Director, Environmental Studies
Professor of English

POSTERS

Finished poster slides are DUE to me by NOON, FRIDAY APRIL 18!

The poster is an outline, not a complete presentation. The poster gives the viewer an initial sense of information, issues, and line of thinking – enough to (1) communicate the basics to the viewer, and (2) enable the viewer to ask intelligent questions about your research.

A posterpresentation is your responseto questions from the audience. Unlike a PowerPoint presentation when you give a slide lecture, in the case of a poster presentation, the audience initiates discussion by raising questions or making comments, to which you respond.

he basic point of the type of poster for the ES Senior Seminar is not conveying information but embodying critical thinking. The poster should end with your own view concerning an issue, but the more important goal is to lead the viewer through a probing of complexities concerning an environmental issue. While this type of poster involves informing and persuading, the primary aim is to engage the viewer in the issue.

As a result, the title of the poster should be not a topic but an issue, and should be put as a question. This signals to the viewer that the poster is fundamentally a process of questioning. The title should be as direct and simple – and thus as short – as possible. Under the title, in smaller print, put your name and the context for the poster: Environmental Studies 490: Senior Seminar.

The three columns are to be read top to bottom, left to right. That is, start at the top left corner, go down that column, then move to the top of the center column, and so on. The three columns should be subdivided into several sections.

Issues : List a few main issues, and a few sub-issues related to each main issue. You will not be able to list all the main issues or sub-issues: select the most important and stimulating ones.

Terms : List and briefly define a few (not all) key terms, and note whether there are multiple definitions. Include at least one term that has divergent definitions. This helps the viewer recognize that terms are central to thinking about the issue, and they are complex and often subject to dispute.

Information : Outline the most important information: both scientific information about the environment and social scientific and historical information about society. Note whether there is any dispute concerning this information (from conflicting information or uncertainty). Include some information about which there is serious dispute.

Policies : The poster should include at least two conflicting policy options. This can be done in several ways

• If you disagree with the current policy or practice concerning the issue, outline that policy or practice. Also state why that policy and practice is in place. This includes support (evidence, reason, and authority), bases (implicit assumptions, values, categories, definitions, etc.), social situation (relative strength of the economy, social class, race, gender, etc.), and power structures (political party, lobbyists, citizen input). Analyze the relative merits and problems with the policy. Then in the next section you will give your position. OR:
• Outline a proposed policy or practice that you disagree with. Analyze the support and bases for that policy or practice. Analyze the relative merits and problems with the policy. Then in the next section you will give your position. OR:
• Outline two conflicting policies or practices. Analyze their support and bases. Analyze the relative merits and problems with these policies. Then in the next section you will give your position.

Your position :

• Outline your position.
• Note potential problems and limitations in your view.
• Outline why you hold your position (despite those potential problems and limitations): support and bases. Be sure to include the basic values that inform your position.

What is to be done

• Based on your position, outline what should be done by government, business, other organizations and groups, and individuals. Note the how and when of what should be done.

Sources

• Give bibliographic information on sources cited in the poster.

DESIGN

There are three main goals for design

• to give sufficient amount of written material to convey your critical thinking
• to make your points as visible and easy to read as possible
• to make the overall design pleasing and interesting

In one way, the first two goals are in conflict: the more information you include, the smaller the print; the smaller the print, the more difficult to read. So you need to find an appropriate balance.

Beyond that, make sure that

• the sections are clearly delineated: the mind wants chunks of information grouped into sections (which is why we write in paragraphs).
• the print is as visible as possible: have strong contrast between background and letters, and try using bold font.

I will evaluate the posters by the following criteria:

1. Does the poster embody critical thinking?

2. Does it involve all the elements noted above that are appropriate to the topic?

3. Is the information gives accurate?

4. Does the poster give sufficient information to enable the viewer to understand the basics of the issue and policies and to ask intelligent questions?

5. Does the poster’s design pleasing with the written material easy to read?

I will evaluate the poster presentation (responses to the audience) by the following criteria:

1. Does the presenter show a command of the information and policies?

2. Does the presenter show a command of the issues and of the support and bases for the positions given?

3. Does the present have a sophisticated grasp of the complexities involved?

4. Does the presenter communicate real interest in the topic and an appropriate tone (serious but relaxed and open)?

5. Is the presenter able to respond in a clear, efficient, and appropriate way to questions?

6. I the physical appearance appropriate, which includes clothes and the way you stand and relate physically to the audience?

Additional criteria

1. Is the abstract of high quality?

2. Did the presenter handle the application, set-up, and take-down fully and properly?

2/23/08

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