Organizer:
Attention-Getter (Quote to hook the audience)
 Imagine the human race is a giant empire across thousands of worlds, it is
about to fall apart, and you just invented a way to predict it’s destruction.
It’s time to refine your predictive Science, convince EVERYBODY that
you are right, and then…save the knowledge of humanity!!!Isaac Asimov
is known as the grandfather of science fiction and one of the greatest
writer’s of modern fiction altogether
 The Foundation Novels have been in constant print since parts of the first
one arrived in SF mags in 1942
Introduction (Title, Author, Genre)
 The Foundation Novels are about Hari Seldon who is a pyschohistorian…
 Math is the key…
 Empire is falling and need to gather all the knowledge to save the dark
ages to come
Body (Describe the plot, characters, conflict, themes, lessons learned without
giving too much away!)
 The empire is crumbling and no one want to know about it
 The Emperor only wants to use Hari for power
 This book has themes of…
 …ignorance vs knowledge
 …human violence and the conflict of control vs freedom
 …the strengths and weaknesses of society under control vs a democratic
society
 …and the ultimate will of the human race to destroy itself
 …and yet, also, an optimism of how our changing species can save itself
 You will follow over 1000 years from Hari Sheldon inventing
psychohistory, to the brink of the human race, and a pilgrimage to the
planet where it all began…Earth(?) and the end, or beginning, of
everything
 This story follow Hari Sheldon’s fight to convince humanity to save itself,
the failing empire as it crumbles, the quest to find the origins of our
species, and ultimately to answer the question of “what is humanity?”, and
is it worth saving?
Conclusion (Why you loved the book, and why other students should read it—be
specific)
 You will follow over 1000 years from Hari Sheldon inventing
psychohistory, to the brink of the human race, and a pilgrimage to the
planet where it all began…Earth(?) and the end, or beginning, of
everything.
 So, if you are curious and philosophical mind…
 …if you are a person who is willing to consider the importance of life,
decisions, and survival…
Rubric for Book Talk
Criteria
Introduction
attracts audience
Discusses the plot,
setting, and
characters
Discusses the
theme
Conclusion makes
us want to read
the book (or not
read the book)
Presentation skills
&
Enthusiasm for
the book
Excellent
20 - 16
Exceptionally
creative beginning
with an excellent
quote
Thorough and
interesting
summary of these
elements
Makes an
insightful
argument about
the theme
Very enticing
conclusion –
draws the listener
to read the book
Very enthusiastic
and
knowledgeable
Voice is clear,
words are
pronounced
correctly and
tempo is good
Above Average
15 - 10
Creative beginning
with a good quote
Inconsistent
summary of these
elements
Correctly discusses
theme but fails to
elaborate on the
importance
Average
10 - 7
Not a very creative
or interesting
beginning with a
quote
Below Average
0-6
Average summary
of the elements
Missing a component
Touches upon
theme without
much depth
Not a very good
beginning with no
quote
Does not discuss theme
or makes a very
general statement
about the theme
Somewhat
interesting
conclusion- listener
might want to read
the book
Concluded but did
not draw the
Very boring conclusion
listener to read the or no conclusion at all
book
Somewhat
enthusiastic and
knowledgeable
Shows average
enthusiasm and
understanding
Voice is mostly clear
and audible,
Sometimes hard to
understand or
hear the student
Mostly maintains
eye-contact
Little eye-contact
Not enthusiastic at all
Spoken word is too
soft, mumble, speaking
much too fast or slow.
No eye-contact
Maintains eyecontact
Visual aid
Visual aid is well
Visual aid is
done, colorful, and
colorful, and helpful
very helpful to the
to the presentation
presentation
Visual aid is
completed and
Visual aid is not done
might be helpful to or very poorly done
the presentation
Stays within time limit: Yes / No
Comments:
Score: