If you would like assistance or feedback at any stage of the research process, please schedule an appointment with one of the librarians.
Email: library@centralpenn.edu
Phone: 717-728-2500
First Things First
1. If this is a class assignment, gather all information from your instructor regarding topic selection. Your instructor probably will provide a broad topic, then you will need to narrow it down into a manageable research question.
2. Register your topic (use the Register tab in this guide).
Research
3. View the research tutorials & tips videos in the box below - these will be invaluable to you.
4. Begin your research. Start researching early. Collect all your research materials in one place, like a citation manager or a OneDrive folder. Think beyond just looking at articles in EBSCOhost and Gale; explore books and films as well.
5. Organize your research into coherent thoughts and sentences that other people will be able to easily follow and understand. Begin thinking about how the research could best be visually displayed in a presentation - what information should be text and what graphs or images you should use.
At any point during the process, direct your questions to your instructor or a librarian.
Create Your Presentation
7. Organize the information for your presentation. Make sure to follow the guidelines found in the template (see the Template tab in this guide). Also be sure to look over the judging rubric (in the Judging tab of this guide).
Watch the brief videos below for information about how to access Library resources in Blackboard, search the Library's catalog, and conduct academic research in EBSCOhost and Gale.
For more detailed assistance on using the library's databases, visit the Online Resources Guide.
For additional support, contact your Librarians (library@centralpenn.edu).
Want help applying your research to the PowerPoint template? Watch these short videos for guidance on how to best use the PowerPoint template and for design tips.
We recommend that you watch videos in full screen mode.
You are required to provide a list of your references on both your poster and your handout, and you are required to include in-text references on your poster board or PowerPoint presentation. Watch the brief video below for information about plagiarism and citations. For details about how to begin citing your sources, visit our APA guide or contact your Librarians.
While the information on your poster is important, so are the words you say as you present for the judges. Your presentation should be about 2 minutes in length. Here are a few details and tips to help you with your presentation:
While the information on your slides is important, so are the words you say as you narrate your presentation. Your presentation should not be more than 12 slides and no more than 10 minutes with the narration.
All presentations should have:
Posters
After you register a librarian will contact you about picking up a trifold poster board for your presentation.
Build Your Poster Day! All Day June 1st in the Library - Bring your poster boards and any other materials you would like to add to your poster to make it stand out! Glue sticks, scissors, and construction paper will be provided by the library.
If you are providing handouts, and would like your handouts printed in color, email a copy to library@centralpenn.edu by 5pm on June 1st. If you are using black & white handouts, print 10 copies to have with you during your presentation.
June 2nd - Arrive in the Conference Center by 2:45pm with your poster and handouts. Dress professionally and have a brief one to two minute speech prepared to explain your research to others.
Online submissions
Your presentation should have less than 12 slides.
If using Teams: Contact the library to set up a time to record your presentation before May 31st. See instructions on using Teams to present in the How to submit your Digital Presentation box below)
If using VoiceThread: Upload your presentation into VoiceThread in Blackboard (See instructions in the How to submit your Digital Presentation box below) .
May 31st - Add your narration to your presentation by 11:59 pm. The entire presentation should be less than 10 minutes. Judges will view the presentations on June 1st and submit questions to you in VoiceThread.
June 2nd - Respond to the judges' questions in VoiceThread by 11:59pm
Librarians are available to help!
The videos below (and more) can be seen in the VoiceThread Resources for Students module on the My BlackBoard page
This video provides an overview on using the Presenter mode in Teams. You will need to arrange a time with the library to record your presentation (this is so the library has access to the recording later). Ideally we'll be able to arrange a time to present with the judges. Otherwise, the presentation will be recorded and you will respond via chat to the judges questions.
The Library will be open 10am to 2pm Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday during the term.
Remember the Learning Hub is also open with lots of great faculty and staff willing to help with tutoring, advising, and general questions.
Email: Library@centralpenn.edu
Phone or Text: 717-728-2500