Effectively presenting original research is a challenge and requires a good deal of thought and care. Preparing your presentation will require you to take a highly specialized subject that you have been immersed in for months and communicate it to an audience that is seeing it for the first time. Fortunately, you do not have to take on this challenge alone! In this section, we will share a variety of resources that will help you create a presentation to be proud of.
CAMPUS RESOURCES
As you are working on your research project and gearing up to present it at URES, don't forget that Loyola has many different resources to help you through the process. Asking for support is an important part of any academic effort! Here are a few to keep in mind as you go.
Libraries - The Loyola University Chicago Libraries are full of resources to assist students in their research. As well as having online guides, the libraries offer research assistance, including the ability to request an appointment with a subject specialist or to participate in a workshop on research skills.
Writing Center - Make an appointment online or in-person to work with a tutor to develop and hone your presentation.
Information Technology and Research Support - This group can help provide resources on the technological side of research, providing guidance, software, workshops, and more.
Digital Media Labs - Explore the resources and support offered for digital and technological needs, including printing posters.
Institutional Review Board - If your research will involve human participants in any way, consult these resources for guidance on how to receive IRB approval.
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
If you have explored this far, you probably already have motivation and a plan for producing your own research. Even so, here are some resources that share some new perspectives on the fundamentals of undergraduate research.
Loyola Libraries: Research Guides - An extensive database of guides on various research subjects.
The Benefits of Undergraduate Research: The Student's Perspective - Here are some specific reasons why it's helpful for undergraduates to get involved with research, as well as some thoughts on the role of the advisers, mentors, and faculty in preparing undergraduates for the research experience.
ABSTRACTS
Your abstract will be the first introduction many people have to your research. Rather than a full summary of your project, it is intended to highlight key points, and to describe the significance of the research to a wider audience. You must imagine a scholar looking through a booklet full of abstracts and asking himself or herself, "Why should I care about this?" You, as the researcher, have an answer to this. The abstract is your chance to articulate that answer. These resources will help you get started.
URES Title and Abstract Guide - This resource will give you detailed information on how to prepare a title and abstract for your URES submission.
Writing An Abstract - What makes an abstract interesting, and how can you convince the reader to check out your presentation? This post, provided by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, provides detailed information and examples of strong abstracts.
How to Write an Abstract - This short article shares a "checklist" of sections to include in an abstract, as well as some additional tips.
POSTER PRESENTATIONS
Poster presentations create a visual display of your research or community engagement project that is appealing, well organized, and representative of your research or project experience. Posters should prompt dialogue for audience and community members. These resources will help you understand how to design, develop, print, and finally present your poster.
How to Create and Print Your Poster for URES
URES 2025 Instructions for Creating Posters will be posted in January/February 2025 - A practical guide to creating posters in PowerPoint, and preparing them for presentation at URES. Note that these instructions may be updated closer to the print deadline, so please check back before finalizing your poster.
Tools, Tips, and Tricks for Effective Posters
Loyola Libraries: Poster Presentations - This guide will help you develop effective poster presentations, and includes links to sample research posters, as well as slides from a workshop on poster presentations.
Poster Presentations: Tips and Tools - Slides from a Loyola Libraries workshop on poster presentations, sharing a range of guidelines on designing a poster.
Accessibility Instructions for Poster Design - Do not forget to take the extra steps that will make your poster accessible to all of your audience. These instructions include information on designing a poster and presentation that will be accessible to participants with different levels of visual impairment, Deaf or Hard of Hearing individuals, and more.
Including Audio in Presentations - Some guidelines for the audio component of your presentation; how is verbally describing your research different from writing about it?
Creating Effective Academic Posters - A discussion of the purpose of an academic poster, and some tips on getting started.
Poster Presentation as Visual Rhetoric - Slides from a workshop on poster presentations, including practical information on the poster design process, with details on the differences between humanities and STEM posters.
Poster Presentation: Seven Simple Ingredients - Seven basic guidelines for creating an audience-friendly poster.
Oral Presentation
Oral presentations take place between on Saturday, April 5, in between the poster presentation sessions. During this hour-long period, presentations will be given one time to a focused audience. The presentations will be a maximum of 10 minutes, and there will be additional time set aside for Q&A from the audience. All participants are expected to be present for the full hour out of respect for their peers, as well as for the Q&A session.
Oral Presentation Structure:
- There will be up to four individual or group presentations per room
- Each group will give one presentation that lasts a maximum of 10 minutes
- The Q&A session will take place at the conclusion of all presentations
- There will be an assigned moderator to help the presenters keep track of time and facilitate the Q&A session
Oral Presentation Tips:
- Practice your presentation with a timer to ensure that you stay under 10 minutes
- Incorporate a visual aid: a poster, slide show, learning portfolio, etc.
- Remember to keep your presentation accessible and understandable to a general audience that may not have expertise in the subject area. Unlike a class presentation, the listeners may not have the same understanding of the important concepts that support or impact your work.
Additional Resources:
