Making a brainstorming, not an outline
a brainstorming lists what you might possibly do. It lacks evidence or analysis.
an outline contains most of the information you will use with citations, analysis, etc...
Discussing the plot or characters instead of the authors REASONS and TECHNIQUES for creating the plot and characters.
Forgetting to mention the author/the text/the body of work
Memorizing rather than presenting a prepared speech.
Not practicing the speech before presenting
Picking a literary text that isn't part of the class work.
Submitting an excerpt that takes lines from various places in the text.
Reading long sections of your excerpt rather than identifying a word or short phrase within the excerpt that shows evidence.