what is university presentation

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 Academic Presentations

Academic presentations are an integral part of university study and assessment. Academic presentations may be presented individually or as a group activity but both require the key skills of planning and structuring key information. The key difference between an academic presentation and a general presentation is that it is usually quite formal and includes academic research to evidence the ideas presented. The presentation will include references to credible sources and demonstrate clearly your knowledge and familiarity of the topic.

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Intro to presentations, academic presentations, presentation phrases , what is an academic presentation , presentation ppt slides, improve your ppt slides, create effective ppt slides, a basic ppt presentation  , graphs & charts, presentation feedback,  marking criteria, teacher feedback form, peer feedback form, peer-to-peer feedback form, terms & conditions of use, academic  presentation information.

• Good Presentations
• Structure / organisation
• Signposting Language

Giving a good academic presentation

• Think about the aim of your presentation and what you want to achieve.
• Concentrate on your audience: who   they are and  what   they (want to) know.
• Choose the topic that interests you: involvement and motivation are key to confidence.
• Give your presentation a  clear   and  logical   organization so that everyone can follow.
• Present information  visually : this adds interest to your talk and makes it easier to follow.
• Practise giving your presentation until you are familiar with the key points; this way you may discover any potential problems and check the timing. Besides, practice will also make you feel more confident.

Basic outline / structure

• Introduction: introduce the topic, some basic background, thesis (your stance or argument).
• Outline: provide basic bullet points on the key parts of the presentation.
• Main body: divide the main body into sections.
• Evaluation: always include evaluation. This can be a separate section or part of the main body.
• Conclusion: summarise key points, restate the thesis and make a recommendation / suggestion / prediction.
• Reference list: create one slide with all your sources.
• Questions : be prepared to answer questions.
• Cope with nerves: breathe deeply; it calms you down and stops you from talking too quickly.
• Control your voice: speak clearly and try to sound interesting by changing intonation and rhythm.
• Watch your body language: try to give the impression that you are relaxed and confident.
• Maintain eye contact with your audience: it keeps them interested in what you are saying. For this reason, you should not read.
• Provide visual information, but do not give too many facts at a time. Give your audience enough time to take them in.
• Keep attention by asking rhetorical questions.

 Advanced Signposting Language –

key language phrases for presentation

Presentation Speaking Criteria

This i s a basic criteria to assess presentation speaking skills. It has three key criteria: Language accuracy & language range,  fluency &  pronunciation, and   presentation & engagement.    Example  /   Level: ** *** [B1/B2/C1]   TEACHER MEMBERSHIP

An Introduction to Academic Presentations

  introduction to presentations (new 2023).

This lesson is designed to introduce students to academic presentations. It contains information on how to plan, structure, and deliver an academic presentation. It includes a listening worksheet, presentation signposting phrases and a mini-presentation activity. Example . Level: ** * ** [B1/B2/C1] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

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Presentation Phrases (Signposting Language)

  presentation phrases sheet : a range of standard english phrases .

Suitable phrases to use for greeting, structuring, examples, transitions summarising and  concluding .

Free Download

What is an Academic Presentation?

Presentation Worksheet

 This lecture discusses the key ideas of giving an academic presentation including referencing, signposting, delivery and rehearsal.  2-page listening worksheet with answers. A great introduction to giving a presentation.   Example.  Level *** ** [ B1/B2/C1]   Video [7:00]  / MP3 /   TEACHER MEMBERSHIP  / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

Improve your PPT Slides

Improve your Presentation PowerPoint Slides

These are PPT slides from the above video or  go here . It’s a great way to explain how to present effective slides by using the correct fonts, focusing on key points and using animation to help audience engagement. The slides can be adapted to sort your style and method of teaching.   Video  [12:00]   Level *** ** [B1/B2/C1]  / TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

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Create PPT slides people will remember – Duarte Inc [CEO]

Harvard Business Review: How to plan an informed presentation and what is needed to create really effective slides that keep an audience engaged. More HBR listening worksheets are   Example   Video  [03:08]   Level: ** * * * [B2/C1]  / TEACHER MEMBERSHIP  / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

A Basic PPT Presentation

This is a video example of a ‘basic’ presentation on Domestic Violence using signposting language and a basic structure

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Academic  Presentation Marking Criteria

A basic criteria that can be used to assess and grade a students’s presentation – full criteria in paid version (below).

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Ten smart ways to ace your next academic presentation

Using examples and practical tips, Dorsa Amir explains the techniques that ensure your presentation communicates its message effectively – from slide design to structuring your talk

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As a presenter, your main job is to guide the audience through your argument in the clearest, most engaging, most efficient way possible. You must respect the audience’s time and attention. This means being mindful of how long your presentation is, what you’re including in your slides, and importantly, how it is all packaged and presented.

A great presenter is one who is intentional: each element in the presentation serves a clear function and is intended to support the audience’s understanding of the content.

Here are 10 tips to keep in mind to ensure your presentation hits the mark

1. Any time you put something on your slides, its primary purpose is to help the audience, not you

Many presenters will add copious text or other elements to help themselves remember points they want to make. However, this is usually less helpful for the audience (most of this information belongs in presenter notes, and not on the slides). Think of yourself like a director of a movie. What do you want the audience to focus on at any given moment? What features on your slides will enhance the verbal point you are making and which will distract from it? Be intentional about what you include on your slides, and only include elements that serve a clear and helpful function for the audience.

2. Condense text to the main question or key points of the slide

It may be tempting to write out snippets of the script wholesale and add them to the slides, but this often results in PowerPoint karaoke, where the audience is simply watching you read the text out loud to them. While text is certainly useful for helping to concretise points or make slides more accessible, be judicious about what you include. Each slide should make one or two clear points. It’s better to have more slides with less content than fewer slides that are jam-packed. Of course, the amount of text you include will also be determined by the type of presentation you are giving. If students will be using your slides as a study aid, for example, you may want to include more information than if you are creating a research talk for a conference.

3. Avoid using too many colours, fonts or animations

Consider elements such as fonts, colours and animations as tools in your presentation toolkit. These elements should be used sparingly and only when they serve a clear purpose. I’m sure you’ve all attended a talk with colours bright enough to burn your retinas or crammed with “fun” fonts such as Comic Sans. Try to refrain from doing that. Animations that allow certain elements to appear or disappear along with your presentation — such as bullet points that appear as you say them — can help direct the attention of the audience. Colour contrasts are primarily helpful for visual segmentation or bringing attention to particular elements. Fonts, colours or flashy animations that are purely decorative are more distracting than helpful.

4. Avoid colour combinations that are hard to read

Be mindful of how colours interact with each other to either facilitate or inhibit comprehension. White text on black (or the reverse) is often a safe bet. Don’t overdecorate! (See above).

5.  If you’re showing a graph, orient the audience to the axes before plotting the data and make sure they can actually see all of it

I typically show the axes and labels first, making sure to orient everyone to the variables and how they are going to be visualised, and then I reveal the data. This ensures that everyone understands how to interpret the visualisation they are about to see. It is also helpful to restate the key prediction and tell the audience what they should expect to see if the prediction is true, and then plot the data. Use large sizes and clear fonts. I’ve heard way too many people say things like: “You probably can’t read this but…” To that, I want to say: “But you’re the one making the slide! You did this to us!” Don’t be that person.

6.  Use high-resolution images or videos

This is especially true for presentations that will be projected onto a larger surface. If it’s fuzzy on your computer screen, it will look even fuzzier when magnified and projected. Try to integrate high-resolution images and vector graphics to avoid this. When your images contain text, delete those portions and re-enter the text in text boxes that will scale up much more clearly when magnified.

7. When illustrating results, identify one or two key graphs to make your point

The temptation is often to show the audience every single result you found, but this dilutes the overall message you are trying to send. There’s no need to visualise everything: you should focus on the key graphs that tell most or all of the story. If you have built up the presentation in the right way, when the audience see your data visualisation, they will immediately understand what you found and whether it supports your hypothesis. That’s how clear and accessible the graph should be.

8.  Don’t overload the audience with unnecessary complex jargon or acronyms

Every time you introduce a new term or a brand new acronym (BNA), you are asking the audience to do you a favour and commit this new item to working memory. The audience doesn’t know your presentation; they don’t know what’s going to be important later and what isn’t. They’re trusting that you are only presenting information to them that is relevant and they’re doing their best to follow along. Make this process as easy and enjoyable as possible for them. Be judicious with what you ask them to remember or commit to memory. If you can explain a concept without jargon, avoid the jargon!

9. Enhance accessibility

The Web Accessibility Initiative has a great set of guidelines that I will summarise here. Use easy-to-read fonts in large sizes. Make sure there is enough contrast between colours to make them discernible. When giving virtual talks, consider turning on automatic closed captioning. If it’s feasible, provide annotated slide handouts. During the presentation itself, speak clearly and loudly, avoiding unnecessarily complex vocabulary or culturally specific idioms. Where possible, use a microphone. You should also try to verbally describe pertinent parts of visual information on your slides, such as graphics or videos.

10. Use outline slides and marker slides to segment information

Research shows that we understand and remember information better when it comes in bite-size pieces; think of chapters in a book. To incorporate this structure into your talk, break apart the presentation into smaller pieces. Always incorporate an outline slide that previews the structure of the talk and gives the audience a sense of what to expect. Also, use marker slides to communicate that a new section is beginning. And make sure to wrap up each section with a summary slide.

Dorsa Amir is a postdoc in the department of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley.

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Presentations and posters

Guidance and tips for effective oral and visual presentations.

Academic presentations

Presenting your work allows you to demonstrate your knowledge and familiarity of your subject. Presentations can vary from being formal, like a mini lecture, to more informal, such as summarising a paper in a tutorial. You may have a specialist audience made up of your peers, lecturers or research practitioners or a wider audience at a conference or event. Sometimes you will be asked questions.  Academic presentations maybe a talk with slides or a poster presentation, and they may be assessed. Presentations may be individual or collaborative group work.

A good presentation will communicate your main points to an audience clearly, concisely and logically. Your audience doesn’t know what it is you are trying to say, so you need to guide them through your argument.

There are a few key points that you should consider with any sort of presenting:

• What is the format? Is it a poster, a talk with visual material or a video?
• What is the purpose? Is it to summarise a topic; report the results of an experiment; justify your research approach?
• Who is your audience? Are they from your tutorial group, course or is it a wider audience?
• What content needs to be included? Do you need to cover everything, just one topic or a particular aspect? How much detail is expected?
• How should it be organised? This is often the trickiest part of designing a presentation and can take a few attempts.

Planning a presentation

Different people take different approaches to presentations. Some may start by doing some reading and research, others prefer to draft an outline structure first. 

