HNRS 4970 - Honors College Senior Forum

Here are some helpful questions to consider when developing your research talk.

1. What is the topic of your research?
2. What is the problem, issue, or question that you are addressing in your research?
3. Why is that problem interesting and important (the so what)?
4. How does your work contribute to the broader discussion of this topic/problem in your field?

Here is a worksheet with the questions we completed in class.

When crafting your 1-minute research pitch:

• Develop a hook story, question, or statement to start your pitch and situate your research into a larger conversation.
• Remember your audience, what would be most interesting to them?
• Avoid using jargon or explain the concept in a way that makes sense to a non-expert.
• Use everyday analogies or scenarios to explain the importance of your topic.
• Define acronyms before using them (non-governmental organizations vs. NGOs).
• Get to your main points early on.
• Practice delivering your pitch with a friend and ask for feedback

When designing your visual element:

• Find and create meaningful visuals that explain your research to non-experts.

• What key points do you want to highlight?

• Limit text overwhelm.

• What visuals can help explain one of the more complicated aspects of my research?

• Focus on simplicity and clarity.

• "Deconstructing the Elevator Speech", created by UCLA Library, is a short guide for writing and delivering an elevator speech or pitch about your research. The guide includes video examples and a worksheet to help you write your pitch. 
• "Sharing Your Research" is a virtual training created by UCLA Library that explains the difference between elevator speeches and abstracts, providing guidance for writing each type of research summary.
• This slide deck from the University of Notre Dame's graduate school presents helpful tips for writing and delivering research, interview, and cocktail party pitches
• "Presenting Your Research: Getting Started", created by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library, offers tips for creating presentations lasting from a few minutes to an hour