Seminar presentation guidelines

General information
In seminar units, you will be expected to prepare a paper and present it in class. Seminar
papers must be presented in class on the date determined with the tutor. Two copies of
seminar papers must be written out and formally submitted, either on the day of presentation
in class or, with the relevant tutor's agreement, on a subsequently agreed date. Delivery of the
presentation in class and submission of the written form of the presentation is a formal
requirement for the award of credit points. In any case involving failure to present a paper
without prior dispensation, certified or acceptable cause, credit points will normally be
withheld.

Preparing a presentation
The lecturer will allocate topics well in advance. He or she may also give you some
indication of the way you should approach the topic, and the books you might consult; if not,
you can always ask for advice. You should use the unit bibliography as a basis, and seek out
other books yourself using the bibliographies of the books you read or the library computer.
The most important thing to remember is that you will be addressing an audience of your
fellow students, who will expect to derive some benefit from what you have to say. You may
decide that they will benefit most from a clear summary of relevant information, or from a
discussion of the key issues, or some mixture of the two. Whatever your decision, you must
always keep your audience in mind as you prepare your presentation. The simplest criterion
is, of course, to imagine yourself as part of the audience. What sort of presentation would you
prefer to hear?

Key points

Consult the unit tutor in advance if you are unsure about any matters of preparation
for presentations.

Prepare your images well in advance. If you are using slides check at least 2 weeks
before the presentation what slides are available for your topic. If you are using
PowerPoint make sure the images you want are either available on line or produce
scans. Take time to search for high quality images Do not prepare a paper for which
no visual material is available. The odd crucial image which is not available can be
presented as a photocopy.

The paper can take the form either of a series of well-prepared and extensive notes or
of a fully written-out text. Your tutor may advise you of his or her preference.

The audience does not have the opportunity of re-reading something that they do not
understand. Make sure, therefore, that you do not use over-sophisticated language or
complicated syntax. If you do have to introduce a complicated argument, ask the
audience if they have understood it. Be prepared to explain if they have not.

The aim of the paper is to present something which is consistent with the learning
outcome of the unit. Bear this in mind and do not produce something which is
tangential or unrelated to the central concerns of the unit.

Make sure that your paper is logically structured. The audience will gain little from a
series of random points. You should try to analyse a set of issues and problems and
not merely summarise a topic.

An important aim of seminar presentations is to promote discussion. Rather than

trying to provide a complete solution, therefore, your paper should seek to raise
questions. If appropriate, it is perfectly sensible to ask questions of the audience.

Presenting

Delivery is very important. Speak naturally and clearly, and do not rush. Appear
enthusiastic (or at least do not appear bored) and maintain eye contact with the
audience.

Images are crucial aids in your presentation. Think about them as carefully as you
think about your text. Do not use more than is necessary, but do not leave out
important examples. It often makes sense to begin with something simple and wellknown, and then to progress to more complicated examples.

Timing. Tutors will advise you of the appropriate length of papers for their units. Try
to stick to this time, and always ensure that you leave time at the end for discussion.

Handouts. Good handouts are an invaluable aid. They can summarise the points that
you make in your paper, they can spell out unfamiliar names, facts, etc., and in
general make the audience feel more confident that they are following what you are
saying. Handouts should not exceed two sides of A4 in length.

Watching a Presentation
If you're in the position of one of the audience, you should bear in mind that it'll be your turn
some day to speak, and should assist the speaker by at least asking for information or
clarification. Once again, 'do as you would be done by'. The better the presentation and the
discussion, the better the learning outcome for all concerned. Learning to give a
competent presentation is a skill which will be useful after your degree - but so too is learning
to contribute positively to discussion, putting your views across and commenting on the
views of others.

Using Microsoft PowerPoint

PowerPoint is a really 'easy to use' programme which can be thought of as a virtual slide
carousel that allows you to insert images/slides into a sequence and display them. The
University Information Services offers PowerPoint training sessions for all students.

Further advice
Lectures and personal tutors are happy to discuss any problems you may be encountering and
help you with your presentations. The best way to approach this is to make an appointment
with the appropriate member of staff, allowing plenty of time before the presentation is due to
implement any advice offered.
In addition if you feel that you would benefit from some extra training the Student
Development Unit offer free training sessions for students.