A manual for writers of research papers, theses, and dissertations, 7th edition - Kate L. Turabian 2007

Plan your poster presentation
Presenting research in alternative forums
Part I. Research and writing: from planning to production

A poster is a large board on which you lay out a summary of your research along with your most relevant evidence. Poster sessions are usually held in hallways or in a large room filled with other presenters. People move from poster to poster, asking questions of the presenters. Posters combine the advantages of writing and speaking. Those who read your poster have more control than a listener, and they can rely on prominent visual signals that you use to organize your material—boxes, lines, colors, and larger and smaller titles.

You can design your poster using available software and Web sites that produce a competent final product. For the text itself, however, follow the guidelines for a paper to be read aloud, with two more considerations:

1. Layer your argument. Present your argument visually in three levels of detail:

Highlight an abstract or a problem statement and summary at the top of the poster (box it, use larger type, etc.).

Under it, list your reasons as subheads in a section that summarizes your argument.

Under that, restate your reasons and group evidence under them.

2. Explain all graphs and tables. In addition to a caption on each graphic, add a sentence or two explaining what is important in the data and how they support your reason and claim (review 7.7 and 8.3.1).