[the] ENGLISH-BLOG [.com]

. . . On the day of your presentation, you should hand me a finished, stapled, clean copy of the final version of your paper (the version you’ve corrected AFTER our peer review) in MLA format. Don't forget to prepare a presentation handout for the class (roughly 23 copies including one for me).

Presenters who have their papers/presentations completed closer to the beginning of the mock-conference schedule will have the advantage of getting some feedback from me before the end of the semester (thus improving your grade if you are asked to make some corrections).

Those done closer to the end of the semester will have the advantage of having more time to “perfect” the paper (thus improving your grade if you make a second proof-reading visit to the writing center, for example). Therefore, there are advantages for you whenever you have been assigned to present.

Below are the panels presenting from November 14th to December 14th.

Please note YOUR time according to your course section number:
[8:00 to 9:30 for Section 23, and 9:45 to 11:15 for Section 27, except for Exam Schedule on 12/12 and 12/14].

ANNOUNCEMENT! Our Panels Need Moderators!

How are your coursework points coming along? Not at 100%? For a short time only, I am offering a chance for extra-credit, in other words, a chance to make up some missing points. Each section has 8 panels over 8 days. That means I will need 8 moderators for each section. On a first come, first-serve basis, those who volunteer to moderate the panels will receive extra credit. If you are interested, e-mail me ASAP with at least 3 dates you can manage (I will only assign you one). The first eight people (per section) will get the slots. Volunteer by leaving a comment below. Leave your name and which three days you are willing to volunteer for.

What does a moderator do, you ask? Why, not too much at all! All a moderator really has to do is sit at the table (or, set of four desks) with the rest of the panel, on the day you are assigned. The moderator first "introduces" the name of the panel and then the name of each speaker (in their turn) and the title of their presentation. The moderator also carefully watches the clock and gives the speaker "the critical signal" when his or her time is getting close to the 20 minute limit (about five minutes). At the end of of the panel presentations, the moderator fields the questions from the audience. In other words, you will note who had their hand raised first, and so on, so that everyone gets to ask their question but in order. If no one asks a question, you will ask the first question (write one down as you listen to the presentations).

FYI, I have included a link here that give some more “advice” on moderation duty by Paul Kedrovsky called “10 Rules for being a great moderator”

http://paul.kedrosky.com/archives/2006/06/04/10_rules_for_be.html

See, it's not so hard!

*NOTE: Looks like all the moderator spots have been flled as of now (11/1/06 3:00pm). Thanks to all who've volunteered!
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The Hobbs ENGL 202 Research Writing Mock-Conference (November 14 - December 12, 2006)

Tuesday 11/14

[Section 23] 8:00am to 9:30am

PANEL
The “Group” Dynamic: Percussionists, SEALS, and Linguists

MODERATOR: Matt Gibson

PRESENTERS
Vince Wallace – “The PAS International Convention: Why it Works”
Ashley Childress – “SEALS: Most Elite Force”
Amber Bennett – “The Linguistic Value of William Shakespeare”

[Section 27] 9:45am to 11:15am

PANEL
“The” Economy with a Capital E: Its Global Effects

MODERATOR: Whitney Weaver

PRESENTERS
Heather Heck – “The Great Depression in Indiana, PA”
Chris Di Giacomo – “Oil Prices: How Low Can They Go?”
Adam Vassallo – “HIV/AIDS: The Destruction of the African Economy”

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Thursday 11/16

[Section 23] 8:00am to 9:30am

PANEL
The Consumer Society: Sexiness, Digital Rights, and the Anti-Corporate Movement

MODERATOR: Amber Bennett

PRESENTERS
Bethany Peck – “The Secret Behind the Success of Victoria’s Secret”
Matt Killian – “DRM: When’s Enough Enough?”
Sam Hakes – “The Beat of the World: Corporations Overseas”

[Section 27] 9:45am to 11:15am

PANEL
The Influential Media: Distorting our Perceptions

MODERATOR: Britain Metz

PRESENTERS
Katie Morgan – “Advertising: The Effects of Product Placement”
Katie Loadman –“Image and the Media: An Obsession with Beauty”
Michael Allen – “The Punk Rock Movement: Is It Really Dead?”

