ORAL PRESENTATIONS
Oral presentations are extended speeches about your
research using materials such as Powerpoint, multimedia, and a podium.
They should last no more than 10 minutes with 3-5 additional minutes for a
question-and-answer period. An oral presentation is similar to a short
paper with an introduction, main body, and conclusion.
A faculty moderator keeps track of your presentation time
and may also facilitate the discussion.
PREPARATION
Preparation is the key to giving an
effective presentation and to reducing your nervousness. You are the
expert on the topic in the room, so know your topic well. You will find
that you know much more about your topic than you will have time to
present, which is a good thing. It will allow you to create a good
introduction, to distill out the most important points that need to be
made, and to finish with a strong conclusion.
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Know your topic – become an expert, which
will also boost your self confidence
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Be cognizant of the background and educational level of
your audience so you know how much detail to go into and what kinds of
concepts you may have to define
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Prepare an outline. Start and finish with a bang.
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Never read a presentation. Use an outline if you wish,
but do not read directly from it.
VISUAL AIDS
Visual aids (maps, photos, film clips, graphs, diagrams,
and charts) can enhance a presentation.
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Keep visual aids simple and uncluttered.
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Use color and contrast for emphasis but use them in
moderation
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Use a font size large enough to be seen from the back of
the room (A rule of thumb: slides are readable from the back of a room
if they are readable at a distance of 9 feet from a 15” monitor)
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Resist the temptation to use too many slides and become
dependent on them
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If using PowerPoint, do not use sound effects and
dramatic slide transitions
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GUIDELINES
Overview
Abstract Guidelines
Abstract Samples
Poster Tips
Oral Presentation Tips
Detailed Symposium
Guidelines and Sample Poster Layouts
STLAURS
2009
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