Translating Complex Ideas into
Effective Research Posters
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BRAD BENZ
DU WRITING PROGRAM 2016
⃝ SARAH HART MICKE
⃝ HEATHER MARTIN
AGENDA:
What is a research poster?
Posters across disciplines
Assembling your poster
Presenting your poster
Basic software advice
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WHAT A RESEARCH POSTER IS NOT…
• A research paper
• A comprehensive version of your work
• A purely textual presentation
WHAT A RESEARCH POSTER IS…
• A very limited version of your research
• A visual presentation
• An invitation for people to ask you questions
Posters can include standard sections. But not always…
❑ Introduction
❑ Methods
❑ Results
PRESENTING YOUR POSTER:
THE “ELEVATOR PITCH”
•
•
•
•
30 seconds
2 minutes
5 minutes
Longer…
THINKING IN TERMS OF DISCIPLINE
Let your poster represent your discipline’s
values and methodologies. Or not…
DISTILLING COMPLEX FINDINGS
Write in one sentence what you want to communicate to
your audience.
Your central research idea should be reflected in the
content of your text and images.
Map out a logical sequence. Determine headings.
Assembling Your Poster
SIZE
• Standard size for a poster is 36 height x 42 width.
• Font for your title should be bold and large so that it’s
easy to read from far away: use 36-48 point font.
• The font for your content should also be large and
easy to read from a closer distance: 18-28 point font.
Assembling Your Poster
COLOR
• Keep the background light with darker text.
• Dark backgrounds with light text are tiring to read.
• Be careful of using too many colors … pick a theme
of 2 or 3 colors to unify the poster.
Assembling Your Poster
READABILITY
Organize your information to follow how your audience
naturally reads: left to right and top to bottom.
Format the text and images into easy-to-read columns
that stand out in a crowd.
Use headings to direct readers to key sections.
Balance alphabetic text with white space.
Poster Evaluation
•
How effective is the overall appearance of the poster (use of text, images, and
color)?
•
Are text and images balanced, with more images than text but with enough text to
understand the significance of the images?
•
Is the text easy to read from a distance of 3-4 feet?
•
Is it easy to follow the organization and flow of the poster?
•
Are the main research findings explicitly highlighted?
•
Is there enough information to contact you, the author?
•
Did you include an “Acknowledgements” section?
•
Can you explain your work, in brief, to a scholar who is not in your field?
BASIC SOFTWARE ADVICE
Use Powerpoint
Create one slide (your poster)
Save as .jpg
Set size as 30 by 40 inches
See your email for a link with precise directions
Complete the form and email your slide to the Writing Program
([email protected]) by 4 PM on Weds April 29 if you want the Writing
Program to print it.
Locate your own poster backing (cardboard, etc.)
Don’t let this be you…