How to Write the Notice of Meeting (With Template)

notice for seminar presentation

When tasked with the responsibility of gathering colleagues or stakeholders for a meeting, the clarity and effectiveness of your meeting notice can set the tone for the engagement and productivity of the session.

A well-crafted notice of meeting serves not just as an informative tool but as an initial way to guide the focus and expectations of its recipients.

Whether it's a routine team meeting, a high-stakes board assembly, or a strategic planning session, the importance of drafting a clear and concise meeting notice cannot be overstated.

This blog will explore the details of crafting a clear, concise, and informative meeting notice in order to ensure everyone arrives well-prepared and ready to participate.

What Is a Meeting Notice?

A meeting notice is a formal document or electronic message sent to attendees to inform them of an upcoming meeting.

It serves several crucial purposes:

  • Disseminating Key Information:  It clearly communicates the essential details of the meeting, including the date, time, location (physical or virtual platform details), and duration.
  • Setting Expectations:  It outlines the meeting's purpose and objectives, giving attendees a clear understanding of what will be discussed and what outcomes are expected.
  • Encouraging Preparation:  The notice allows attendees to come prepared with relevant information or questions by providing an agenda with estimated times for each topic.
  • Facilitating Participation:  The notice may also include details about participation methods (in-person or virtual), materials to be reviewed beforehand, and any deadlines for submitting input or proposals.
  • Promoting Transparency and Accountability:  A well-crafted notice fosters a sense of transparency by clearly outlining the purpose and agenda. This can also hold attendees accountable for coming prepared and participating actively.

Legal and Organizational Requirements for Meeting Notices

While the core elements of a meeting notice remain consistent across most situations, there may be specific legal or organizational requirements to consider.

Here's a breakdown of some key points:

  • Open Meetings:  There might be legal requirements for open access for certain types of meetings, particularly those involving public bodies or government entities. A meeting notice for such gatherings may need to be publicly posted and distributed following specific timelines.
  • Corporate Governance:  Organizational bylaws or governance regulations might dictate specific content requirements for meeting notices for board meetings or meetings involving shareholders. This could include details like voting rights, quorum requirements, or deadlines for submitting proposals.
  • Internal Policies:  Many organizations may have internal policies or guidelines outlining preferred formats or content requirements for a meeting notice. These guidelines might address information security protocols for sharing sensitive materials or preferred RSVP methods.

It's important to consult with your organization's legal department or relevant governing bodies  to ensure your meeting notices comply with any specific legal or internal requirements. This will help avoid potential delays or challenges associated with improper notification procedures.

Essential Components of a Meeting Notice

Now that we've established the importance and purpose of meeting notice, let's delve into the nitty-gritty: the essential components that should be included in every effective notice.

(1) Meeting Title

A clear and concise title sets the stage for the entire notice by conveying the meeting's purpose. For example, "Team Brainstorming Session: Marketing Campaign Ideas" or "Monthly Sales Performance Review."

Avoid overly generic titles like "Important Meeting" –– attendees deserve to know what's "important" from the get-go.

(2) Date, Time, and Duration

Specify the meeting date and time of the meeting in a clear format (e.g., Tuesday, May 2nd at 2:00 PM PST). If applicable, include the time zone for remote participants. Additionally, providing an estimated duration (e.g., 1 hour) helps attendees manage their schedules effectively.

(3) Location

Indicate the physical location (e.g., Conference Room B) or the virtual meeting details (e.g., Zoom Meeting Link) for the meeting. For virtual meetings, consider including any access codes or login instructions needed to join.

(4) Attendees

List the attendees who are required or invited to participate. This clarifies who needs to prioritize attending and who may find the meeting informative but not essential for their participation.

(5) Meeting Objectives

In a concise statement, outline the key goals or desired outcomes for the meeting. This helps attendees understand the meeting's focus and prepares them to contribute meaningfully.

A detailed agenda is the backbone of a strong meeting notice. It provides a structured roadmap for the discussion, outlining the topics to be covered, the order of discussion, and estimated time allotments for each item.

