Panel Discussion Guidelines

In order to leave ample time for feedback and discussion, each roundtable presenter will be held to a strict 5-minute time limit. It takes about three minutes to read approximately one double-spaced, standard font-sized typed page. You can use that as a guideline and type out a script for yourself. I strongly recommend practicing your presentation in advance and timing yourself so that you know you’re within the time limit. It’s an important professional courtesy to keep your talk within the allotted time frame.
Keep in mind that your goal is to speak about your project as clearly as possible to a smart, interested but less informed audience. Working to make your presentation listener-friendly should mean you receive helpful feedback.
Your presentation should open with your working thesis statement or central claim, then offer a very brief and selective overview of any information you think the audience needs to understand what is at stake in your argument (i.e. a 1-2 sentence summary of your primary text(s); a 1-2 sentence summary of the scholarly conversation you’re engaging with).
You might then consider offering an example. Listening audiences often respond well to concrete information, so an example followed by a brief analysis or explanation would be very helpful. You’re welcome to use a slide to help your audience follow along with your example, but keep in mind that, given the time limit, you need to keep your slide very focused.
You might consider finishing your presentation with 1-2 questions or problems you’re hoping the audience can help you with.
After all participants have presented, you will answer questions from the audience. These questions will hopefully help you develop your work in progress. The questions will not be critical of your project, but will be from friendly, curious, and interested peers. Consider taking notes on any questions or feedback you receive.
Be confident! Remember, you are the expert on your topic, and most listeners are there to learn from you.