To make an effective start, check your course materials for the format you need to use (e.g. handbooks and Learn pages for style guidelines). If it is an oral presentation, how long do you have?  If it will be assessed, have a look at the marking criteria so you know how you will be marked. (If you do not use the required formatting you may be penalised.) Do you need to allow time for questions?

One way to think about the content and draft a rough structure of your presentation is to divide it into a beginning, middle and end.

• The beginning: How are you going to set the scene for your audience and set out what they can expect to gain from your presentation? This section should highlight the key topic(s) and give any necessary background. How much background depends on your audience, for example your peers might need less of an introduction to a topic than other audiences. Is there a central question and is it clear? If using slides, can it be added as a header on subsequent slides so that it is always clear what you are discussing?
• The middle: How are you going tell the story of your work? This section should guide your audience through your argument, leading them to your key point(s). Remember to include any necessary evidence in support. You might also want to include or refer to relevant methods and materials.
• The end: What is your conclusion or summary? This section should briefly recap what has been covered in the presentation and give the audience the final take-home message(s). Think about the one thing you want someone to remember from your talk or poster. It is usually also good practice to include a reference or bibliography slide listing your sources.

Alternatively, you could start at the end and think about the one point you want your audience to take away from your presentation. Then you can work backwards to decide what needs to go in the other sections to build your argument.

Presentation planner worksheet (pdf)

Presentation planner worksheet (Word docx)

Presentation planner (Word rtf)

Using the right language can really help your audience follow your argument and also helps to manage their expectations.

Guiding your audience (pdf)  

Guiding your audience (Word rtf)

Oral presentations – practise, practise, practise!

Giving a talk can be daunting. If you have a spoken presentation to give, with or without slides, make sure you have time to rehearse it several times.

Firstly, this is really good at helping you overcome any nerves as you’ll know exactly what you are going to say. It will build your confidence.

Secondly, saying something aloud is an effective way to check for sense, structure and flow. If it is difficult to say, or doesn’t sound right, then the audience may find it difficult to follow what you are trying to say.

Finally, practising helps you know how long your presentation will take. If your presentation is being assessed, you may be penalised for going over time as that would be unfair to other presenters (it is like going over your word count).  

If you can, find out what resources and equipment you will have when you present. It is usually expected that presenters will wear or use a microphone so that everyone can hear. But you will still need to remember to project your voice and speak clearly. Also think about how you are going to use your visual material.

IS Creating accessible materials - PowerPoint presentations

IS LinkedIn Learning - online skills development

Making a video

There is no need to use expensive specialist equipment to make a recorded presentation. The Media Hopper Create platform allows film makers to create, store, share and publish their media content easily. You can create presentations using the Desktop Recorder on a PC or Mac.

All University of Edinburgh students are provided with an account on the Media Hopper service allowing you to record and upload media to your personal space and publish to channels. 

You can also use your mobile phone or tablet to make a video presentation. The DIY Film School is an online course covering the basics of shooting video on a mobile device, filming outdoors and indoors and how to get the best audio. Some materials from LinkedIn Learning are relevant to the DIY Film School and include editing advice.

IS Media Hopper Create

IS DIY Film School online course

IS LinkedIn Learning and the DIY Film School

Poster presentations

A poster is a way of visually conveying information about your work. It is meant to be a taster or overview highlighting your key points or findings, not an in-depth explanation and discussion. Your poster should communicate your point(s) effectively without you being there to explain it.

The trickiest thing with poster presentations can be the limited space and words you have. You will need to think critically about what it is important to present.

If the poster is assessed, or is for an event such as a conference, there may be a size and format which you need to follow (e.g. A1 portrait or A0 landscape). Your title should be clear.  Aim to make your poster as accessible as possible by considering the type size and font, colours and layout. It is usually good practice to include your name and email address so people know who you are and how to contact you.

Information Services (IS) have a range of resources including help on using software such as PowerPoint to make a poster and guides to printing one.

IS uCreate user guides and advice on poster printing

Standing up and talking can be intimidating; so can being filmed. Anxiety and stress can get in the way of performing effectively. 

The Student Counselling Service offer advice and workshops on a variety of topics. They have produced a helpful e-booklet about stress, why we need it and how to manage our stress levels to strike the right balance. 

Student Counselling service

Self-help online courses and workbooks on anxiety, stress and mental wellbeing

Stress: A short guide for students (pdf booklet)

Information Services (IS) provides access to a range of support and training for software provided by the University. This includes training and advice on LinkedIn Learning.

IS Digital skills and training

IS LinkedIn Learning

IS Microsoft Office 365 suite

Prezi is a popular alternative to PowerPoint but is often inaccessible to disabled people. Therefore, it is recommended that Prezi is not used for academic presentations. However, if you have to use Prezi, there are some steps you can take to improve your presentation.

IS PREZI and accessibility issues

If you are presenting at an external event, it may be appropriate to use University branding.

University brand guidelines and logos (Communications and Marketing)

This article was published on 2024-02-26

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6 steps to a successful presentation

If you feel nervous at the thought of having to stand up in front of your peers and deliver a presentation you're not alone, but you're unlikely to get through university without having to do it. Follow these six steps to ensure success

Your tutor or lecturer mentions the word 'presentation' and the first thing you do is panic but there's no need.

Depending on your subject, you might be expected to summarise your reading in a seminar, deliver the results of a scientific experiment, or provide feedback from a group task. Whatever the topic, you'll usually be presenting to your tutor and fellow students.

While   getting up and making your case in front of an audience isn't easy, especially when you're not used to it, it really is good practice as many graduate employers use presentations as part of the recruitment process.

To help ensure that your presentation stands out for the right reasons, Graham Philpott, head of careers consultancy at the University of Reading provides some advice.

Prepare carefully

Give yourself plenty of time to prepare thoroughly, as a last-minute rush will leave you flustered when it comes to delivering your presentation.

'There are two important things to think about when preparing for a presentation,' says Graham. 'What do you want the audience to do once you have finished, and who are the audience? If you know these two things, preparation becomes so much easier.'

Plan out the structure and format of your presentation. 'A simple and successful way to structure your presentation is - agenda, message, summary - or to explain it a different way, tell them what you're going to tell them, tell them, then tell them what you've just told them,' advises Graham.

To help plan your content, Graham explains that 'there are only two purposes to a presentation, one is to inform, the other is to persuade. So, your content will either tell the audience what they need to know or convince them.' To make sure you stay on track ask yourself what you're hoping to achieve.

You can make detailed notes as part of your planning, but don't rely on these on the day, as reading from a prepared text sounds unnatural. If you want to take a memory aid with you use small index cards, as referring to A4 sheets of paper during your presentation can be distracting and highlight your nerves if your hands shake.

At the planning stage also consider the timings of your presentation. Time limits are set for a reason - falling short or going over this limit will likely result in a loss of marks, especially if it's part of an assessment or exam.

Don't forget to also devise answers to common questions you may be asked at the end of your presentation. You might think this adds to your workload, but it actually prevents you from being caught off guard on the day.

If you have to give a group presentation, discover  three tips for successful group work .

Use visuals wisely

'A presentation doesn't necessarily need a visual aid,' says Graham. 'However, if you decide to use them, they can help the audience understand what you're saying, and give you a framework to talk around.'

Bear in mind that visual aids should complement your oral presentation, not repeat it, nor deliver the presentation for you. While your slides should offer a summary of points, or illustrate the concept you're discussing, you need to remember that you are the main focus.

When putting together your slides and visual aids:

• Keep them simple . Stick to one idea per slide to avoid cluttering them and use short phrases or sentences.
• Think about accessibility . Does the design of your presentation interfere with its readability? Will everyone in the audience be able to read your slides? To ensure your presentation is accessible minimise the number of slides, use high contrast colours and a large, clear font. If using graphics, make them as simple as possible and avoid over-complicated charts or graphs. If using videos, make sure they are captioned.
• Don't let them distract you . If you intend to provide hand-outs for your audience, distribute them at the beginning or end of your presentation. Doing it halfway through can disrupt your flow.

Don't fall into the trap of merely reading aloud what is written on your slides - instead use them as a starting point from which you can expand and develop your narrative.

It's also worth pointing out that a presentation is only as good as its content. Your presentation could look visually beautiful, but if it lacks knowledge or substance your audience is unlikely to be fooled. 

Consider your audience

Speaking of your audience, it's essential that you keep them in mind at every stage - from the preparation of your presentation right through to the delivery.

To show that you have thought about the audience consider how much background information they will need. Do they already have some knowledge of the topic you're presenting?

Spending the first half of your presentation telling an audience what they already know will be frustrating for them. Equally, if you go straight into the detail, they may get lost. It's vital you get the balance right.

The tone of your presentation will also depend on your audience - if its purpose is to demonstrate to your seminar group that you've understood a certain topic you could strike a light-hearted tone. If it's an assessed piece of work on the other hand, you'll need to be more serious.

Practice with a friend

Before the main event you should run through your presentation in full more than once. 'It's also a good idea to practice the presentation out loud. This will give you a much better idea of how long it takes, and whether there are any parts that don't flow very well,' adds Graham.

'It might feel cringey, but practicing to an audience - friends, coursemates, family, your careers consultant if it's for a job - will really help too. Their feedback will be especially important when it comes to checking that your main point is getting through, loud and clear.'

Ask your practice audience to sit at a distance to check that everyone attending can hear you speaking and that they can see the slides. If possible, try to do this practice run in the room you'll be giving your presentation in.

This level of preparation will enable you to work out whether your presentation is the right length when spoken aloud and give you the chance to get used to expressing yourself in front of others.

 While you practice make sure that you:

• Speak slowly  - nerves can make you rush but try and moderate your speech. Take a breath at the end of every sentence or point you make.
• Face the audience  - to give a confident impression regularly make eye contact with your audience. If using a screen stand at a 45-degree angle so you have a good view of both your audience and your slides. Don't turn your back on your audience.
• Leave time for questions  - factor this into your overall time limit and be prepared to field any questions that come your way.

Another good tip is to record the practice run - you can do this on your phone or on Teams or Zoom. Play it back and reflect on it. Ask yourself if it's clear, concise, and if it makes sense. Pay particular attention to less obvious factors such as your facial expression and mannerisms. Do you come across well? Are you talking too fast or waffling? Are you smiling and personable?

Be positive

Leading up to the presentation try developing a positive attitude. This may seem easier said than done, especially if you're nervous but it will make a huge difference to how you perform.

Acknowledge your nervousness but don't let negative thoughts win. Instead of thinking about all the things that could go wrong visualise a positive outcome and focus on what you can do to ensure it runs smoothly.