Here are some best practices for crafting an effective agenda:

  • Clear and concise topic titles:  Attendees should easily understand what will be discussed under each point.
  • Logical flow:  Organize the agenda in a logical sequence that facilitates a productive discussion.
  • Estimated timings:  Allocate realistic timeframes for each topic, taking into account potential discussion points or questions.

(7) Preparation Materials

If there are any reports, presentations, or other relevant documents attendees should review beforehand, list them in the notice. This allows for more focused discussions during the meeting itself.

(8) RSVP Information

Specify a deadline for attendees to RSVP (Respondez s'il vous plait - French for "Please respond") and indicate the preferred method for doing so (e.g., replying to the email, using an online form).

Knowing who will attend helps with logistical planning and ensures everyone receives any essential pre-meeting updates.

(9) Contact Information

Include contact details for the meeting organizer or point person. This allows attendees to reach out with any questions or clarifications regarding the meeting.

How Meeting Type Shapes Meeting Notice

The format and content of your meeting notice can be tailored to suit the specific type of meeting you're scheduling. 

Here's a breakdown of some common meeting types and how you might adjust your notice accordingly:

Informational Meetings

These meetings aim to share information or updates with a wider audience. The agenda will likely focus on presentations or reports, with less emphasis on attendee participation.

The meeting invitation can highlight the key information to be presented and encourage attendees to come prepared with any relevant questions.

Decision-Making Meetings

These meetings focus on reaching a consensus or making choices on specific issues. The agenda should clearly outline the decisions to be made and any supporting information or proposals that attendees should review beforehand.

The notice may also specify if voting will take place and clarify who has the authority to make final decisions.

Progress Review Meetings

These meetings track the progress of ongoing projects or initiatives. The agenda might include updates from team members, discussions on challenges or roadblocks, and planning for next steps.

The notice can benefit from including relevant project documents, reports or organizational documents for reference.

One-on-One Meetings

While typically less formal, a brief notice for one-on-one meetings can still be helpful.

The notice can serve as a reminder of the meeting time and purpose, and you might mention any specific topics you'd like to discuss.

Crafting an Effective Meeting Notice

Now that you have gained the knowledge of essential components and meeting types, let's delve into crafting an effective meeting notice. 

Here is the step by step guidance that you can consider in order to provide proper notice:

Clarity and Conciseness

Strive for clear and concise language throughout the notice. Avoid jargon or overly complex sentence structures. Attendees should be able to grasp the key details of the meeting at a glance.

  • Focus on the essentials:  Avoid information overload. Stick to the key details attendees need to know, like meeting date, time, location, purpose, meeting agenda, and preparation materials.
  • Active Voice:  Write in an active voice for a more direct and engaging tone. Instead of "A presentation will be given," use "We will present our marketing campaign strategy."
  • Bullet Points and Headings:  Break down information into clear sections with bullet points and headings for improved readability.

Professional Communication

Maintain a professional tone while remaining approachable. Avoid overly casual language or excessive use of exclamation points.

  • Formal Tone:  Maintain a professional tone while remaining approachable. Avoid overly casual language or jargon that might not be understood by all attendees.
  • Proofread Carefully:  Typos and grammatical errors can create a negative impression. Proofread your notice thoroughly before sending it out.
  • Branding Consistency:  If applicable, consider aligning the notice format with your company's branding guidelines for a cohesive and professional presentation.

Engaging Attendees

Frame the notice with action verbs that guide attendees. Consider the audience when crafting the notice.

If the meeting involves a mix of technical and non-technical attendees, use clear and concise language that everyone can understand.

  • Intriguing Titles:  Don't settle for generic titles. Craft clear and concise titles that pique attendees' interest and accurately reflect the meeting's purpose.
  • Actionable Language:  Use action verbs in the meeting agenda to encourage participation. Instead of "Discuss marketing strategy," use "Brainstorm new marketing campaign ideas."
  • Estimated Times:  Allocate estimated times for each agenda item, helping attendees prioritize their preparation and manage their time during the meeting.

