Talk Guidelines
1) When will I give my oral presentation?
Presenters of submitted abstracts will be notified on or around January 10, 2012 of their abstract status and the entire GRS program will be posted online in March 2012. Abstract withdrawals will be the only changes made to the program.
2) How long is the oral presentation?
Natural & Computational Science oral presentations are allotted 12 minutes for the presentation and 3 minutes for questions from the general audience, while Humanities & Social Science oral presentations are allotted 15 minutes for the presentation and 5 minutes for questions from the general audience. Time keeping will be strictly enforced and the session chair will provide you with visual indicators to assist you with time management during your presentation.
3) What type of computer & audio-visual equipment will be provided?
We will provide a PC laptop with Microsoft Office 2007 and a LCD projector for each session room. The audio from the PC laptops will be connected to the audio speakers in the session room. You must use the PC laptop we provide and you may NOT bring your own. We highly encourage the use of PowerPoint slides for your visual aids and a good rule-of-thumb is one slide per minute. Also, you must bring your own laser pointer if needed.
4) How do I handle downloading the PowerPoint file to the PC laptop?
We will do it for you. All presenters are required to e-mail us their PowerPoint file two days before the symposium. In addition, please save your presentation on a portable memory device (USB Flash Drive) and bring it to the GRS as backup or if you have last minute changes to your slides.
5) What if I am a Mac user?
Unfortunately, due to technical difficulties in the past we do NOT allow the use of Mac laptops.
6) Can I create my presentation using a program other than PowerPoint?
Yes, but please send it to us in advance to make sure that there are no technical difficulties with your chosen format.
7) Any other words of wisdom?
Meet with your advisor or colleagues to discuss your presentation; a second opinion always helps. Also, practice your presentation more than once.
8) Where can I get more help on how to give an oral presentation?
To help W&M graduate students prepare for job talks, interviews, and conference presentations (including the Graduate Research Symposium), Robin Cantor-Cooke will lead the popular Graduate Center workshop Presenting Yourself with Confidence and Control on the following five dates from 6:30-8:30 p.m.: February 15th, 22nd, and 29th, March 14th, and March 21st, 2012. The workshop includes sessions on improving stance, voice, and gestures; enhancing eye contact and connecting with the audience; combating nervousness; and banishing the sense of doom that often accompanies such occasions. Students are encouraged to attend all 5 sessions.
Ms. Cantor-Cooke began as a stage actor and has worked with some of the biggest stars in show business, including George Burns, Sid Caesar, Milton Berle, Helen Hayes, Charlton Heston, Keith Carradine, and Marlo Thomas. For 25 years, she has worked as writer, editor, audio scriptwriter, and producer of more than 40 books and tape programs.
She holds a master’s degree from the Medill School of Journalism and is coauthor of five nonfiction books, including a New York Times bestseller.
Don’t miss an opportunity to receive professional coaching from a pro, free of charge. Contact Chasity Roberts to sign up ASAP, as space is limited. Due to limited enrollment, this workshop is for W&M graduate students only.
Also, checkout Giving an Oral Presentation and Rules for Preparing a Talk.
9) Any other questions?
Just send an e-mail to co-chair Alexandra Jerome.