Preparing your Presentation

This page discusses some ideas in presents your oral presentations and poster presentations. Since presentation style depends a lot on the field, this page talks in generalities rather than specifics. You should discuss your presentation with your faculty sponsor.

Oral Presentations

Oral presentations will consist of a 10 minute presentation with or without visual aids. Presenters will be assigned to a session with similar topics or disciplines. Due to the differences in presentation style depending on subject, you should consult your advisor/sponsor for more details about preparation. This page give some details about preparing to deliver presentations in a variety of formats.

Poster Presentations

Poster presentations are displays on poster boards. The poster is usually a mixture of a brief narrative paper, intermixed with tables, graphs, pictures, and other presentation formats. Although one can present figures and tables, papers that do not have these can also be usefully presented as posters. By writing concisely and with a few areas of focus, the presentation can communicate your research and help synthesize your main ideas and research directions.

This page contains information on how to produce a high-quality, large-format poster. The following should be taken under consideration for producing the poster as well as during the presentation:

•Each presenter will be assigned a table with a presentation board to attach the poster. These boards are 4' X 3' folded cardboard. Pushpins/thumbtacks and/or tape will be provided at each board on the day of the conference for attaching the poster components to the posterboard.
•The poster session will last 2 and a half hours, but each presenter will be expected to stand by their poster for about 1 hour so that guests can come and view the presentation and interact with the presenter.
•The poster should be set up during the first 5 minutes of the poster session and taken down during the last 5 minutes of the poster session.
•Materials must be easily read at a distance of four feet. Each poster should include the title of the presentation (minimum 80-point size), the author(s), faculty sponsor, and departmental/program affiliation(s) (minimum 54-point size). A point size of 24-36 or larger is recommended for body text.
•We will provide a power strip for the poster session. You should ask the organizer the morning of the poster session if you cannot access a power supply.
The Undergraduate Conference organizers reserve the right to cancel a presenter's poster session if the above requirements are not met.

Performing and Visual Arts Presentations

Poetry or Short Fiction
Original poetry or short fiction with a maximum length of 10 minutes. This is intended for original student work.

Music Performance

Solo, small group, or instrument performances: 10-minute programs. Presenters are responsible for supplying their own instruments. In the abstract, the proposer should describe the piece to be performed and include information about the composer (unless self-composed). Please include all instruments used as well.

Theater

Monologues or scenes (up to five actors) on a stage: 10-minutes duration; sound; limited lighting. In the proposal, please include information about the piece being presented, including the author and information about the author.

Visual Arts
Visual arts presentations can be done in drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture, ceramics, mixed media. An abstract is required of presenters in the visual arts. The abstract should describe the visual art research question, methodology and outcomes. You may present the original piece (or pieces) or a digital photograph of the piece.

Video and Film
You may submit a digital video which is no more than 10 minutes in length (or a 10 minute segment of a large piece). In the proposal/abstract, describe the video as well as research question, methodology and outcomes. It is expected that the work will be available on DVD format for the conference.