1. Aly Magleby TA Scholars March 10, 2008
Poster Presentations
Aly Magleby
TA Scholars March 10, 2008

2. ??? Purpose What is the point of doing a poster presentation??? EE U
Title
Authors EE U
???

3. Purpose
To visually communicate your message to as many people as possible by:
Summarizing Work
Advertising Accomplishments
Starting Conversations

4. Poster Design Focused Graphic Ordered specific message
shown graphically
Ordered
organized clearly

5. Focused
What is the most important message for your audience to walk away with?
Support message with images and text
Describe necessary details using short blocks of text
Avoid:
probably, perhaps, may, might
jargon and acronyms—use plain language
Simple sticks, details distract!

6. Content Introduction (qualitative): Objectives/Methods:
What is the problem and why is it important?
How does it relate to the big picture?
Objectives/Methods:
What was your goal?
How did you accomplish it? (brief unless introducing a new method!)
Results/Discussion:
Include plots, graphs, tables, figures, etc.
Explain, analyze, interpret results—What do they show?
Conclusion (quantitative):
Summarize project—How is the problem solved?
What do you recommend—How does this relate to the big picture?

7. Headings Summarize Organize Show Importance Make Strong Statements
State interesting results explicitly in titles and headings
Organize
Break into logical sections
Show Importance
Use larger fonts
Make Strong Statements
“X Improved Y” rather than “Effect of X on Y”

8. Text Do: Don’t: Use active voice Left-justify Use serif font
Use phrases
Use light background, dark letters
Stick to 2 or 3 colors in a consistent pattern
Don’t:
Use large blocks of text
Use jargon
Use full sentences
Use overly bright colors

9. Graphic Shows message using graphical terms
All elements easily visible from 4 ft away
Title, headings and graphics clearly explain key points (not just results) in large font (36 pt)
Details in small font (no less than 24 pt)
Balance text and graphics symmetrically (vertical, horizontal, diagonal)

10. Graphic Figures/Tables Related photos/art
Quickly communicate relationships
Clean and simple
Include explanations rather than referencing elsewhere
Label font no smaller than regular text
Related photos/art
help convey the message
attract attention

11. Ordered Visual grammar: Top to bottom, left to right (in US):
Graphic organization makes key points easily identifiable
Top to bottom, left to right (in US):
Easy to read in a crowd and natural flow for reader
Organizational cues:
Shapes, letters or numbers to assist in poster navigation

12. Examples:
Print this website out with out text at bottom…
From:

13. Examples
Go over student examples and what each did well, and could improve on.
From:

14. Creating a Poster
Make a ppt presentation for individual sheets tacked to a board (16 sheets for 36x48 in. board)
To make full poster in ppt, go to:
File  Page Setup
change Slides sized for  Custom
Set Width: 36 in and Height: 48 in (or set to size to match board)

15. Tips and Hints
No amount of flair can make up for poor content
Use roll-on adhesive for sticking papers to the board
Use map pins for emphasizing points
And remember…. =
1,000 words!

16. Printing Your Poster Put money on your student card
Contact Clayton Butler
Meet him at MEB 2265
Bring your poster file on a thumb drive or cd
Follow directions on handout

17. Presenting Arrive early Set up poster and put out handouts
Be able to explain in varying time limits (0.5, 2, 5 min)
Explain:
Context
Objective
Results/Discussion
Conclusions
Remember, poster is a visual aid!

18. Handouts Include: Information on poster Additional details
Contact information EE U
Title
Authors

19. Other Resources
“Poster Sessions: A guide to their use at meetings and conferences: for presenters and organizer” call # HF C6 S

20. References www.ncsu.edu/project/posters

21. Handouts to make for Cindy’s
Graphics printer instructions
Quick reference?
60-sec eval?
Slides

22. Handouts to make for TAs
Quick reference
slides

23. Planning
You have 16 sheets of 8.5x11 in. paper or a 36x48 in. poster (board is a tri-fold 4 ft wide by 3 ft high)
Let Beverly know if you need additional equipment (for video, etc.)
For TA Scholars Only!!!!