On the day nerves can conspire to make you think that the room is against you, but this isn't the case. Remember that your tutor and your coursemates want you to succeed. To set your presentation up for success make sure your introduction is strong. Start with a confident attitude and a smile.

Don't rely on technology

We've all witnessed the agony of a presenter struggling with a faulty USB stick, failing to connect to the internet or not being able to get the projector to work. However, with a little bit of planning, you can minimise the risk of technology tripping you up.

If possible, test your presentation beforehand with the same equipment that you'll be using during the main event. Otherwise, arrive early on the day and have a run through. Make sure you know how to link your laptop to the projector and if your presentation includes links to web pages or video clips make sure these lead to the right places and are working beforehand. Bring back-ups of your documents and print out a few copies of the slides to share if things go wrong.

And if a piece of technology does fail, don't panic. It will happen to everyone in the room at some point. If you prove yourself prepared in the face of a disaster and handle it with grace it could impress your tutor more than if everything went according to plan.

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Countway Practical Presentation Skills

Presentation Slides

Story Telling

Presentation Software

Body Language

• Showtime! (Tips when "on stage")
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On this page you will find many of the tips and common advice that we cover within our Practical Presentation Skills Workshop.

If you are hoping to attend a workshop in the future, please check the schedule of upcoming classes, and reserve your spot. Space does fill up each week, so please register early!

Creating slides to accompany your presentation can be a great way to provide complimentary visual representation of your topic. Slides are used to fill in the gaps while you tell the story.

Start your presentation with a brief introduction- who you are and what you are going to talk about. 

Think about your presentation as a story with an organized beginning (why this topic), middle (how you did the research) and end (your summary findings and how it may be applicable or inform future research). You can provide a brief outline in the introduction so the audience may follow along. 

Keep it simple with a few key concepts, examples and ideas.

Make sure your audience knows the key takeaway points you wish to get across.

A good way to practice this is to try and condense your presentation into an elevator pitch- what do you want the audience to walk away know? 

Show your enthusiasm!

If you don’t think it is interesting- why should your audience?

Some Good Alternatives to PowerPoint:

• Google Slides
• Keynote (Mac)  
• Prezi  
• Zoho Show  
• PowToon  
• CustomShow  
• Slidebean  
• Haiku Deck  
• Visme  
• Emaze  
• and more…  

Your body language speaks volumes to how confident you are on the topic, how you are feeling up on stage and how receptive you are to your audience. Confident body language, such as smiling, maintaining eye contact, and persuasive gesturing all serve to engage your audience.

• Make eye contact with those in the audience that are paying attention and ignore the rest!
• Speak slower than what you would normally, take a moment to smile at your audience, and project your voice. Don’t rush, what you have to say is important!
• Don’t’ forget to breathe. Deep breaths and positive visualization can helps slow that pounding heart.
• Work on making pauses where you can catch your breath, take a sip of water, stand up straight, and continue at your practiced pace.
• Sweaty palms and pre-presentation jitters are no fun. Harness that nervous energy and turn it into enthusiasm! Exercising earlier in the day can help release endorphins and help relieve anxiety.
• Feeling shaky? Practicing confident body language is one way to boost your pre-presentation jitters. When your body is physically demonstrating confidence, your mind will follow suit. Standing or walking a bit will help you calm those butterflies before you go on stage.
• Don’t be afraid to move around and use the physical space you have available but keep your voice projected towards your audience.
• Practice, practice, practice! Get to the next Practical Presentation Skills workshop in Countway Library http://bit.ly/countwaypresent and practice your talk in front of a supportive and friendly group!

• Excessive bullet points
• Reading your slides instead of telling your story
• Avoid excessive transitions and gimmick
• Numerous charts (especially all on the same slide)
• Lack of enthusiasm and engagement from you
• Too much information and data dump
• Clutter and busy design
• Lack of design consistency 

Now you are on stage!

When delivering the talk, watch out for these bad habits:

•  Avoiding eye-contact
• Slouching or bad posture
• Crossed arms
• Non-purposeful movement
• Not projecting your voice
• Speaking away from the microphone
• Speaking with your back to the audience (often happens when reading slides)
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• Last Updated: Jan 29, 2024 8:37 AM
• URL: https://guides.library.harvard.edu/presentation

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• Exam Technique for 24 Hour Take Home Exams
• Structuring a Literature Review
• Writing Coursework under Time Constraints
• Reflective Writing
• Writing a Synopsis
• Structuring a Science Report
• Presentations
• How the University works out your degree award
• Personal Extenuating Circumstances (PEC)
• Accessing your assignment feedback via Canvas
• Inspera Digital Exams
• Writing Introductions and Conclusions
• Paragraphing
• Reporting Verbs
• Signposting
• Proofreading
• Working with a Proofreader
• Writing Concisely
• The 1-Hour Writing Challenge
• Apostrophes
• Semi-colons
• Run-on sentences
• How to Improve your Grammar (native English)
• How to Improve your Grammar (non-native English)
• Independent Learning for Online Study
• Reflective Practice
• Academic Reading
• Strategic Reading Framework
• Note-taking Strategies
• Note-taking in Lectures
• Making Notes from Reading
• Using Evidence to Support your Argument
• Integrating Scholarship
• Managing Time and Motivation
• Dealing with Procrastination
• How to Paraphrase
• Quote or Paraphrase?
• How to Quote
• Referencing
• Artificial Intelligence and Academic Integrity
• Use and limitations of generative AI
• Acknowledging use of AI
• Numeracy, Maths & Statistics
• Library Search
• Search Techniques
• Keeping up to date
• Evaluating Information
• Managing Information
• Thinking Critically about AI
• Using Information generated by AI
• Digital Capabilities
• SensusAccess
• Develop Your Digital Skills
• Digital Tools to Help You Study

Enhance your presentation skills to communicate your ideas clearly through an impactful presentation.

• Newcastle University
• Academic Skills Kit

Presentations are a common form of assessment at University, as an individual or group activity, and can be challenging as they require a combination of different skills. Amongst other skills you may need to draw on the ability to:

• speak confidently in front of an audience
• plan and organise how you will communicate complex ideas
• be creative to present your ideas visually or concisely in text form
• use some technical know-how to create presentation aids such as slides or poster.

However, developing your presentation skills is not only important for achieving success in your assessments but also as you begin to think about your hopes beyond university. Presentations are a common part of the recruitment process, and you may be asked to deliver a presentation as part of the interview process. Practising and honing your skills at university will provide you with the opportunity to develop effective communication skills. Planning and structuring the content of your presentation will enhance your critical ability as you select what to include and how, as well as your ability to be creative.

10 Top Tips for Academic Presentations

It’s normal to feel nervous before giving a presentation and you may not be able to get rid of your nerves entirely, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The adrenaline produced by a nervous response can also help you stay sharp and responsive during the presentation. If you think your nerves are getting in the way of presenting effectively, though, try practising in a controlled environment where you feel more comfortable and gradually building up from there.

So, you might start by just presenting aloud to yourself, then try in front of a few friends, then try recording yourself etc. Practice doesn’t necessarily make perfect, but it can make you more comfortable with the experience and help you channel that nervous energy.

Be realistic about how much ground you can cover in your allotted time and limit your scope accordingly. It’s easy to overestimate how much you can talk about in a presentation and whilst presenting on something for even 10-minutes might feel like a lot, it’s roughly the equivalent of 1500 words including ‘housekeeping language’ like introductions and signposting. Focus your presentation by writing down the key message/s that you want your audience to take away and check that everything you say contributes to that message.

One of the biggest complaints of audiences is when presentations go over time, so do a timed readthrough beforehand to make sure you’re not trying to fit too much in. If you do find yourself overrunning due to an unexpected issue it’s better to skip your final point and jump straight to the conclusion than to start speaking faster or stop speaking abruptly. The audience may not notice a small piece of missing content, but they will notice if you don’t conclude the presentation.

If your presentation is followed by a Q&A, you can’t always know what questions will be asked, but there are some common question types that you can prepare for. Two common question types are: ‘tell me again’ questions (asking you to clarify something from the presentation) and ‘tell me more’ questions (asking you to give more detail on something you only mentioned briefly in the presentation).

To prepare for ‘tell me again’ questions, try and identify the most complicated parts of the presentation and come up with a few different ways to explain them. And to prepare for ‘tell me more’ questions, identify which areas you only get to touch on briefly and remind yourself of other relevant information (any points you cut out due to time constraints might be a good start).

If you’re using PowerPoint, Prezi, handouts or other presentation aids, avoid filling them up with all your ideas. This unnecessarily duplicates information and can be distracting for the audience. Instead try to keep things simple, noting down only the main ideas in a clearly visible size (at least 24 point), font (sans serifs) and colour (high contrast is best). You don’t need to write in full sentences either, just the key phrases are usually enough. Remember, you are the presentation, everything else is just a visual aid.

Not all presentations are the same and an academic presentation is different to a TED talk, a business pitch, or public speaking. When used for assessment, academic presentations often require you to demonstrate your knowledge on a topic and the ability to do something with that knowledge, as well as your presentation delivery skills. Check the assignment brief and marking criteria to find out what skills you need to demonstrate and when preparing your presentation ask yourself if, where, and how you’re demonstrating them.

It can be quite difficult to process complex information just by listening. You might need to use technical vocabulary, but you can make it easier for your audience to follow your presentation by using simple sentence structures and repeating the key messages several times throughout. Spoken language is also less formal than written language, so although it might feel out of place to use contractions (e.g. don’t) or the first person ‘I’ in a written assessment, it can make your presentation sound and feel more natural.

If you’re feeling nervous or just want to get the presentation over with, then you might naturally find yourself speaking faster than normal, but this can make it difficult for the reader to follow what you’re saying (especially if you’re delivering a presentation online and not using a webcam). There’s no perfect pace, but as a rule of thumb try to speak about one third (33%) slower than you usually would. This might feel a bit unnatural at first, so practise saying the presentation out loud at this reduced pace to get used to how it feels. You might also want to record yourself and listen back to find out how it sounds to the audience.

Whether you’re presenting in person or online, eye contact (or webcam contact!) is a good way of keeping the audience engaged with the presentation, but it can be hard to remember to do this when you’re focused on all the other things involved in delivering a presentation. As a reminder, try adding occasional prompts to look at the audience throughout your notes. And if you’re finding looking at the webcam off-putting, placing a picture of a friend or family member next to it can make it feel a bit more comfortable.

You can script your presentation and read it aloud if that makes you feel comfortable, but you don’t have to. You might decide that you’d rather jot down a few notes, use your visual aids as a memory prompt or even memorise/ improvise the whole thing. There’s no one right approach and each has its own strengths and weaknesses (writing out a script can feel more stable, but might lead to a flat delivery, whereas memorising can seem more natural, but makes it easier to overrun or miss out important points). You might want to practice with different types of notes until you find one that works for you, but if in doubt choose whatever makes you feel most comfortable.