Additional Tips

  • Consider Technology:  Utilize online tools for creating and distributing meeting notices. These tools often offer features like RSVP tracking, calendar integration, and automated reminders, streamlining the process and ensuring wider accessibility.
  • Accessibility:  If you have remote attendees, ensure the meeting notice provides clear instructions for joining the virtual platform and includes any accessibility tools or resources available.
  • Meeting Minutes:   Briefly mention in the notice whether the meeting will be recorded, minutes will be distributed, and how attendees can access them. This promotes transparency and allows for follow-up after the meeting.

Standard Meeting Notice Format Template

Now that you've learned the essential components and best practices for crafting effective meeting notices let's put them all together in a standard meeting notice format template.

You can adapt this template to fit the specific needs of your meeting.

Remember, a well-crafted meeting notice is an investment in the success of your meeting. By dedicating time and effort to creating a clear, concise, and informative notice, you set the stage for a productive and efficient session.

From avoiding cryptic one-liners to incorporating essential components like agendas and preparation materials, this guide has equipped you with the knowledge and tools to transform your meeting notice writing skills.

Don't underestimate the impact of a well-crafted notice when scheduling a meeting. Leverage the knowledge you've gained to craft a notice that sets your meeting up for success.

How Do You Write a Notice to Inform a Meeting?

Here's a breakdown of how to write a notice to inform a meeting:

(1) Start with a Clear and Concise Title

  • This is the first thing attendees will see, so it should accurately reflect the meeting's purpose.
  • Avoid generic titles  like "Team Meeting" and opt for something specific like "Brainstorming Session: Marketing Campaign for New Product Launch."

(2) Include Essential Details

  • Date, Time (including Time Zone if necessary), and Duration of the meeting.
  • Location (physical or virtual platform details).
  • List of Attendees (required and optional).

(3) Set Expectations with Objectives and Agenda

  • Briefly outline the key goals or desired outcomes for the meeting (objectives).
  • Provide a detailed agenda listing topics to be covered and estimated times for each.

(4) Facilitate Participation

  • Include an RSVP request with a clear deadline for attendees to confirm participation. Specify the preferred method (email reply, online form, etc.).
  • List any preparation materials (reports, presentations) attendees should review beforehand.

(5) Ensure Transparency and Clarity

  • Add contact information of the meeting organizer or point person for any questions.
  • Briefly mention if meeting minutes will be distributed and how attendees can access them.

What Is Proper Notice for a Meeting?

The proper notice for a meeting depends on a few factors, but generally it should provide enough information for attendees to be prepared and arrive on time.

Here's a breakdown of key elements for proper meeting notice:

Legal and Organizational Requirements

  • Legal Requirements : For corporate boards or public entities, laws or regulations often specify the minimum notice period. For example, corporations may be required to give notice at least a week in advance for regular board meetings and a day or two for special meetings.
  • Organizational Policies : Company bylaws or organizational guidelines may outline specific rules for notice, including how much time in advance notices should be sent and the acceptable methods of delivery (e.g., email, posted mail, or hand delivery).

Timing of Notice

  • Regular Meetings : For standard, scheduled meetings (e.g., annual, quarterly), notice might typically be given several weeks to a month in advance, especially if attendees include high-level executives or external stakeholders who need to coordinate busy schedules.
  • Special or Emergency Meetings : These meetings may require a shorter notice period due to their urgent nature. However, even in these cases, all efforts should be made to give as much advance notice as possible to ensure maximum participation.

Method of Delivery

  • Email : Commonly used for its speed and efficiency, especially in corporate settings.
  • Physical Letters : Sometimes required by bylaws or for formal meetings.
  • Online Notices : Through company intranets or via dedicated platforms like corporate calendar tools.
  • Public Notices : For public entities, meeting notices might also need to be published in newspapers or online to inform the public and stakeholders.

