The Presentation - Guidelines
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- Wait for a signal from the Review Board before you begin your presentation, or ask the Review Board members if they are ready.
- Introduce yourself to the Review Board.
- Remember that you will be making a formal presentation. Please dress appropriately. If you are not sure what constitutes appropriate dress, consult your mentor or English teacher.
- Do not chew gum.
- Be aware of your body language. For example, avoid nervous gestures that may adversely affect your presentation.
- Maintain eye contact with the Review Board.
- Do not read your presentation.
- Write a letter of introduction to include in the portfolio. Panel members should read this letter before listening to your presentation.
- Practice your presentation several times until you feel comfortable with its format and content. Also, time your presentation to ensure that you do not exceed the ten-minute maximum.
- Practice imagining what questions your Review Board might ask you (or ask a parent or a friend to compose questions for you) and plan the answers you would give. Your board may not ask these exact questions, but this will give you an opportunity to practice answering questions. Remember that questions should address clarification or extension of your topic. Review Boards will be trained regarding the nature of appropriate questions. However, suppose you are asked a question that you feel is inappropriate (e.g., a purely personal question). In that case, you have the right to reply politely that the question does not relate to your research.