Guidelines for a 10-minute Presentation
- Not too much text on your powerpoint/prezi
- Integrate the image with the text
- Maps, photos, videos, cartoons, all good images
- Don’t read the paper
- Handouts are welcome
Criteria:
- Clarity of thesis
- Organization and development of the argument
- A well-organized argument
- Every sentence should be grammatically perfect
- Don’t make unprovable arguments- but you can cite others’ arguments and comment on them
- ex. “The Hutus hated the Tutsis” is an argument you can’t make but one that you can comment on
- Make every statement lead into the next statement- TRANSITIONS
- In the construction of an argument, each sentence should naturally flow into the next sentence. Don’t make any huge jumps between sentences
- A well-organized argument
- Historical detail and accuracy!
- Detail: how small the argument is- how precise it is
- Also about the information that you’re presenting
- Delivery
- Overcompensate for speaking
- Vary sentence length to keep audience engaged (in presentation and in writing)
- Assume your audience is smart but knows nothing about your topic
- Your audience can’t reread your presentation
- Background is descriptive- do spend time on background but not so much that you distract from your argument
- Presentation is more approachable than the paper which is more technical
- Conclusion- come up with a clear, structured ending. Talk about broader implications (why we should care)
- Visual aids- be clear and simple
- Illustrate your points
- Never use a visual aid without telling the audience when to refer to it
- Powerpoints are a potential trap
- The more that’s going on, the more can go wrong
- Don’t present for the first time to your actual audience
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