Download this guide as a PDF

Presentation tips.

10 top tips for preparing for and delivering your presentation.

Enhancing your presentation skills

There are lots of useful strategies that you can employ to increase your confidence when giving a presentation. Utilising these strategies can help reduce the anxiety you may feel about delivering a presentation at any level and to different audiences. You can learn more about overcoming these challenges in our Your Skills session focusing on presentations. Visit the  booking calendar  and sign up to calendar notifications so that you can registrater when booking opens. 

Create visual impact

Audio-visual Resource Guide

Explore resources and advice from the Library about finding and reusing images, video and other audio-visual materials in presentations.

PowerPoint Learning Pathways

Advice and tips from the Office 365 Learning Pathways to help you design and deliver engaging presentations.

PowerPoint Presenter Coach

Practice your presentation skills and rehearse using the speaker coach tool.

Recommended books and e-books

For further reading related to presentations, browse our specially curated list of resources.

Princeton Correspondents on Undergraduate Research

How to Make a Successful Research Presentation

Turning a research paper into a visual presentation is difficult; there are pitfalls, and navigating the path to a brief, informative presentation takes time and practice. As a TA for  GEO/WRI 201: Methods in Data Analysis & Scientific Writing this past fall, I saw how this process works from an instructor’s standpoint. I’ve presented my own research before, but helping others present theirs taught me a bit more about the process. Here are some tips I learned that may help you with your next research presentation:

More is more

In general, your presentation will always benefit from more practice, more feedback, and more revision. By practicing in front of friends, you can get comfortable with presenting your work while receiving feedback. It is hard to know how to revise your presentation if you never practice. If you are presenting to a general audience, getting feedback from someone outside of your discipline is crucial. Terms and ideas that seem intuitive to you may be completely foreign to someone else, and your well-crafted presentation could fall flat.

Less is more

Limit the scope of your presentation, the number of slides, and the text on each slide. In my experience, text works well for organizing slides, orienting the audience to key terms, and annotating important figures–not for explaining complex ideas. Having fewer slides is usually better as well. In general, about one slide per minute of presentation is an appropriate budget. Too many slides is usually a sign that your topic is too broad.

Limit the scope of your presentation

Don’t present your paper. Presentations are usually around 10 min long. You will not have time to explain all of the research you did in a semester (or a year!) in such a short span of time. Instead, focus on the highlight(s). Identify a single compelling research question which your work addressed, and craft a succinct but complete narrative around it.

You will not have time to explain all of the research you did. Instead, focus on the highlights. Identify a single compelling research question which your work addressed, and craft a succinct but complete narrative around it.

Craft a compelling research narrative

After identifying the focused research question, walk your audience through your research as if it were a story. Presentations with strong narrative arcs are clear, captivating, and compelling.

• Introduction (exposition — rising action)

Orient the audience and draw them in by demonstrating the relevance and importance of your research story with strong global motive. Provide them with the necessary vocabulary and background knowledge to understand the plot of your story. Introduce the key studies (characters) relevant in your story and build tension and conflict with scholarly and data motive. By the end of your introduction, your audience should clearly understand your research question and be dying to know how you resolve the tension built through motive.

• Methods (rising action)

The methods section should transition smoothly and logically from the introduction. Beware of presenting your methods in a boring, arc-killing, ‘this is what I did.’ Focus on the details that set your story apart from the stories other people have already told. Keep the audience interested by clearly motivating your decisions based on your original research question or the tension built in your introduction.

• Results (climax)

Less is usually more here. Only present results which are clearly related to the focused research question you are presenting. Make sure you explain the results clearly so that your audience understands what your research found. This is the peak of tension in your narrative arc, so don’t undercut it by quickly clicking through to your discussion.

• Discussion (falling action)

By now your audience should be dying for a satisfying resolution. Here is where you contextualize your results and begin resolving the tension between past research. Be thorough. If you have too many conflicts left unresolved, or you don’t have enough time to present all of the resolutions, you probably need to further narrow the scope of your presentation.

• Conclusion (denouement)

Return back to your initial research question and motive, resolving any final conflicts and tying up loose ends. Leave the audience with a clear resolution of your focus research question, and use unresolved tension to set up potential sequels (i.e. further research).

Use your medium to enhance the narrative

Visual presentations should be dominated by clear, intentional graphics. Subtle animation in key moments (usually during the results or discussion) can add drama to the narrative arc and make conflict resolutions more satisfying. You are narrating a story written in images, videos, cartoons, and graphs. While your paper is mostly text, with graphics to highlight crucial points, your slides should be the opposite. Adapting to the new medium may require you to create or acquire far more graphics than you included in your paper, but it is necessary to create an engaging presentation.

The most important thing you can do for your presentation is to practice and revise. Bother your friends, your roommates, TAs–anybody who will sit down and listen to your work. Beyond that, think about presentations you have found compelling and try to incorporate some of those elements into your own. Remember you want your work to be comprehensible; you aren’t creating experts in 10 minutes. Above all, try to stay passionate about what you did and why. You put the time in, so show your audience that it’s worth it.

For more insight into research presentations, check out these past PCUR posts written by Emma and Ellie .

— Alec Getraer, Natural Sciences Correspondent

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How to Present a Presentation in Class? An Ultimate Guide

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Ever faced the dreaded presentation day in college? Panic not! Mastering the art of presenting is like adding extra cheese to your academic pizza. In this guide, we'll sprinkle some wisdom on how to give a presentation in class without turning into a nervous noodle. Let's make your classmates go, "Wow!"

How to Give a Presentation in College

Ready to conquer the stage without tripping over your own words? Nail that presentation in college with a sprinkle of wit and a dash of confidence. Mastering how to give a presentation in college is about as tricky as herding caffeinated cats. But we have got you fully covered! Say goodbye to sweaty palms and hello to applause. 

1. Pre-Presentation

Pre-presentation journey is like setting sail before the main event - it's where we plot our course, dodge the iceberg of nerves, and make sure our ship of wisdom is ready to set sail. Here are a few steps to understand the things required for how to present a presentation in class.

1. Prepare Well

Presenting in college isn't just about sharing information; it's an opportunity to connect with classmates. Successful presentations hinge on understanding your audience, aligning content with their interests, and setting clear goals. Thorough preparation and rehearsal boost confidence, making the experience enjoyable and potentially earning better grades. Remember, mastering how to do a presentation in class starts with solid preparation and good research.

A quick search on Google might help you find the answers to most of the questions that cross your mind, but what about the ones that haven’t been answered yet? Research helps with just that! Want to know how to do that correctly and fast? Here is a step-by-step guide for you to conduct research easily .

2. Visualize Yourself Giving the Speech

Imagine that you are confidently standing before your college peers, delivering a presentation that captivates and inspires. Visualizing yourself giving the speech is crucial when mastering how to present in class. It transforms nerves into charisma, answering your doubts on how to present a presentation in class.

3. Dress Properly

Presenting in college? Dressing appropriately is key!​ It's not just about looking good but about exuding confidence and professionalism. This is necessary for understanding how to present a presentation in class.

4. Arrive Early and Be Prepared

Want to know how to present a presentation in class? Arriving early sets and being prepared. It offers a chance to familiarize yourself with the environment and organize thoughts and materials confidently.

5. Rehearse Thoroughly

To ace your performance, meticulous rehearsal is a non-negotiable step. Unveiling the secrets of how to do a presentation in class involves more than just talking— it's about confidence, clarity, and captivating your audience.

Speaking in front of a crowd can be done in various situations or events and they all have one thing in common, a game of nerves and remembering what to say. While many can pull off public speaking, it is not easy for even more. But, worry not. Here are the best public speaking tips for you to ace that big game!

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2. During Presentation

Now that you have a fair understanding of a good presentation, we’ll give you some tips on how to give a presentation in class that will help you make an impact and earn you the highest grade. Here are some tips on how to give a presentation in college which you can use before the big day. 

1. Correct Posture

Maintaining the right posture while delivering a presentation is crucial for effective communication. So, when pondering how to give a good presentation in college, remember to stand tall, speak confidently, and let your posture amplify your words.

2. Manage Your Anxiety

Facing a class presentation can be nerve-wracking, but managing anxiety is key. Breathe deeply, focus on your message, and visualize success. Confidence transforms how you present in college. 

Public speaking is one of the most common fears out there, right up there with clowns and spiders. But fear not, my friends - here are some of the top tips on how to calm down before a presentation .

3. Open Strong

How to start a presentation in university? Start strong! Capturing your audience's attention from the start is crucial when presenting in class or college. An open strong sets the tone, sparking curiosity and ensuring an engaging journey throughout your presentation.

4. Start With a Mind Map

If you are looking for how to give a presentation in class, begin with a mind map. It's your GPS, plotting the route through your ideas, ensuring a smooth and confident presentation journey.

5. Tell a Story

Sharing a compelling story in class presentations captivates your audience, making your content memorable. It humanizes information and enhances your ability to engage effectively.

6. Speak Slow and Clear

If you want to know how to do a presentation in class, speaking slowly and clearly is vital. It enhances understanding, captivates your audience, and boosts confidence. 

7. Don't Read From the Slides

Engaging your audience is crucial when presenting in class or college. Speak naturally, connect with your audience, and make your presentation memorable.

8. Connect with Your Audience

Want to know how to do a presentation in class? Capturing your audience's attention is vital when presenting in class or college. Engage them by connecting on a personal level, making your content relatable and memorable.

9. Be Interactive

In class, mastering how to give a presentation is crucial. Be interactive! Engage your audience by asking questions, sharing anecdotes, and using visuals. It transforms a lecture into a conversation, making your college presentations memorable and impactful.

10. Look at the Audience While Talking

How to give a presentation in college? Maintaining eye contact with your audience is crucial when presenting in class or college. It builds a connection, shows confidence, and keeps them engaged. 

11. Manage Your Time

Nobody likes long presentations. Manage your time wisely when giving a presentation in class or college. Keep it concise, engaging, and to the point for maximum impact.

12. Include Group Activities

Want to learn how to present a presentation in class? Boost your presentation prowess by incorporating group activities. Engage your audience with interactive elements. This will keep them entertained and enjoy your presentation more!

13. Address Key Points

Effectively addressing key points is crucial in presentations. It ensures clarity, engages your audience, and enhances understanding.

14. Conclude With a Strong Ending

Want to know how to do a presentation in class? Conclude with a strong ending to leave a lasting impression. Summarize key points, or say a strong quote! 

