As researchers, we also have to become adept at talking about the work that we do. In this course, you will give shortl presentations of work you are doing in the class, as noted in the sylllabus. You will be asked to give one formal research about your research interests—the inspirations presentation). This final presentation will require that you synthesize content from your bibliography entries, your daily words, and other materials you are working on in and outside of class.
Pre-presentation:
One week before your assigned presentation, you must identify one paper that you have found to be most inspirational in your research journey so far. It may be because of the topic, the method, etc. The class will read this paper to prepare for the discussion surrounding your presentation. Please post a pdf of the paper in the inspirations Pre-Reading folder in Drive.
Presentation day:
Research is about creating dialogue with other researchers. In this presentation, you will both foster dialogue with your colleagues locally and begin to create dialogue with other researchers by situating your own work in the context of the research of others who have inspired you.
You will have 19 minutes to present the following:
- Introduction (2 minutes)
- What aspects of your background have made you who you currently are as a researcher (e.g., the kinds of topics/technologies/questions/methods matter to you)?
- Individual inspirations. Identify three researchers whose research has inspired you the most. For each source of inspiration, present the following (2 minutes each, 2x3=6 minutes):
- Introduction to the researcher whose work has influenced you. What is their background (e.g., discipline, etc)? What topics have they studied during their career?
- Describe the research (an individual paper or a series of topically coherent papers) they have done that is most relevant to you—research questions, methods, findings, implications
- How has this research has inspired you? What is it about the research that you want to build on or emulate?
- Collective inspiration. How might you imagine designing a research study that synthesizes the inspiration of these three researchers? (6 minutes)
- Walk us through one narrative that synthesizes some aspect of each of your three inspirations’ research programs (at minimum; feel free to draw from other researchers as needed). What research question (big-picture is okay) does your logical narrative lead you towards?
- Deconstruct the research space. What sub-questions are inherent in the broader research question? What data would you need to collect to answer each sub-question? What methods could you use to collect that data? At minimum create a table summarizing the research space, with the following columns: Research Question | Data | Methods (this will be a very helpful reference during discussion)
- Briefly reflect on the pros and cons and challenges (if any) of each sub-question
- Specific questions or discussion points that you’d like the class to address. (0 minutes; sit on this slide at the end of your talk)
- 4 minutes for discussion
- 30 seconds transition
Evaluation:
Points sum up to a total of 13 possible points.
2 points
Covered all required elements within 25 minutes, and no more.
2 points
Gave dynamic oral presentation with frequent eye contact
1 point
Designed slide content that varied in modality and pacing
3 points
Summarized inspirations’ research in an accessible (don’t lose anyone along the way) and educational manner (while still providing significant details)
2 points
Synthesis of related work reflected a logic that was unique to you and led clearly to one or more research questions
3 points
Deconstruction of the research space reflected BOTH an open-minded, creative brainstorming and informed specifics.