Putting together your Pre-Recorded Talk

Headline

Main title of research project or creative work

Subheading: College name, Major, Author and Affiliations Always make sure to include the Oregon State University logo in your presentations!

Introduction ("Why this project?")

• What is your hypothesis and objective?
• Identify what you are addressing - include some interesting background!
  • Why does this interest you?
  • What are you hoping to find or learn from this?
• Hook them in! Tell a short, compelling story.

Approach ("What did you do?")

• How did you approach your research question? (did you read research papers or collect data in the field?)
• Remember - less is more! Make sure to provide enough information but not to clutter your presentation with paragraphs. You will be able to include more information in your elevator pitch.

Major Findings ("What did you find?")

• Identify your key findings.

  • What did my data tell me?

  • Use this section to describe, interpret, and analyze your results.

• This is a great space to include graphs, tables, and pictures to provide your audience with a better visual of your findings.

  • Make sure to include captions and figure numbers.

Image

Discussion ("Why does this matter?")

In this slide you will discuss:

• The goal of your study
• The limitations you experienced in your research (sample size, accessible data etc)

Conclusion and Implications

• Identify the significance of your findings
• How do your findings help or not help?
• Are your findings useful for your community or will they be useful with more research?

Citations and "Thank you"

• If you included published research in your presentation, be sure to include citations here and in your voice transcript. You will also have the opportunity to share the citations with your audience via email or canvas discussions.
• Take some time to thank your mentor and anyone else that you worked with during your project.
  • "I would like to thank Dr. Orchid and graduate student, Berta Fungi for giving me the opportunity to do this project, for supporting me, and for teaching me through it."

Tips

• Focus on four questions
  • Why this project?
  • What did you do?
  • What did you find?
  • Why does it matter?
• Only include one major point per slide
• Use OSU approved fonts, pictures, and templates (links in menu)
• Limit your use of text and use simple visuals (some of your slides might only be up for 30 seconds!)
• Make text large and clear enough to be viewed from a distance.
• Follow guidelines in the menu for making color blind friendly presentations.
• Keep track of your time limit
• PRACTICE! PRACTICE! PRACTICE!
  • You can practice with a family member, a friend, or you can drop in during our advising hours!

Color-Blind

Note: There may be audience members that are color-blind and cannot distinguish certain color differences, such as red and green. Here are some guidelines to making a color-blind friendly presentation:

1. Choose a color-blind friendly color scheme, particularly for graphs. Avoid pale green and pale red mixtures, purple, and pink.
2. Beware of high-contrast color schemes. For example, a white background is tiring to the eye and can make it difficult to see colored objects on the slide, especially yellow or green text. Instead, try to use dark-colored fonts on a light-colored background.
3. When making graphs, avoid differentiating lines by color as matching these colors to the legend can be difficult. Instead, try to use shapes or label the lines. If this is not possible, make the lines a decent thickness.
4. During your presentation, try to not refer to things by color but by their location on the slide and/or shape instead.
5. If possible, use a green laser pointer rather than a red laser pointer.