Oral presentations next week!

Oral Presentations of Research
Due: Week of April 7-11

Essentially you are telling us what coolness your research paper covered. You're just doing it as if we're colleagues in your field, rather than dorm room buddies. Your experience Friday at the Graduate Research Conference should help you get a sense of what that tone looks/sounds like.

Research Paper presentations will take place April 7-11. Each presentation must include a well-organized and professional-looking visual component (to be emailed to me by noon on the day of your presentation) and be 3-5 minutes long. The instructor will give you a warning when you have 30 seconds left, and after that, your presentation will be cut off. If you don’t reach 3 minutes, you must dance, sing or otherwise entertain the class until the 5 minutes are up, so you might want to practice. J

I highly recommend that you practice this presentation at least 3 times before you give it. This will ensure that you know when to move from one part to the next of your visual element, and you will ensure that you meet the time requirement.

I also highly recommend that you use some sort of notes. These are not required, but they can be extremely useful in helping you to remember what you were going to be talking about.

You will be assigned to give feedback to one other person on the days you do not present. You will also fill out a self-assessment form that will be confidential between you and I.

Assessment Criteria:

Delivery: How confident is the speaker? This speaker speaks loud enough to be heard, clearly enough to be understood, and slowly enough that I can keep up. This speaker is speaking to me somewhat conversationally, not reading or reciting.

Assignment: Is this a presentation of the research paper I assigned? This presentation should be focused on which specific communication skills are key, argue for why and how they are important, and then argue for the best way an undergraduate can develop these skills. This presentation should include a visual element and be 5 minutes long. This presentation should include a works cited page.

Visual: How professional and readable is the visual element? This visual element should supplement or add to what the speaker says – not replicate it. This visual should be engaging and interesting without being distracting or off-topic.

Organization: How well organized is the presentation? This presentation should have a clear opening, clear transitions between your main points, and a clear closing (A good sign of a clear closing is unhesitant applause).