Poster Session Presentations - National Council of Teachers of English

Poster Session Presentations

If you are presenting during a Poster Session, a bulletin board (4 feet high by 8 feet wide) will be provided with a table (24 inches wide by 8 feet long) placed in front. Each poster presenter will have the full use of this space during their particular session period. Please bring your own tacks to attach your poster to the board.

You have a designated session time slot during which you will “present” your poster and interact with attendees about your work. Please arrive a few minutes early and stay near your poster throughout the duration of your session.

Poster Presentation Tips:

  • Develop a “talk” that will complement your poster’s information; consider probable viewer questions as you prepare.
  • Prepare a few different versions of your poster “talk”:
    • a quick 30-second overview of the project
    • a 60-second summary plus brief explanations about each major poster heading
    • a 3-minute explanation of the poster and its visual content
  • Practice your talk, complete with gestures, while maintaining eye contact.
  • During the poster session, allow viewers some time to look at poster’s content, particularly the visuals, and then tell them about it.
  • Bring your business cards and a stack of handouts that summarize your presentation for attendees to take away from your session.
  • Bring a sign-up sheet to collect contact information to email additional information after the Convention to those interested.

Design Tips:

  • Posters should be readable from a distance of 5 to 10 feet. (Use at least 48-point font for titles and 36-point for body text and tables.)
  • Include images to support your argument and capture viewers’ interest.
  • Limit text (no more than 800 words); use headings, bulleted lists, and enumeration where possible.
  • Select highly legible font styles (no more than three) and use them consistently throughout.
  • Use dark text on a light background to maximize readability.
  • Don’t overdo color; select a color scheme and use color strategically. (Overuse of bright colors or use of clashing colors can distract readers.)
  • There are many websites that provide practical advice in how to design an effective poster presentation, including the following:

 

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