I'm upping the ante.

From Monday's class through December vacation, we will have the opportunity to witness each student present his/her minutes gift.  While these gifts are a part of our grade, I feel that perhaps some of our gifts have been rather lackluster and perfunctory.  Let me reiterate a point made last month: Minutes gifts should be an opportunity for you to express yourself to the class.  Use this gift to show who you are, your interests, your sense of humor, and your personality.  Do not simply print up an article (especially one that you have not read) and pass it around the room.

Let's put some effort into this.  To spark your creative minds, I want to offer you a bribe.
By the end of the year, I will select five students from each class that I believe have given us the best minutes gifts.  We will vote on those students as a class.  The student who receives the most vote for "best gift" will receive a 25 dollar gift certificate to Barnes & Noble. 

Your gift can be loosely connected to the reading topic or but can also be connected to just about anything in our class.  By sharing yourself with the class, you are contributing.  Use this time wisely.  Impress us.  Perform for us.  Put some effort into it.

Get to work Stuy students.