Faculty of Science and Engineering

Presentations- Oral and Poster

Oral Presentations

Poster Presentations

 

Giving an Oral Presentation

As an undergraduate, you are most likely to be involved in giving a talk which has been prepared thoroughly beforehand, but which is performed as if you are talking spontaneously! It is this type of talk to which these notes refer.

Preparation

Warning!

Tips for Preparation

  • Include anecdotes or cartoons to add interest for the audience.
  • Include one or two new dynamic points; don't include information that the audience already knows.

What is the goal of giving the presentation?

Can I use a laptop or projector?

How long do I have to speak for?

Who and how large is the audience?

Organising the presentation

Structuring your task is critical to success. All talks should have a clear and relevant title and an introduction, discussion and conclusion. A good pattern is that around 25% of your presentation should be devoted to the 'beginning' and 'end'.

Giving the talk

Introduction

  • State the topic
  • State the aims or purpose
  • Provide a plan of the discussion

Discussion

  • Make your case as you would in an essay
  • Support your views with reasons, evidence and examples
  • Keep it clear, concise and direct

Conclusion

  • Restate the main points in different words to those used earlier
  • Develop some conclusions & review implications
  • Bring the talk to a clear end
  • Be prepared to answer questions afterwards

Delivery

delivery

Giving a Poster Presentation

Posters are one of the most effective ways to visually present results and information, and are widely used by geographers, geologists and environmental scientists to display work at seminars and conferences as well as to the general public.

Tutors ask you to put together poster displays to demonstrate your skills of visual communication and to assess your ability to get ideas across clearly and concisely.

designing

Presenting or 'Talking To' a poster

When presenting a poster, particularly bear in mind the following:

  • Make sure the key points are large enough for the audience to be able to read or see them.
  • Use your poster to talk around the text, don't simply read the poster panels.
  • Summarise key arguments/results for the audience.
  • Point to graphs and diagrams when talking about them to assist the audience.
  • If working in a group, plan before hand who is saying what.
  • Think through your message before preparing it. Read the above section on giving oral presentations.

 

student on field trip Writing up work from Field Trips... find out more here >

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Get into a routine - same time, same place for your studying; get into a good study habit."

Emma Burton, Community Pharmaceutical Healthcare student

"Don't leave studies until the end! "

Candy Koenig, Pharmaceutical and Chemical Sciences student

 

"Make good use of your diary and enter dates to plan when you need to do the work."

Di Smith

Find more advice >

 

student reading outside Revision tips...make the most of the time leading up to exams with these revision strategies >