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Tuesday 11/21

[Section 23] 8:00am to 9:30am

PANEL
Contemporary Health Issues: HPV and Substance Abuse

MODERATOR: Jennifer Terek

PRESENTERS
Sophia Wickham – “HPV: The Deadly Virus”
Amber Kolokoski – “Heroin Addiction”

[Section 27] 9:45am to 11:15am

PANEL
The Fragile Self-Image: Body Manipulation and Mutilation

MODERATOR: Mike Allen

PRESENTERS
Lauren Srdoch – “Women’s Fashions: Throughout the Decades”
Jackie DePietro – “Body Dysmorphic Disorder: A Man-made Mental Disease?”
Michelle Wamboldt – “Self-Mutilation in the United States: A Secret Society of Cutting”

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Thursday 11/23 – Thanksgiving Recess – No Class Meeting
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Tuesday 11/28

[Section 23] 8:00am to 9:30am

PANEL
Progress in Mental Healthcare: Music Therapy, Autism, and Sports Psychology

MODERATOR: Valerie Watt

PRESENTERS
Andrea Newman – “Life Improvements through Music Therapy for Children with Autism”
Angie Fenush – “Making Headway in Sport Psychology”

[Section 27] 9:45am to 11:15am

PANEL
Eating Disorders in Our Society: Children and the Media

MODERATOR: Rich Lansberry

PRESENTERS
Whitney Weaver “Eating Disorders and the Media: Starving for Looks”
Miki Bigley – “Biggie-Sized Kids in the U.S.”
Brian Binotto – “Pittsburgh Schools, [Parents], and Childhood Obesity”

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Thursday 11/30

[Section 23] 8:00am to 9:30am

PANEL
Children and the Healthcare Industry: Pediatric Nursing and Antipsychotic “Meds”

MODERATOR: Carrie Berkey

PRESENTERS
Alysha Goodlin – “Pediatric Nursing: A Family Affair”
Dawn Longnecker – “The Effects of Antipsychotic Drugs and Children”

[Section 27] 9:45am to 11:15am

PANEL
Contemporary Issues in Illegal Substance Abuse: High School Testing and Professional Sports

MODERATOR: Chris Di Giacomo

PRESENTERS
Britain Metz – “ ‘I’m on Drugs!’: Positive and Negative Effects of Substance Abuse”
Rich Lansberry – “Steroids in the Big Leagues: A Curve Ball for Young Athletes”
Cody Meenan – “High School Drug Testing: A Necessary Evil”

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Tuesday 12/05

[Section 23] 8:00am to 9:30am

PANEL
Local Issues and Our Land: Landfills and the Fauna Population

MODERATOR: Sam Hakes

PRESENTERS
Ashley Orlando – “Garbage: Is it in You?
Matt Gibson – “The Elusive Whitetail Deer: Are They Really Hiding?”

[Section 27] 9:45am to 11:15am

PANEL
Women in History: An Overdue Acknowledgment

MODERATOR: Katie Morgan

PRESENTERS
Laurisa Jackson – “Black Women: A Force to be Reckoned With”
Brittany Molnar – “Prissy Pirates”

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Thursday 12/07

[Section 23] 8:00am to 9:30am

PANEL
Planetary Disasters: A Focus on Recent Global Catastrophes

MODERATOR: Ashley Childress

PRESENTERS
Valerie Watt – “Hurricanes & Tsunamis: Creation, Destruction, Recovery”
Jennifer Terek – “Malnutrition in Mali, Africa: How Far Would You Go to Eat?”

[Section 27] 9:45am to 11:15am

PANEL
Political Hot Potatoes: “We the People . . .”

MODERATOR: Brittany Molnar

PRESENTERS
Matthew Reinhart – “Milk: Dairy or Political Revolutionary”
Nathan Perry – “Gay Adoption Laws: Love is Love (and not Discriminatory)”
Jake Madison – “Illegal Immigration and the United States Government: Taking Control”

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Tuesday 12/12

[Section 23] NOTE SPECIAL TIME DURING EXAM PERIOD: 8:00am to 10:00am

A ONE-PANEL DAY
Focus on Campus Life: Health, Economics and the College Student

MODERATOR: Ashley Orlando

PRESENTERS
Bryan Marker – “The Facts about the Freshman 15”
Carrie Berkey – "Why do School Necessities Cost so Much?"
Christopher Duncan – "Minimum Wage vs. The College Student"

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Thursday 12/14

[Section 27] NOTE SPECIAL TIME DURING EXAM PERIOD: 10:15am to 12:15pm

A ONE-PANEL DAY
Personal Effects: Food Additives and Divorce

MODERATOR: Nathan Perry

PRESENTERS
Danny Darvalics – “The Chinese Food Syndrome and the Truth on the Effects of MSG”
Nick Logue – “Divorce and Children: Getting Used to It”

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See you at the panels!

Lee