Guidelines for Project Presentations
Graduate Directed Project

For each Graduate Directed Project, four presentations are required

• First Semester Mid-Term Presentation
• First Semester End-of-Term Presentation
• Second Semester Mid-Term Presentation
• Second Semester Final Presentation

Presentation guidelines

• Committee members and client attend presentations – except for the first semester mid-term presentation, which includes only the committee members, not the client.
• The first semester mid-term presentation is informal. For the remaining presentations, you will be presenting to your client, as well as your committee members, so the presentation should be more formal.
• Dress requirements for the first presentation: informal, but neat.
• Dress requirements for the remaining presentations: business casual.
• Describe your project, demonstrate all features, discuss what you plan to do before the next presentation, and describe any problems you are having.
• Be prepared to answer technical questions about your project, such as providing an explanation for your database design (if your project requires a database) and discussing code. 
• Time:  Approximately 20 minutes, with a question-and-answer period following the presentation.
• Students should take notes during the question and answer period.
• Send a reminder to your client (except for the first presentation) and your committee about 24 hours in advance, reminding them of the time and place for the presentation.
• Arrive at least one-half hour in advance; an hour is probably better, unless you have checked out the room in advance.  You need to start your presentation on time.  That means all of your equipment must be set up and working properly before your start time
• If at all possible, take the equipment you are planning to use for the demonstration to the room in which you will be demonstrating the day before your presentation.  Make sure you know how to hook up all the equipment and check out what your GUI screens look like when using the projector system in the room.

Tips for your presentation

Be honest!  If someone asks you a question and you don’t know the answer, the correct response is “I don’t know.”

Have a strong beginning and a strong ending.  You are in charge of the question and answer session following your presentation.  After the question and answer session, thank your committee members for coming and end the session.  It is your responsibility to end the session.

Speak slowly.

In response to a question, if several team members begin to respond at the same time, stop!  Only one person should be speaking at a time.

All team members must participate in the presentation, but the time does not have to be divided equally.

Make eye contact with everyone in the audience.

Don’t try to memorize or read your presentation.  Instead, practice for a smooth, polished presentation.  Practice timing and delivery.

You may bring handouts to your presentation.  This is advisable if you have slides that are difficult to read – ER models for example.

After the presentation

Following your presentation, your committee will meet privately and provide additional feedback to your mentor. Your mentor will schedule a meeting with you to share this feedback.