Creative Presentation Ideas

Are you tired of the same old PowerPoint routine? Want to know how to give a PPT presentation in college? Here are some of the tips to innovate styles that breathe life into your class presentations. 

1. Incorporate Universal Design Principles

Using large fonts and providing various formats ensure accessibility, while sign language interpreters and a barrier-free environment cater to diverse needs. Maintain clear communication through audible voices, well-lit rooms, and diverse multimedia. This inclusive approach transforms how presentations are given in college, making them accessible to all.

2. Limit Number of Slides and Texts

Crafting a captivating presentation for class involves a delicate balance. Limiting slides and text sparks creativity, ensuring ideas flow seamlessly. Keep it concise, let visuals speak, and ace your college presentations effortlessly!

3. Plan your Slide Layout

Crafting an effective presentation begins with thoughtful slide layout planning. Organized visuals enhance understanding, captivate attention, and make your ideas shine during class presentations.

4. Make your Presentation Interactive

Instead of lengthy lectures, facilitate discussions on real-life situations attendees have encountered. Encourage interactions among them, fostering a dynamic learning environment. Allocate ample time for questions, either addressing them within the presentation or guiding participants to relevant resources. Your presentation should be a collaborative journey, ensuring active participation and a lasting impact on how to give a presentation in college.

Presenting a PowerPoint presentation is as important as making it. It is an ally that lets you get your aims and ideas across to the audience. To help you out with a good PPT presentation, here are the best PowerPoint presentation tips for you.

That was our detailed guide on how to present a presentation in class. We know we’ve packed in a lot of information, but if you break everything down step by step, it's all incredibly simple. If you follow all our tips on how to do a presentation as a student, we can ensure that you’ll give a killer presentation! 

Frequently Asked Questions

How to present a presentation in class, how to start a presentation in class, how do you end a presentation, what is the 10 second rule in presentation, how to do a presentation in class, what is the 666 rule in presentation, which text is best in presentation.

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Academic presentations: Structure

• Presentation Design
• Slide design
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“A solid structure is the foundation of a coherent presentation, and shows the relationship between the parts and whole.” Nancy Duarte,  Resonate

A presentation that has a strong, clear structure is a presentation that is easy to follow. Without structure, a presentation can be confusing to an audience. How do they know if you are going to cover what they need to know? How can they tell which slides contain the most important points? This page considers some ways that you can organise your slides to give shape to your presentation as a whole.

Basic presentation structure

Every presentation should flow like a good story. It should involve  the audience directly.

• The  beginning  section is where you hook them. Start with the general picture then explain the specific problem and how by listening to your presentation you can solve it for them.
• The  middle  section should contain the main detail of your presentation, and can be organised in a number of ways (two good ones are explained below).
• Finally your  end  section should summarise the presentation and lead the audience to the next step.

Design your slides so that these sections  look distinctive  and any  key points  stand out.

Beginning section

This section is all about drawing the audience in; giving them a reason to want to listen to the main part of your presentation.

You can include any or all of the following:

• A really well designed title slide that grabs the attention
• A slide that gives the audience the big picture
• A slide that shows what you will be focusing on
• A slide that uses the word 'you' or 'your' in the title to connect with the audience
• A slide that tells the audience what is to come in your presentation (its structure)

After your title slide, you need slides covering these areas

Middle section structure option 1 - key points

Several authors suggest using a structure that involves an introduction followed by a middle section containing key point slides (usually 3).

The ideas is that there is a  hierarchy  of slides so that after each key point you have other slides that explain or add detail to that key point.

Cliff Atkinson (writer of the book  Beyond Bullet Points ) suggested using a table in MSWord (similar to the one in the template that is available to download at the bottom of this page) to help you structure and plan your presentation before you even open PowerPoint. This means you can concentrate on your story before getting distracted by design and content issues. We have copy of the book in our library: Beyond Bullet Points:  Beyond Bullet Points .

Middle section option 2 - sparkline

For her book  Resonate  Nancy Duarte looked in detail at the structure of successful presentations throughout history (even back to Lincoln's Gettysburg Address). She discovered that many have the same structural form which she calls a 'sparkline'.

This structure makes a clear distinction between  what is  (the position before the presentation is seen and acted upon) and  what could be  (the position after the presentation is seen and acted upon). The audience is introduced to the what is  state at the beginning of the presentation and then switched back and forth between  what could be  and  what is  several times before ending in the  what could be  condition, which she calls  Reward:New Bliss .

Nancy explains this better here:  Sparkline Overview .

In terms of academic work the  what is  is the current level of knowledge or previous thinking on a subject and the  what could be  is the new knowledge or new thinking. The  new bliss  is what the audience could do or learn next now that they are aware of the change. 

End section

The end of your presentation is a very powerful part because it contains your final words, the ones that the audience will take away with them. After you have finished your middle section, have at least one slide that summarises your main points  and one slide that leaves the audience with  the most important point  of your presentation - the one you would like them to remember even if they forget everything else.

Include slides that show these in your end section

DO NOT  finish with a slide that says  Any Questions?  or  Thanks for Listening  as this a waste of your final slide and does not need a visual image to help the audience understand your words. This slide could potentially be viewed longer than any other slide (whilst you answer your questions or receive feedback) and so you want to make sure it contains something that is important to both you and the audience.

These slides are a waste of your last slide - use the final slide for your most important point not a throwaway.

Template for structuring an academic presentation

This MSWord document is a template for structuring a typical academic presentation, it can be adapted and changed if necessary depending on how long the presentation you need to give is. Try to fill it in using full sentences as these will become your slide titles .

The blue sections are optional. The NEED and TASK sections are most suited to research presentations.

This is designed for a presentation between 20-30 minutes long. Shorter presentations will have no explanatory points and longer presentations will need more explanatory points.

This is adapted from Cliff Atkinson's Beyond Bullet Points template. See the link to the book above.

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Structure of a presentation

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A presentation:

• has an introduction, body and conclusion
• may include visual aids
• is usually followed by questions and discussions
• may also have a handout for the audience to take away.

Introduction

• The introduction should orient the audience to your subject and purpose. To capture interest and set up rapport, it should tell the audience what to expect.
• Be sure to carefully define the central point (or thesis) that is the basis of your talk and ensure that your supporting argument or information relates closely to it.
• If you are not proceeding from an already written assignment, it might help to think of your introduction as funnel-shaped, with the content coming out of the funnel. See the diagram below:

Useful language for presentations

Staging the introduction.

The body of the presentation should meet the promises of purpose and information made in the introduction.

The structure of the presentation is crucial.

Whether you organise:

• chronologically,
• by priority,

the body of your talk must proceed logically. The main points should be brought out one by one, with concise and relevant supportive evidence, statistics or examples and verbal ‘signposting’ of your progress through your argument or report.

You could present each important idea or point several times in different ways, because a listening audience needs several opportunities to fully absorb meaning.

You need to state clearly the links between your ideas and always signal when the next point is coming. If you think something is particularly important, say so and why.

If you don’t have a written assignment, it will help to think of your main points as paragraph topic sentences, each of which needs to be followed by supporting sentences and a conclusion.

Staging the body of your talk

Group presentations.

It may be that you are making a presentation as part of a group. Essentially the same information applies to group presentations as individual ones. It is important that they are logical and well structured as well as professional and meaningful. It is also doubly important that the group rehearse and practise together several times to ensure the presentation runs smoothly on the day.

Handing over to a co-presenter

Your talk may involve several speakers in your group presentation. You need to manage the handover smoothly and professionally, for example:

“I would like to conclude my discussion/report at this point and hand over to my partner/colleague XYZ who will examine/discuss/report the area/topic/perspective of…”

Similar to a written assignment, the conclusion again states your main points and what has been learned or shown but you also may raise implications inherent in the findings and offer creative recommendations.

Staging the conclusion

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Making Academic Presentations

What every university student needs to know.

Encourages academic success by guiding students through the steps of an academic presentation

Table of contents

Contents Introduction 1.    What is a Presentation? Audience Purpose 2.    Presentation Moves     Move 1: Starting the Presentation (the Introduction)     Move 2: Flowing Through the Presentation (the Body)     Move 3: Using Visual Aids     Move 4: Concluding the Presentation (the Conclusion)     Move 5: Managing the Q & A 3.    Other Considerations Overcoming Nervousness Non-Verbal Communication Pronunciation and Paralinguistics 4.    Presentation Projects Appendix 1: Rubrics and Evaluation Forms and Ideas Extra Reading

Description

The ability to give a successful presentation in an academic setting is critical to success both on and off campus. Making Academic Presentations describes the five moves, or parts, of a typical presentation and provides examples of language that can be used to successfully accomplish these moves. Although language is vital to giving a good presentation, the book also addresses other factors that influence the success of a presentation, such as overcoming nervousness, nonverbal communication, and pronunciation and paralinguistics. 

The book includes a variety of tasks that will help students practice developing and analyzing presentations as well as practice projects for applying these lessons. In addition, rubrics and evaluation forms are included for instructors to adapt and use for evaluation purposes.

Robyn Brinks Lockwood is a Lecturer at Stanford University. Her other books include Office Hours: What Every University Student Needs to Know and Leading Academic Discussions: What Every University Student Needs to Know . 

“In her extensive teaching career, Robyn Brinks Lockwood has successfully worked with hundreds of university students to show them the important steps they need in order to make great presentations in their academic careers. In her new book Making Academic Presentations: What Every Student Needs to Know , you also learn from the excellent ideas in this book.” - Keith S. Folse, Professor Emeritus, University of Central Florida

“In Making Academic Presentations , Robyn Brinks Lockwood brings her expertise as a teacher, presenter, and researcher/scholar to the topic of academic presentations. Rather than focusing on types of presentations as these might change from semester to semester and from teacher to teacher, Lockwood focuses on the steps (moves) to crafting presentations regardless of the topic. An added benefit: examples of language that students might use, which is helpful to all but especially useful for English learners. These benefits for teachers and students alike, as well as Lockwood’s ability to merge clarity and brevity, makes Making Academic Presentations a valuable contribution to our field.” - Deborah Crusan, Wright State University

“ Making Academic Presentations by Robyn Brinks Lockwood is an outstanding resource for teaching and learning oral presentation skills. Instructors and students will find this to be an engaging, carefully structured, comprehensive, and user-friendly guide to strategies and activities that enhance and reinforce student learning.” - Seth A. Streichler, Advanced Lecturer, English for Foreign Students, Stanford Language Center, Stanford University

News, Reviews, Interviews

Read : Q&A with the author | November 6, 2023 Listen : Have a Life Teaching Podcast episode | March 5, 2024

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How to prepare for an admissions presentation or performance

If you’ve been asked to prepare a presentation or performance as part of your university application, it’s important to know where to start. We’ve got some advice on how to ace this part of your study journey.

