resuurections: Children in the Years of Hope. by Jonathan Kozol. 2000. New York: Crown Publishers

For your group presentation you will examine poverty and some of the ways in which gender shapes the experience of being poor. You will also analyze how the readings we have done throughout the semester can help provide knowledge that enables you to better understand the issues raised by that particular book.

THE GOALS OF THIS ASSIGNMENT ARE:

1) Read the book of interest that you selected from the list of optional books on a specific topic relating to women and poverty;
2) Meet with your presentation group to discuss the book and to decide how you will best address the issues raised in this book;
3) Critically analyze a topic that is of particular interest to you;
4) Assess current research related to this topic;
5) Formulate and articulate your understanding of a specific issue;
6) Devise an interesting and informative way to present your findings and conclusions with your colleagues.

You will be graded by me and by your classmates on how well you meet these goals. It is expected that you will work on this project throughout the semester. You may make an appointment with me to discuss your work at any time. You must work cooperatively with your group to plan this presentation. Be prepared!

Consult the librarian if you need help finding relevant academic journals that address your issue of study. There are journals available in every imaginable field.

ORAL PRESENTATION PREPARATION:

1. Read your selected book.
2. When you have completed reading your book meet with your group to discuss it.
3. Decide what aspect of the book each of you will research.
4. Research your particular topic. Do your own research, but meet periodically with your group to make sure the parts make a coherent whole.
5. Decide how to present the information on the aspect of poverty you have studied.

a. Plan your presentation in the way that will be comfortable for every member of your group and informative for the class.
b. Note cards are strongly recommended.
c. Be sure to state a clear hypothesis, follow an outline, and provide a conclusion.
6. For your presentation you may use visual aids, exercises, handouts, discussion questions, etc.
7. You must work with your group to put together a panel that indicates a group effort.
Be creative. For example, you may decide to do presentations in the form of a talk show, news show, or info-mercial.
8. You have something important to teach; do it in a way that will be interesting and enlightening.
9. Be prepared to answer questions from your audience.

You will be graded on your research, presentation skills, organization of material, cooperative group work and ability to respond to questions. The time for your group presentation (including questions and answers) should be approximately 45 minutes.

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