This document provides guidance on creating effective poster presentations. It advises that posters should visually summarize research in an engaging manner for diverse audiences. Key recommendations include using graphics and headings to clearly convey the main points, organizing content logically through sections and hierarchy, and including contact details so viewers can easily find the presenter. Presenters should use their poster as a visual aid and verbally explain the motivation, questions, and discoveries of their research.

1. Giving a Poster Presentation
Adapted from http://www.ncsu.edu/project/posters/NewSite/index.html

2. What is a Poster?
● Is a visual representation and summary of your
research paper. But it is not just a standard
research paper stuck to a board.
● Posters serve as …
● a source of information
● a summary of your work
● an “advertisement” of your work

3. Know your audience
● Specialists only?
● Wide-ranging disciplines?
● A very general audience?

4. An Effective Poster - CONTENT
● It shows, not tells. It expresses your points graphically
● Delivers a clear and simple message
● Ask yourself which details are absolutely essential for
conveying your message
● Omit anything that is not essential
● It displays the essential content - the messages - in the title,
main headings and graphics.
● each main point is stated in large type-face headings;
● details are subordinated visually, using smaller type-face.

5. An Effective Poster -
LAYOUT
● Overall appearance
● Use a clear arrangement of graphics, text, colors. Your poster should be
neat and uncluttered
● Balance the placement of text and graphics to create visual appeal.
● Organization
● Sequence is well-ordered and obvious
● use a column format
● use organization cues to guide readers through your poster.
● use headings intelligently to help readers find your main points and key
information.
● Keep in mind reader’s gravity, which pulls the eyes from top to bottom,
and left to right.

7. An Effective Poster -
HEADINGS
● Title
● provide key messages or may throw provocative questions that can arouse
viewers’ curiosity
● Video Games bring educational benefits
● Do video games only have negative influences?
● Summarize
● Use headings as opportunities to summarize your work in large letters. A
hurried reader should be able to get the main points from the headings
alone.
● Organize
● Good headings help move readers through your poster.
● Be Hierarchical
● The more important the point, the larger the type.

9. Headings convey the message - viewers in a hurry
need not read further.

10. An Effective Poster - TEXT
● Minimize text – use graphics.
● Use bullet points, phrases, and NOT prose.
● Text size.
● All text should be large enough to read from 1-2 meters
● Text should be at least 24 point in text, 36 for headings.
● Title should be larger, to attract attention from far away.
● Use color cautiously.
● Dark letters on light background are easiest to read. Stick to a
theme of 2-3 colors. Avoid overly bright colors – they attract
attention but wear out reader’s eyes.

11. An Effective Poster – Personal
info
● Include full contact information. You want
to be found – the reader should not have
to look up anything to find you.

12. Presenting your Poster
● Use your poster as a visual aid - don't read it!
● Tell viewers ...
● the motivation for your research
● Your research question or thesis statement
● what you discovered

13. Evaluating
Posters
Use Poster Evaluation Checklist

14. Good example

15. Good example
(by student)

19. OK Poster

20. OK Poster

21. Bad Examples

22. bad example

25. rubric

26. Helpful website
 http://www.ncsu.edu/project/posters/CreatePoster
Overview.html