There are so many universities to choose from, all with many exciting degrees that you may be interested in. With such a variety, it’s natural that each university or specific course may have a different admission process. Whether it’s attending an interview or sitting an exam, universities have a way of finding the students that are right for them.  

If you're invited to give a presentation or performance, it’s a good sign.  

While any university application can be stressful, creating an admissions presentation or performance can be the most worry-inducing. You aren’t being asked to just fill out a form or sit an exam. You’re being asked to show your skills and abilities. We’ve got you covered with some of our best tips to prepare 

Make a choice and stick with it 

Remember, not all admissions performances and processes are the same. A university may ask for a very specific topic or piece, while another may let you decide what you present. Either way, you will likely have to make some decisions, and it’s important to have these sorted as early as possible.  

Deciding what you are going to do can be tough. However, starting early means more time to get everything ready for the big day. Going over your options and selecting the best one to showcase your talents is crucial. Once you decide, go over what the university has asked of you and assess whether your choice fits the brief well. 

If you’re unsure of anything in the process, don’t be afraid to  communicate directly with your university .  

Practice, practice, practice 

There are so many examples in life where learning something is simply a matter of going over the topic many times. From  language learning  to  revising for an exam , our brains are great at absorbing information that it’s gone over multiple times.  

This is certainly the case when it comes to any presentation or performance. Practising your piece from start to finish repeatedly will allow you to memorise it. This will truly make it feel so much smoother and well-rehearsed. Knowing that you know your piece by heart can be a major confidence boost and will settle your nerves.  

Don’t forget some of the other crucial parts of your  application with our checklist .  

Get to the point 

Sometimes remembering everything you’ve practised isn’t easy. This can especially be the case for the actual presentation, as nerves can often get the better of our memory. 

An excellent way to safeguard against this is to get to grips with the core of your piece. Making sure you take more time to remember the key points or parts means you can jump to the next important point should you start to feel lost. Stay calm and confident even if you’ve lost your way a little.  

Discover some of the  creative fields that you can pursue . These often have a performance or presentation element to the application procedure.  

Get a test audience 

Having a second pair of eyes on any piece of work is a great idea. When it comes to your work, while you may be critical of some pieces, your own biases mean often miss potential issues that someone else could see straight away. For example, take a piece of writing, whether it’s an essay or an email, someone else reading it will likely spot issues that your own eyes completely skipped. 

A presentation or performance is no exception, finding someone to act as the viewer can be a good exercise and help you polish off your work. If it’s a family member or friend, make it clear to them that they shouldn’t hold back as pointing out issues that you didn’t see could help. If you can’t find anyone you can use as a test audience, recording yourself and playing it back can be the next best thing. 

Finding out that you must put together a presentation or performance as part of your university application doesn’t need to be as scary as it initially feels. With the right preparation, you can not only calm your nerves but will also give yourself better chance at being accepted.  

Find out more information on anything you need to know about taking a  university admissions test  and sitting for an  admissions interview .  

IELTS vs. TOEFL: Which should you take?

All international students who want to study in an English-speaking country must show they have the required level of English. There are a few English language exams that are accepted by universities all over the world. We’re going to focus on two of these: IELTS and TOEFL.   Before we continue, let’s look at what these names mean. IELTS is the International English Language Testing System. TOEFL is the Test of English as a Foreign Language.

Top 20 FAQs about the IELTS exam

What is the IELTS exam? The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is an English language exam which is recognised worldwide by more than 11,000 universities, employers and immigration government bodies. The IELTS test explained   What are the benefits of the IELTS test? As mentioned above, the IELTS exam is recognised all over the world and is used for university education and immigration purposes. It’s

Applying to university: Essential documents you need

You’ll learn as an international student, that nothing can be done unless you can successfully prove who you are. In countries where immigration policy and security are of utmost importance, this can be easier said than done, with long procedures involving lots of paperwork and waiting.   Originals vs. Copies However, you can make things a lot easier for yourself if you keep to hand a file containing the following important documentation. This

What are the benefits of the IELTS test?

As a prospective international student, you’ll know the importance of demonstrating your English language proficiency as part of the university application process. You’ll also know that several English language tests can be included as part of the entry requirements. With all of these options available, you may wonder what sets them apart, and what makes IELTS so popular. We're here to answer these questions and more, explaining the benefits of an IELTS test.

Get in touch

Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Assignments

• Annotated Bibliography
• Analyzing a Scholarly Journal Article
• Group Presentations
• Dealing with Nervousness
• Using Visual Aids
• Grading Someone Else's Paper
• Types of Structured Group Activities
• Group Project Survival Skills
• Leading a Class Discussion
• Multiple Book Review Essay
• Reviewing Collected Works
• Writing a Case Analysis Paper
• Writing a Case Study
• About Informed Consent
• Writing Field Notes
• Writing a Policy Memo
• Writing a Reflective Paper
• Writing a Research Proposal
• Generative AI and Writing
• Acknowledgments

In the social and behavioral sciences, an oral presentation assignment involves an individual student or group of students verbally addressing an audience on a specific research-based topic, often utilizing slides to help audience members understand and retain what they both see and hear. The purpose is to inform, report, and explain the significance of research findings, and your critical analysis of those findings, within a specific period of time, often in the form of a reasoned and persuasive argument. Oral presentations are assigned to assess a student’s ability to organize and communicate relevant information  effectively to a particular audience. Giving an oral presentation is considered an important learning skill because the ability to speak persuasively in front of an audience is transferable to most professional workplace settings.

Oral Presentations. Learning Co-Op. University of Wollongong, Australia; Oral Presentations. Undergraduate Research Office, Michigan State University; Oral Presentations. Presentations Research Guide, East Carolina University Libraries; Tsang, Art. “Enhancing Learners’ Awareness of Oral Presentation (Delivery) Skills in the Context of Self-regulated Learning.” Active Learning in Higher Education 21 (2020): 39-50.

Preparing for Your Oral Presentation

In some classes, writing the research paper is only part of what is required in reporting the results your work. Your professor may also require you to give an oral presentation about your study. Here are some things to think about before you are scheduled to give a presentation.

1.  What should I say?

If your professor hasn't explicitly stated what the content of your presentation should focus on, think about what you want to achieve and what you consider to be the most important things that members of the audience should know about your research. Think about the following: Do I want to inform my audience, inspire them to think about my research, or convince them of a particular point of view? These questions will help frame how to approach your presentation topic.

2.  Oral communication is different from written communication

Your audience has just one chance to hear your talk; they can't "re-read" your words if they get confused. Focus on being clear, particularly if the audience can't ask questions during the talk. There are two well-known ways to communicate your points effectively, often applied in combination. The first is the K.I.S.S. method [Keep It Simple Stupid]. Focus your presentation on getting two to three key points across. The second approach is to repeat key insights: tell them what you're going to tell them [forecast], tell them [explain], and then tell them what you just told them [summarize].

3.  Think about your audience

Yes, you want to demonstrate to your professor that you have conducted a good study. But professors often ask students to give an oral presentation to practice the art of communicating and to learn to speak clearly and audibly about yourself and your research. Questions to think about include: What background knowledge do they have about my topic? Does the audience have any particular interests? How am I going to involve them in my presentation?

4.  Create effective notes

If you don't have notes to refer to as you speak, you run the risk of forgetting something important. Also, having no notes increases the chance you'll lose your train of thought and begin relying on reading from the presentation slides. Think about the best ways to create notes that can be easily referred to as you speak. This is important! Nothing is more distracting to an audience than the speaker fumbling around with notes as they try to speak. It gives the impression of being disorganized and unprepared.

NOTE:   A good strategy is to have a page of notes for each slide so that the act of referring to a new page helps remind you to move to the next slide. This also creates a natural pause that allows your audience to contemplate what you just presented.

Strategies for creating effective notes for yourself include the following:

• Choose a large, readable font [at least 18 point in Ariel ]; avoid using fancy text fonts or cursive text.
• Use bold text, underlining, or different-colored text to highlight elements of your speech that you want to emphasize. Don't over do it, though. Only highlight the most important elements of your presentation.
• Leave adequate space on your notes to jot down additional thoughts or observations before and during your presentation. This is also helpful when writing down your thoughts in response to a question or to remember a multi-part question [remember to have a pen with you when you give your presentation].
• Place a cue in the text of your notes to indicate when to move to the next slide, to click on a link, or to take some other action, such as, linking to a video. If appropriate, include a cue in your notes if there is a point during your presentation when you want the audience to refer to a handout.
• Spell out challenging words phonetically and practice saying them ahead of time. This is particularly important for accurately pronouncing people’s names, technical or scientific terminology, words in a foreign language, or any unfamiliar words.

Creating and Using Overheads. Writing@CSU. Colorado State University; Kelly, Christine. Mastering the Art of Presenting. Inside Higher Education Career Advice; Giving an Oral Presentation. Academic Skills Centre. University of Canberra; Lucas, Stephen. The Art of Public Speaking . 12th edition. Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2015; Peery, Angela B. Creating Effective Presentations: Staff Development with Impact . Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield Education, 2011; Peoples, Deborah Carter. Guidelines for Oral Presentations. Ohio Wesleyan University Libraries; Perret, Nellie. Oral Presentations. The Lab Report. University College Writing Centre. University of Toronto; Speeches. The Writing Center. University of North Carolina; Storz, Carl et al. Oral Presentation Skills. Institut national de télécommunications, EVRY FRANCE.

Organizing the Content

In the process of organizing the content of your presentation, begin by thinking about what you want to achieve and how are you going to involve your audience in the presentation.

• Brainstorm your topic and write a rough outline. Don’t get carried away—remember you have a limited amount of time for your presentation.
• Organize your material and draft what you want to say [see below].
• Summarize your draft into key points to write on your presentation slides and/or note cards and/or handout.
• Prepare your visual aids.
• Rehearse your presentation and practice getting the presentation completed within the time limit given by your professor. Ask a friend to listen and time you.

GENERAL OUTLINE

I.  Introduction [may be written last]

• Capture your listeners’ attention . Begin with a question, an amusing story, a provocative statement, a personal story, or anything that will engage your audience and make them think. For example, "As a first-gen student, my hardest adjustment to college was the amount of papers I had to write...."
• State your purpose . For example, "I’m going to talk about..."; "This morning I want to explain…."
• Present an outline of your talk . For example, “I will concentrate on the following points: First of all…Then…This will lead to…And finally…"

II.  The Body

• Present your main points one by one in a logical order .
• Pause at the end of each point . Give people time to take notes, or time to think about what you are saying.
• Make it clear when you move to another point . For example, “The next point is that...”; “Of course, we must not forget that...”; “However, it's important to realize that....”
• Use clear examples to illustrate your points and/or key findings .
• If appropriate, consider using visual aids to make your presentation more interesting [e.g., a map, chart, picture, link to a video, etc.].

