Scarlet Letter Project Comments

Apparently, we are not the only ones who do this! And the girl on our right is totally sleeping. So, even if these don't go your way....HEY...at least you didn't fall asleep standing up!

Comments on the project...just like before. 

Nick and the Unicorns: 

Quite a few missteps in the information category. I really enjoyed the graphics, especially the use of Prezi instead of Power Point. Yet, the lack of any type of citation for research is a huge problem. This


wasn't your work, and it's ok that you used a video you found, but you must credit it. The video did not include the key theory behind the ending of the hysteria...and you guys failed to delve into it enough. You also spoke around the idea of "spectral evidence," would've been better if you hit it straight on. Theory that there may have been witches was confusing, though you backed off it (kinda) in questioning. Don't use words you don't understand. Tituba = he. Overall, it was not the missteps, but the presentation style that most evinced the need for better mastery of your topic. You read right off the paper, and the presentation could've been more exciting. The video really saved it a lot. Don't let bloopers be longer than the video itself. I liked the change to "w" thing. I also think you did a great job explaining how Hawthorne separated himself from the hysteria. They got you in questions. Exposed you a bit.

Furry Panda Pack: 

Modern reference was a good idea, but you did not explain the reference enough to make it work. Felt confusing and all over the place. The presentation, overall, suffered from being disjointed. It was hard to follow. Visuals could've helped. Individuals doing better jobs "playing" their parts would've helped. Costumes. Mostly, you guys read off binders and pieces of paper. It was very rough and, unfortunately, way under informative. "Mundane." That was the most dominant impression. Is that what you wanted your audience to get out of it? I will say, however, that parts were very funny. I felt like Mike was a particular bright spot with the humor...that was a nice touch. The most informative aspects came out during the Q&A, and this proves that presentation itself was insufficient.

Punktuation: 

Jaimie...it's been said : ) Neil was exquisitely well-poised and spoken. The connections to world history and other lit...very nice. I especially enjoyed the Frankenstein connection and description. Dead on! He-he...see what I did there? But Neil was the only extemporaneous speaker. And, I'll just be honest with you here...my fears were realized. It was the Neil show. Does Neil need to back off and let his family prosper? Or, does Neil's family need to step up and take some of the pressure off. The truth is...I don't know. And we will find out as year wears on. Fran made some very nice points on Hawthorne and Transcendentalism, and I could see that Evan was really trying to speak off the cuff. He also did an especially nice job with genres. It was comprehensive, informational  and exposed the weaknesses of the families that went before you. However, it was running a bit long and redundant. Very, very thorough written companion. Impressive.

Cool Cats: 

Commercials stole the show. Very funny. I especially enjoyed Tyler as the evil guy. Gabby also did a great job explaining Puritanism and Pearl. My main criticism was going to be that Morgan was not really represented in the video, but then she came to life and lead the Q&A. Overall, solid.

The Dream Team: 

Paper companion was very nice. And as I credited you for, you were one of the few (if not the only) families that quoted directly from the work. You were certainly the first of the presentations. Your presentation style lacked imagination. Failed to really bring any of the information to life. Then, when you did do something imaginative, it seemed thrown together and very rough. Why not have this motif run throughout your presentation? Felt like an after-thought to me and made the overall presentation feel very disjointed. As far as the information itself, your "time period" was very messed up and confusions in defining "Puritanism" was the main culprit. You seemed to take too many liberties with defining Puritanism through the ages. Bibliography reflects this vagueness of focus because you use only very general, "cheating" type sources. Also, I really struggled with "Michael Jackson" being BOTH your characters...namely...because he's not a character. He was a REAL person, when he was alive.

The Fresh Wiggle Chai Pods: 

The Dave show. "Rock n roll" analysis was spot on. Very nice points. Smooth transitions. Impressive analysis. Well spoken, I just sat there nodding my head in agreement. Nothing left to be said. Now...Dave left the rest of his team paling and relegated to the back-seat. Does Dave need to back off and let his family prosper? Or, does Dave's family need to step up and take some of the pressure off. The truth is...I don't know, but we will find out.

ERI: 

Crafts used, make-up done...these are all nice touches. Jordan in the stocks. Even though your make-up was all over my stuff for days : ) Yikes on the acting. Bryanna did a particularly nice job with eye contact and presentational skills. Paige showed amazing insights and historical contexts. Excellent points about Hester and harshness. Quality of information actually became less analytical as it went on, though. I think the influences on modern society could've been much better. It didn't end so much as it just fizzled out.

The Ferocious Five: 

Most impressive in this group was the breakdown of roles among family members. Everybody was equally represented and played an equal role. This kind of togetherness should be a testament to rest of fams. Logan did a nice job of "why." In other words, she put her information into better perspective than most people. Same with Courtney & Maggie....Hawthorne and "wilderness" ideas were spot on and analysis was strong. Dan did a great job with Pearl, and I enjoyed the ice-breaker. Sources were terrible...only the last one was legitimate.

YAYO: 

I felt like for most of the presentation, you guys were one or two comments from bringing the whole thing together...unfortunately, they never came. Too much reading from the paper. Monica served to further confuse the issue than clarify it. She was during Clinton's 2nd term. They didn't impeach him, just threatened to. Despite the misinformation and nerves, I found myself rooting for Dave. I think the Pohlig break actually helped you guys, because when you came back, you seemed more confident. I loved Dave's "woman's ideal" speech. Very nice, passionate addition to the overall ideas. Tamirah handled some nice, challenging questions during the Q&A.

District 1: 

Tori & Jill looked great. Tommy carried the team. She was especially masterful in Q&A. Unlike other families that were one-man shows, the balance was eclipsed by Tommy, and I think that is a credit to her. Intro was spot on. I especially liked the comparison/contrast, and the historical info was solid. Sometimes, the explanations felt like they trailed off instead of ending.