Title of your presentation Your name Geography 490 Semester, Year

Introduction This slide should be used to point to the factors that interested you in the topic. Remember that you don’t have to have a lot of words up here. Photographs, or other graphics are useful.

Research Question Your research question is the question that drives the smaller thesis statement or hypothesis. 1.For the payday lending study you read…the research question was “Are payday lenders targeting minority and poor neighborhoods?” 2.You may have a secondary research question as well.

Hypotheses The hypothesis is the very specific statement that you tested in your 490 paper. –For the payday lending study one was: Is there a statistically significant difference between neighborhoods containing payday lenders and those containing a bank. –You may also have secondary hypothesis.

Thesis Statement If your paper uses a thesis statement, you should make it explicit to your audience. This is the point or points that you are arguing. Your argument should follow in a series of statements that you will support with evidence or the force of logic. Each major point in your argument should get a slide (title) and the bullet points are the evidence or logical points in support of the titled statement.

Data If you have collected data, discuss briefly the location, strategy and hassles you encountered gathering data for your project. Remember “data” is more than just numbers. Problems you have with your data are also worth mentioning.

Methods Quickly…and try not to use sentences as you see here, to outline the method you used to analyze and evaluate your data.

Findings What did you find…what were the results of your analysis?

Implications This might be the most important slide! Here you answer the “so what?” question…this is where you discuss the importance of your findings.

Further Research You may, like most quality scholars, recognize the limits of your research and find that your research has generated new questions. You may want to mention a couple things you might do differently, expand upon or ask if you had more time, resources or abilities.

Graphics Graphics are highly recommended, especially maps, charts and tables. If they are small enough, put them on a slide like this with a note or point of explanation. Otherwise give them their own slide (see next) Possible Diagram

Ohio in the Fall (small)

Ohio in the Fall

Major Rules Whatever you do…stop looking at the slides while you present. And don’t just read this to your audience…they can read. Don’t make the slides the focus of your presentation, but an AID to presenting your story…they complement what your explaining, but should remain ONLY complementary.

Templates and Tips There are a variety of templates that you can use, but some serve to undermine communication rather than enhance them. See these links for tips on using PowerPoint. From Microsoft: xhttp:// x This one is very eye-opening: Practical Tips

You may want a lighter background For presentations where the room is bright, some recommend light background and darker text.