III.  The Conclusion

• Leave your audience with a clear summary of everything that you have covered.
• Summarize the main points again . For example, use phrases like: "So, in conclusion..."; "To recap the main issues...," "In summary, it is important to realize...."
• Restate the purpose of your talk, and say that you have achieved your aim : "My intention was ..., and it should now be clear that...."
• Don't let the talk just fizzle out . Make it obvious that you have reached the end of the presentation.
• Thank the audience, and invite questions : "Thank you. Are there any questions?"

NOTE: When asking your audience if anyone has any questions, give people time to contemplate what you have said and to formulate a question. It may seem like an awkward pause to wait ten seconds or so for someone to raise their hand, but it's frustrating to have a question come to mind but be cutoff because the presenter rushed to end the talk.

ANOTHER NOTE: If your last slide includes any contact information or other important information, leave it up long enough to ensure audience members have time to write the information down. Nothing is more frustrating to an audience member than wanting to jot something down, but the presenter closes the slides immediately after finishing.

Creating and Using Overheads. Writing@CSU. Colorado State University; Giving an Oral Presentation. Academic Skills Centre. University of Canberra; Lucas, Stephen. The Art of Public Speaking . 12th ed. Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2015; Peery, Angela B. Creating Effective Presentations: Staff Development with Impact . Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield Education, 2011; Peoples, Deborah Carter. Guidelines for Oral Presentations. Ohio Wesleyan University Libraries; Perret, Nellie. Oral Presentations. The Lab Report. University College Writing Centre. University of Toronto; Speeches. The Writing Center. University of North Carolina; Storz, Carl et al. Oral Presentation Skills. Institut national de télécommunications, EVRY FRANCE.

Delivering Your Presentation

When delivering your presentation, keep in mind the following points to help you remain focused and ensure that everything goes as planned.

Pay Attention to Language!

• Keep it simple . The aim is to communicate, not to show off your vocabulary. Using complex words or phrases increases the chance of stumbling over a word and losing your train of thought.
• Emphasize the key points . Make sure people realize which are the key points of your study. Repeat them using different phrasing to help the audience remember them.
• Check the pronunciation of difficult, unusual, or foreign words beforehand . Keep it simple, but if you have to use unfamiliar words, write them out phonetically in your notes and practice saying them. This is particularly important when pronouncing proper names. Give the definition of words that are unusual or are being used in a particular context [e.g., "By using the term affective response, I am referring to..."].

Use Your Voice to Communicate Clearly

• Speak loud enough for everyone in the room to hear you . Projecting your voice may feel uncomfortably loud at first, but if people can't hear you, they won't try to listen. However, moderate your voice if you are talking in front of a microphone.
• Speak slowly and clearly . Don’t rush! Speaking fast makes it harder for people to understand you and signals being nervous.
• Avoid the use of "fillers." Linguists refer to utterances such as um, ah, you know, and like as fillers. They occur most often during transitions from one idea to another and, if expressed too much, are distracting to an audience. The better you know your presentation, the better you can control these verbal tics.
• Vary your voice quality . If you always use the same volume and pitch [for example, all loud, or all soft, or in a monotone] during your presentation, your audience will stop listening. Use a higher pitch and volume in your voice when you begin a new point or when emphasizing the transition to a new point.
• Speakers with accents need to slow down [so do most others]. Non-native speakers often speak English faster than we slow-mouthed native speakers, usually because most non-English languages flow more quickly than English. Slowing down helps the audience to comprehend what you are saying.
• Slow down for key points . These are also moments in your presentation to consider using body language, such as hand gestures or leaving the podium to point to a slide, to help emphasize key points.
• Use pauses . Don't be afraid of short periods of silence. They give you a chance to gather your thoughts, and your audience an opportunity to think about what you've just said.

Also Use Your Body Language to Communicate!

• Stand straight and comfortably . Do not slouch or shuffle about. If you appear bored or uninterested in what your talking about, the audience will emulate this as well. Wear something comfortable. This is not the time to wear an itchy wool sweater or new high heel shoes for the first time.
• Hold your head up . Look around and make eye contact with people in the audience [or at least pretend to]. Do not just look at your professor or your notes the whole time! Looking up at your your audience brings them into the conversation. If you don't include the audience, they won't listen to you.
• When you are talking to your friends, you naturally use your hands, your facial expression, and your body to add to your communication . Do it in your presentation as well. It will make things far more interesting for the audience.
• Don't turn your back on the audience and don't fidget! Neither moving around nor standing still is wrong. Practice either to make yourself comfortable. Even when pointing to a slide, don't turn your back; stand at the side and turn your head towards the audience as you speak.
• Keep your hands out of your pocket . This is a natural habit when speaking. One hand in your pocket gives the impression of being relaxed, but both hands in pockets looks too casual and should be avoided.

Interact with the Audience

• Be aware of how your audience is reacting to your presentation . Are they interested or bored? If they look confused, stop and ask them [e.g., "Is anything I've covered so far unclear?"]. Stop and explain a point again if needed.
• Check after highlighting key points to ask if the audience is still with you . "Does that make sense?"; "Is that clear?" Don't do this often during the presentation but, if the audience looks disengaged, interrupting your talk to ask a quick question can re-focus their attention even if no one answers.
• Do not apologize for anything . If you believe something will be hard to read or understand, don't use it. If you apologize for feeling awkward and nervous, you'll only succeed in drawing attention to the fact you are feeling awkward and nervous and your audience will begin looking for this, rather than focusing on what you are saying.
• Be open to questions . If someone asks a question in the middle of your talk, answer it. If it disrupts your train of thought momentarily, that's ok because your audience will understand. Questions show that the audience is listening with interest and, therefore, should not be regarded as an attack on you, but as a collaborative search for deeper understanding. However, don't engage in an extended conversation with an audience member or the rest of the audience will begin to feel left out. If an audience member persists, kindly tell them that the issue can be addressed after you've completed the rest of your presentation and note to them that their issue may be addressed later in your presentation [it may not be, but at least saying so allows you to move on].
• Be ready to get the discussion going after your presentation . Professors often want a brief discussion to take place after a presentation. Just in case nobody has anything to say or no one asks any questions, be prepared to ask your audience some provocative questions or bring up key issues for discussion.

Amirian, Seyed Mohammad Reza and Elaheh Tavakoli. “Academic Oral Presentation Self-Efficacy: A Cross-Sectional Interdisciplinary Comparative Study.” Higher Education Research and Development 35 (December 2016): 1095-1110; Balistreri, William F. “Giving an Effective Presentation.” Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition 35 (July 2002): 1-4; Creating and Using Overheads. Writing@CSU. Colorado State University; Enfield, N. J. How We Talk: The Inner Workings of Conversation . New York: Basic Books, 2017; Giving an Oral Presentation. Academic Skills Centre. University of Canberra; Lucas, Stephen. The Art of Public Speaking . 12th ed. Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2015; Peery, Angela B. Creating Effective Presentations: Staff Development with Impact . Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield Education, 2011; Peoples, Deborah Carter. Guidelines for Oral Presentations. Ohio Wesleyan University Libraries; Perret, Nellie. Oral Presentations. The Lab Report. University College Writing Centre. University of Toronto; Speeches. The Writing Center. University of North Carolina; Storz, Carl et al. Oral Presentation Skills. Institut national de télécommunications, EVRY FRANCE.

Speaking Tip

Your First Words are Your Most Important Words!

Your introduction should begin with something that grabs the attention of your audience, such as, an interesting statistic, a brief narrative or story, or a bold assertion, and then clearly tell the audience in a well-crafted sentence what you plan to accomplish in your presentation. Your introductory statement should be constructed so as to invite the audience to pay close attention to your message and to give the audience a clear sense of the direction in which you are about to take them.

Lucas, Stephen. The Art of Public Speaking . 12th edition. Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2015.

Another Speaking Tip

Talk to Your Audience, Don't Read to Them!

A presentation is not the same as reading a prepared speech or essay. If you read your presentation as if it were an essay, your audience will probably understand very little about what you say and will lose their concentration quickly. Use notes, cue cards, or presentation slides as prompts that highlight key points, and speak to your audience . Include everyone by looking at them and maintaining regular eye-contact [but don't stare or glare at people]. Limit reading text to quotes or to specific points you want to emphasize.

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• Last Updated: Mar 6, 2024 1:00 PM
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How to Make a “Good” Presentation “Great”

• Guy Kawasaki

Remember: Less is more.

A strong presentation is so much more than information pasted onto a series of slides with fancy backgrounds. Whether you’re pitching an idea, reporting market research, or sharing something else, a great presentation can give you a competitive advantage, and be a powerful tool when aiming to persuade, educate, or inspire others. Here are some unique elements that make a presentation stand out.

• Fonts: Sans Serif fonts such as Helvetica or Arial are preferred for their clean lines, which make them easy to digest at various sizes and distances. Limit the number of font styles to two: one for headings and another for body text, to avoid visual confusion or distractions.
• Colors: Colors can evoke emotions and highlight critical points, but their overuse can lead to a cluttered and confusing presentation. A limited palette of two to three main colors, complemented by a simple background, can help you draw attention to key elements without overwhelming the audience.
• Pictures: Pictures can communicate complex ideas quickly and memorably but choosing the right images is key. Images or pictures should be big (perhaps 20-25% of the page), bold, and have a clear purpose that complements the slide’s text.
• Layout: Don’t overcrowd your slides with too much information. When in doubt, adhere to the principle of simplicity, and aim for a clean and uncluttered layout with plenty of white space around text and images. Think phrases and bullets, not sentences.

As an intern or early career professional, chances are that you’ll be tasked with making or giving a presentation in the near future. Whether you’re pitching an idea, reporting market research, or sharing something else, a great presentation can give you a competitive advantage, and be a powerful tool when aiming to persuade, educate, or inspire others.

• Guy Kawasaki is the chief evangelist at Canva and was the former chief evangelist at Apple. Guy is the author of 16 books including Think Remarkable : 9 Paths to Transform Your Life and Make a Difference.

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Home » Campus Life » Career Education » Get Experience » Undergraduate Research » Undergraduate Scholarly Showcase » 2024 Presentations

2024 Showcase Presentations

At the 2024 Showcase, more than 350 students from more than 25 disciplines will present nearly 275 research projects, including more than 200 posters, 28 live podium presentations and 44 video presentations.

