Student Inquiry and Research Program Details
The Oral Presentation
Students at IMSA are expected to speak with power, economy, and elegance. The oral presentation of their investigation demonstrates these skills while communicating the work to others. Students are allotted fifteen minutes at IMSAloquium to share their work with others. The talk should be organized so that the student speaks for ten to twelve minutes, allowing three to five minutes for audience questions.
The talk should be a story of what has been accomplished. Ideas presented in the abstract should serve as an outline for the presentation. Consider what you want the audience to know and remember once your talk is finished. Consider how much detail they will be able to remember once the talk is completed. A brief introduction should provide the audience with understanding of the reasons why it was undertaken, but should not be an exhaustive review of the history. Tips on giving oral presentations will help ensure a successful experience.
Preparing the Oral Presentation
One of the most important ways of communicating information is through an oral presentation. If you are a dull, ill-prepared, or inaudible speaker your listeners will fail to follow what you say, even if it is the most exciting topic in the world.
Below are some hints and guidelines for helping you to be one of those speakers who enthrall listeners.
- Find out precisely how much time you will be allowed
- Preparing for Your Talk
- Giving Your Talk
- After Your Talk
Keeping these tips in mind, the best advice still remains: Practice! Practice! Practice!
Evaluation of the Oral Presentation
The oral presentation is evaluated to give the speaker feedback on the effectiveness of communicating key points and results of the project. The Oral Presentation Evaluation form identifies areas of assessment and associated criteria. This form can also serve as a useful checklist during your early preparations for the talk.
The oral presentation evaluation form is usually completed twice annually during the investigation. During your dry run presentation on Practice Day, the on-campus advisor or other assigned evaluator will give you feedback to assist you in final preparations for your formal talk at IMSAloquium. Though not required, students conducting investigations off-campus may find it helpful to seek feedback in an optional practice run of presenting the results of their work at the investigation facility. At IMSAloquium, an assigned evaluator will attend your session to evaluate and give you written feedback on your formal talk.