DON’T

DO

Purpose of presentation

·  Present summaries of all sections of the paper.

·  Present enough to tell the audience that the paper is worth a read – tell a good story.

Presentation format & timing

·  Save the punch line as a sort of surprise ending
·  Plan for 20 minutes in case there is extra time.
·  Use small fonts or too many overheads.
·  Don't focus on theory or methods (unless that is your contribution).

·  Consider starting with the conclusion and then explain why you reached it (e.g. methods/results).
·  Provide a 1-page handout summarizing your contribution & key points as a takeaway.
·  Plan for 10 minutes – it is easier to expand on points than it is to cut things out.
·  Use fonts larger than 28 pt & no more than 8 overheads.
·  Do focus on your results

Introduction

·  Don't focus on why you decided to do the study.
·  Don't be too conceptual

·  Do focus on what is interesting and new about what you have learned
·  Do try to start off with a real-world analogy/story

Audience Interaction

·  Give a monologue describing your research

·  Look people in the eye and talk to them (not at them).
·  Identify places for audience input. Ask rhetorical questions at key points and wait for responses.
·  For an empirical paper, ask the audience to vote for alternative explanations of the results.
·  Consider using brief exercises or scenarios that draw on the audience’s personal experiences/knowledge.

Theory

·  Present a literature review of the area (cites, etc.)
·  Explain every arrow in a complex figure

·  State the problem, why it is interesting, and what you will add.
·  Explain what is new in this model over past contributions.

Methods

·  Describe the sample measures, and validation of instruments

·  Provide an overview of why the measures are linked to the theoretical construct. Establish face validity and assure that more rigorous methods were applied.

Results

·  Present any tables with numbers

·  Present what was significant (+ and – signs). Explain what the data tell you – not tests. People will read the paper to get details if the paper seems important.

Conclusion

·  Review each result and summarize what was significant.

·  Answer broadly what we have learned and what needs to be done now.
·  Urge the audience to read the paper for details.