Students who choose this format present their research in an original five-minute video in one of the following categories:

• Chemical and Cellular Frontiers (#A-01 to #A-03)
• Experiential Learning (#B-01 to #B-04)
• Green Cincinnati (#C-01 to #C-18)
• Music and Culture (#D-01 to #D-04)
• Substance Use, Mental and Behavioral Heath, and Sociology (#E-01 to #E-10)
• The Social Safety Net (#F-01 to #F-05)

As individuals or small teams, students create posters that convey the purpose, process, and outcome of their project with aesthetic appeal. Each student delivers a five-minute overview of their project to reviewers in person on Tuesday, April 16, 2024.

• View or download the Morning Poster Guide
• View or download the Afternoon Poster Guide

Podium Presentations

Students individually develop and deliver an eight-minute presentation live in person on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. View podium presentation details

• iSchool Connect

Marisa Hicks Presentation

Marisa Hicks-Alcaraz, postdoctoral research associate in Gender and Women’s Studies at the University of Illinois and board member of the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center, will present.

Abstract: Over the course of the 20th and 21st centuries, archival science has grappled with changing notions of custody. The post-custodial model, which emerged in the 1980s amid new technological advancements, critical theoretical insights, and social justice concerns, sought to challenge traditional custodial norms for their role in supporting dominant narratives. However, recent critical analyses suggest that despite attempts to move beyond these custodial frameworks, they still significantly inform existing post-custodial models.

My presentation examines the convergence of custody, ownership, and digital technology in post-custodial practices, highlighting a shift from physical to digital ownership of community materials. I argue that this shift risks reinforcing and even deepening colonial dynamics. I advocate for a relational ethics approach that prioritizes transparency, informed consent, and equitable resource sharing. Grounded in anticolonial and Chicanx/Latinx feminist principles, this framework marks a significant departure from custodial dynamics to foster relationships based on trust, connection, and collective wellbeing.

Drawing from my experiences working with the ImaginX en Movimiento (IXeM) Memory Collective, I share how we cultivate spaces where community members actively contribute to and benefit from digitally preserving their narratives, as well as actionable strategies for cultivating genuine and equitable archival relations.

Bio: Marisa Hicks-Alcaraz (she/they) is a postdoctoral research associate in Gender and Women’s Studies at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and board member of the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center. As a cofounder of the IXeM Collective, they develop anticolonial research methods with artists, archivists, and cultural organizations to enhance digital preservation access for at-risk audiovisual media. Their collaborations span organizations like the New American Welcome Center at the University YMCA; Urbana Makerspace; Garífuna Museum of Los Angeles; and Stop LAPD Spying Coalition.

Hicks-Alcaraz’s writing has appeared in journals including the International Journal of Information , Diversity & Inclusion , Journal of Feminist Media Histories , and Interdisciplinary Digital Engagement in Arts & Humanities . She is the former director of programming for the Latin American Cinemateca of Los Angeles and Student Film Festival, and has curated film programs for MoMA, New York; MIX NYC; Markaz Middle East Arts Center; and Vincent Price Art Museum. She has also received various awards, including the Marian and Charles Holmes Performing Arts Fund Grant; CSU Pomona, Outstanding Faculty Award; and Latinx Literary Heritage Recovery Fellowship.

Hicks-Alcaraz obtained a PhD in cultural studies from Claremont Graduate University, while serving as a Fellow of the Digital Studio Center at the Claremont Colleges. They hold an MA in cinema studies from New York University and a BA in Middle Eastern studies from the University of California, Los Angeles.  

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What is Eid al-Fitr? 6 questions about the holiday and how Muslims celebrate it, answered

By Ken Chitwood

Updated on: April 9, 2024 / 8:03 AM EDT / The Conversation

Ken Chitwood  is a senior research fellow, Muslim Philanthropy Initiative at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis and journalist-fellow at the Dornsife Center for Religion and Civic Culture at the  University of Southern California Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences .

Eid al-Fitr, one of Islam's principal festivals, will be celebrated April 9, 2024, according to the Fiqh Council of North America . At the middle of June, Muslims will celebrate Eid al-Adha. Ken Chitwood, a scholar of global Islam, explains the two Islamic festivals.

1. What is Eid?

Eid literally means a "festival" or "feast" in Arabic. There are two major eids in the Islamic calendar per year – Eid al-Fitr earlier in the year and Eid al-Adha later.

Eid al-Fitr is a three-day-long festival and is known as the "Lesser" or "Smaller Eid" when compared to Eid al-Adha, which is four days long and is known as the "Greater Eid."

2. Why is Eid celebrated twice a year?

The two Eids recognize, celebrate and recall two distinct events that are significant to the story of Islam.

Eid al-Fitr means "the feast of breaking the fast." The fast, in this instance, is Ramadan , which recalls the revealing of the Quran to Prophet Muhammad and requires Muslims to fast from sunrise to sundown for a month.

3. How do Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr?

Eid al-Fitr features two to three days of celebrations that include special morning prayers. People greet each other with "Eid Mubarak," meaning "Blessed Eid" and with formal embraces. Sweet dishes are prepared at home and gifts are given to children and to those in need. In addition, Muslims are encouraged to forgive and seek forgiveness. Practices vary from country to country.

In many countries with large Muslim populations, Eid al-Fitr is a national holiday. Schools, offices and businesses are closed so family, friends and neighbors can enjoy the celebrations together. In the U.S. and the U.K., Muslims may request to have the day off from school or work to travel or celebrate with family and friends.

In countries like Egypt and Pakistan, Muslims decorate their homes with lanterns, twinkling lights or flowers. Special food is prepared and friends and family are invited over to celebrate.

In places like Jordan, with its Muslim majority population, the days before Eid al-Fitr can see a rush at local malls and special "Ramadan markets" as people prepare to exchange gifts on Eid al-Fitr.

In Turkey and in places that were once part of the Ottoman-Turkish empire such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Azerbaijan and the Caucasus, it is also known as the, "Lesser Bayram" or "festival" in Turkish.

4. How do Muslims celebrate Eid al-Adha?

The other festival, Eid al-Adha, is the "feast of the sacrifice." It comes at the end of the Hajj , an annual pilgrimage by millions of Muslims to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia that is obligatory once in a lifetime, but only for those with means.

Eid al-Adha recalls the story of how God commanded Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ismail as a test of faith. The story, as narrated in the Quran, describes Satan's attempt to tempt Ibrahim so he would disobey God's command. Ibrahim, however, remains unmoved and informs Ismail, who is willing to be sacrificed.

But, just as Ibrahim attempts to kill his son, God intervenes and a ram is sacrificed in place of Ismail. During Eid al-Adha, Muslims slaughter an animal to remember Ibrahim's sacrifice and remind themselves of the need to submit to the will of God.

5. When are they celebrated?

Eid al-Fitr is celebrated on the first day of the 10th month in the Islamic calendar.

Eid al-Adha is celebrated on the 10th day of the final month in the Islamic calendar.

The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, and dates are calculated based on lunar phases. Since the Islamic calendar year is shorter than the solar Gregorian calendar year by 10 to 12 days, the dates for Ramadan and Eid on the Gregorian calendar can vary year by year.

6. What is the spiritual meaning of Eid al-Fitr?

Eid al-Fitr, as it follows the fasting of Ramadan, is also seen as a spiritual celebration of Allah's provision of strength and endurance.

Amid the reflection and rejoicing, Eid al-Fitr is a time for charity, known as Zakat al-Fitr. Eid is meant to be a time of joy and blessing for the entire Muslim community and a time for distributing one's wealth.

Charity to the poor is a highly emphasized value in Islam. The Quran says ,

"Believe in Allah and his messenger, and give charity out of the (substance) that Allah has made you heirs of. For those of you who believe and give charity – for them is a great reward."

This piece incorporates materials from an article first published on Aug. 28, 2017. The dates have been updated. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.

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QS World University Rankings rates MIT No. 1 in 11 subjects for 2024

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QS World University Rankings has placed MIT in the No. 1 spot in 11 subject areas for 2024, the organization announced today.

The Institute received a No. 1 ranking in the following QS subject areas: Chemical Engineering; Civil and Structural Engineering; Computer Science and Information Systems; Data Science and Artificial Intelligence; Electrical and Electronic Engineering; Linguistics; Materials Science; Mechanical, Aeronautical, and Manufacturing Engineering; Mathematics; Physics and Astronomy; and Statistics and Operational Research.

MIT also placed second in five subject areas: Accounting and Finance; Architecture/Built Environment; Biological Sciences; Chemistry; and Economics and Econometrics.

For 2024, universities were evaluated in 55 specific subjects and five broader subject areas. MIT was ranked No. 1 in the broader subject area of Engineering and Technology and No. 2 in Natural Sciences.

Quacquarelli Symonds Limited subject rankings, published annually, are designed to help prospective students find the leading schools in their field of interest. Rankings are based on research quality and accomplishments, academic reputation, and graduate employment.

MIT has been ranked as the No. 1 university in the world by QS World University Rankings for 12 straight years.

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Kent State University President Todd Diacon focused on the benefits to Ohio from state support of Kent State during his April 10 presentation before the Ohio Senate Workforce and Higher Education Committee in Columbus, Ohio. 

Watch Diacon’s full presentation: 

Diacon’s presentation kicked off the second of six sessions in which all 14 Ohio public universities are asked to discuss their capital funding requests for infrastructure repairs and improvements. Presidents are also asked to summarize their institutions’ financial health amid a changing higher education environment and additionally, to detail spending on diversity, equity and inclusion and discuss the response to the growing presence of artificial intelligence. 

Kent State seeks just over $29 million in the 2025-2026 biennium for capital projects ranging from network enhancement in academic buildings on the Kent Campus to library roof repairs on the Trumbull Campus and projects on each of the other Regional Campuses. 

All told, Ohio’s public universities collectively seek about $300 million in capital funding for the coming biennium. 

“We believe that expenditures of those amounts – not passing judgment on any of them – is worthy of great scrutiny and questions to be asked by the legislature,” said Committee Chair Jerry Cirino, (R-Kirtland).  

Diacon summarized Kent State’s capital funding needs for the coming biennium. 

Diacon noted Kent State’s history, going back to the 1960s, featuring significant physical growth to keep up with the Baby Boom student generation, and that’s left the university with much upkeep amid today’s challenging enrollment climate.  

“Our enrollment can fluctuate due to outside factors like demographics, but the buildings remain, regardless of enrollment,” Diacon said. 

Placing the infrastructure-related budget requests in a broader context, Diacon noted several ways Kent State has tightened its operational budget, along with efficiency measures that have cut costs further. 

The president provided several examples of expense reduction and cost avoidance the university has undertaken over the past several years. 

Diacon will share more about his presentation during his next Talking With Todd webcast, delivered live for faculty and staff on Wednesday, April 17, at 2:30 p.m. and posted afterward on the president’s homepage.  

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