Paper Presentations
Multi-paper sessions (90 minutes) include 4–5 paper presentations on a common theme. A chair will welcome the audience, coordinate the session, and keep time. Presentation time for papers will be a maximum of 15 minutes (12–13 minutes presenting and 2–3 minutes for questions).
Effective presentations include speech-ready oral remarks. Use clear, jargon-free language and practice your presentation out loud to make sure you stay within the time limit. Use slides to complement your presentation, and avoid reading the slides aloud. Keep visual content simple and remember to incorporate accessibility principles into your slide design.
Top LAC Presentation Tips
- Avoid spending too much time on institutional context or background
- Focus on explaining what you did, your results, and what you did with the results
- Avoid reading the slides or your paper aloud
- Incorporate accessibility principles: simple color palettes, large and easy-to-read font, limited text on slides
- Practice your pacing
- Engage your audience: make eye contact and ask questions
- Consider bringing handouts and/or including them electronically with your slides
For more tips on creating an effective presentation, please see:
- “Your Guide to Designing a Great Presentation,” EDUCAUSE
- “Presenting Conference Papers and Posters in the Humanities,” Texas Tech University, Teaching, Learning, & Professional Development Center
- “Presenter Best Practices,” ALA
Poster Presentations
A poster is a formal graphic presentation ideal for presenting data and visualizations, big ideas, and action. Effective posters have a simple, clear design and easy-to-read font (limit to 1 or 2 font types). They should be visually appealing and able to convey information quickly. Be sure to include a simple title, author information, institution, research content, and references.
For more tips on poster design, please see:
- “Your Guide to Designing a Great Presentation,” EDUCAUSE
- “How to Make an Effective Poster (presentation),” Undergraduate Research Center, UC Davis
- “Academic Posters (LibGuide),” Thompson Rivers University, BC
To see judges’ picks from the 2018 conference, please visit the exemplary posters page.