Poster sessions offer a snapshot of several research projects at one time, often as part of professional conferences. They give participants the chance to share findings in a relaxed atmosphere that encourages dialogue between the presenters and other professionals attending the conference. Presenters can answer questions and expand on ideas outlined in their posters.
A poster should present the most important findings of your research in a format that can be understood in five minutes or less. Plan your poster carefully. Sketch out the basic layout, identify the key sections, and decide what information is essential to tell your story. Summarize your study with enough detail to be informative, but with a single clear focus so that viewers are not confused. At the same time, don't oversimplify. Don't worry about creating text that flows from one section to the next. A poster is a series of snapshots, and viewers will not take the time to read paragraphs of dense prose.
Some people suggest using the "elevator speech" tactic. Elevator speeches are short speeches (they take as long as an elevator ride) that you can use to answer the question "What research are you working on?” Think of your poster the same way. Try to keep your sections of text under 50 words.
Use headings to help your viewers find information. Scientific and technical posters usually use headings such as Purpose, Methods, Data Analysis, Results, and Conclusions. Use whichever of these headings seems appropriate, or create your own. A question-and-answer format is often effective. At the very least, you should include Purpose, Findings (or headings that identify specific topics), and Conclusions. Remember that the purpose of headings is to give your readers a quick overview of your project and to help them find the information that they are most interested in.
Graphics (photos, charts, figures) can be an important part of a poster, but make sure that they tell part of the story. Don't clutter up the display with pictures that distract rather than inform. As much as possible, graphics should be self explanatory. Keep captions short and to a minimum. Remember that graphics must be visible from a distance, and don't forget to use white space effectively.
Consider developing a handout that summarizes your findings. This is a supplement to your poster. It should include the same title, name, and affiliation information that is at the top of the poster. At professional conferences, the handout should also include contact information (like an email address) so that participants can follow up with questions or share research and resources. You should also add information about the event at which the poster was displayed. The handout should be no longer than one page. If you have used color as an accent on your poster, consider using matching paper for your handout. If a brochure format would be effective, use it.
You can use PowerPoint as an easy way to create effective posters. Sample templates for posters are available in the “Posters” folder on the English Department’s section of the O drive. Consider using these only as a template to get you started–to help you with basic layout. You can see samples of posters created by students for English research projects in the same folder on the O drive.
Using PowerPoint, you can insert text boxes and graphic elements to best communicate your information. You can format headings and colors for the best effect. Just remember that the poster should be clear and attractive from several feet away. It should invite people walking around a room to stop and read more.
There is a specialized printer available in the CAI lab, 119 Murphy Hall. Access to this printer requires written permission from a professor.
Most posters are designed using two or three columns as their basic organization. It is usually most effective to arrange materials from top to bottom in each column. The top of your center panel should include your title, your name, and your affiliation. Titles should be short–ten words or less, if possible. Use first and last name for the author(s). At a professional conference, your affiliation will be your school or organization. For Multi-disciplinary Research Day poster sessions, your affiliation can be the course number, title, and the semester for which you created the poster.
Titles should be visible from three or four feet away, so they should be in a bold type face with letters 1.5 to 2 inches high (about 96 point size). It is hard to read all caps, but if you want that effect, consider using the "small caps" font for your title only. Use the same type face in a slightly smaller size for the author's name and affiliation. You should also use the same type face for headings, again in a slightly smaller size.
Consider writing a one paragraph abstract of your research and placing this directly under the title information. Make sure that your research question is clear. Consider opening the abstract with the research question in italics.
The text of the poster should be written in simple or compound sentences, using active voice. Know who your audience is, and avoid jargon or technical terms that may be unfamiliar to them. Bulleted lists can be an effective way to display important information. You can use the same type face as you have used for the titles, or you can make headings sans serif (like Arial) and text serif (like Times New Roman).
During the poster session, you will be standing next to your display. Invite viewers to ask questions. Feel free to offer comments. Encourage discussion. Poster sessions at professional conference can also offer chances to network with fellow researchers, colleagues, and potential employers.
There are several good web sites about poster sessions. These two are especially helpful:
Colorado State University Writing Center, " Poster Sessions "
http://writing.colostate.edu/guides/speaking/poster/
Queen's University Action Research, "How to Present a Poster Session "
http://educ.queensu.ca/~ar/poster.htm
North Carolina State, “Creating Effective Poster Presentations”
http://www.ncsu.edu/project/posters/NewSite/index.html
In the "Posters" folder on the English Department’s O drive, you can also find examples of posters that Missouri Western students have created, and you can find a three-panel template and a two-panel template for posters. These templates are based on Microsoft PowerPoint slides. You can use them as a starting point, or to see how text boxes and visual elements from PowerPoint can be used to create slides, and then create your own from scratch.