Content of Notice

A proper meeting notice should include:

  • Date, Time, and Venue : Clear details on when and where the meeting will take place.
  • Purpose of the Meeting : A brief description of the meeting’s objectives.
  • Agenda : An outline of topics to be discussed; this helps attendees prepare for the meeting.
  • Who Should Attend : A list of invited participants.
  • Contact Information : Details for a point of contact if participants have questions or require additional information.

Additional Considerations

  • Accessibility : Ensuring that the notice is accessible to all participants, including those with disabilities (e.g., providing alternative formats).
  • Confirmation Requests : Including a request for RSVP or confirmation of attendance can help with planning and logistics.

When Is a Notice of Meeting Required?

A notice of meeting is required in several situations, depending on the formality and purpose of the meeting.

Here's a breakdown of the key factors to consider:

Formal Meetings

Certain meetings, especially those with legal implications, often have specific regulations regarding meeting notice requirements.

This is particularly true for:

  • Board Meetings: Many companies have legal mandates to provide board members with a notice for upcoming meetings. These notices typically outline content requirements (agenda, proposals) and distribution timelines (often 7-10 days in advance).
  • Shareholder Assemblies: Relevant stakeholders have a right to be informed about and potentially participate in certain company meetings. Depending on the jurisdiction and company's bylaws, there might be legal requirements for notifying shareholders well in advance (could be weeks or even months).

Organizational Policies

Many organizations have established internal policies or procedures for corporate meeting notices, even for non-legal meetings.

These policies might specify:

  • Preferred formats (email, online collaboration tools)
  • Content requirements (specific details to be included)
  • Distribution methods (who should receive the notice)

Transparency and Best Practices:

Even in the absence of strict legal requirements, a well-crafted meeting notice is good practice. It fosters transparency by clearly outlining the meeting purpose and agenda. It also holds attendees accountable for coming prepared and participating actively.

Here are some additional points to consider:

  • Open Meetings: Depending on the organization and business meeting type, there might be transparency requirements. Meeting notice requirements for public meetings may require notices to be posted publicly or distributed to a wider audience.
  • Recurring Meetings: For regular team meetings, the meeting notice might not need to be as detailed each time, as attendees are familiar with the format and purpose. You can focus on highlighting any agenda changes or specific topics for the upcoming session.

Dashboard

Meeting Title:  [Specify the Meeting Title Clearly]

Date: [Insert Date]

Time: [Insert Start Time] - [Insert End Time] [Specify the Time Zones]

Duration:  [Estimated Meeting Length]

1. Location:

  • Physical Location: [Meeting Room Name and Building/Floor]
  • Virtual Platform: [Platform Name] & Meeting Link

2. Attendees:

  • Required: [List of Required Attendees]
  • Optional: [List of Optional Attendees]

3. Meeting Objectives:  [Briefly outline the key goals of the meeting]

  • [Topic 1]: [Estimated Time]
  • [Topic 2]: [Estimated Time]
  • [Topic 3]: [Estimated Time]

Add Subtopic (if applicable).

5. Preparation Materials:  (Optional)

  • [Document 1]: [Link or Description]
  • [Document 2]: [Link or Description]

6. RSVP:  Please RSVP by [RSVP Deadline] to [Email Address or RSVP Method]

7. Contact:  For any questions, please contact [Organizer Name] at [Email Address]

This template provides a solid foundation for your meeting notices. Remember to customize it based on the specific meeting type and the information you want to convey.

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How to Take Effective Seminar Notes

Effective seminar notes are essential for remembering valuable discussion points and ideas. Seminars can sound daunting in comparison to lectures, however, they’re a great opportunity to engage with learning material and prepare effectively for assignments or exams. In this article, we’ll share how to take effective seminar notes, including how to prepare beforehand, engage in active listening, and apply note-taking techniques.

notice for seminar presentation

What is a Seminar? 

Seminars are small, interactive group discussions that are led by your lecturer or another staff member. Students might complete group tasks, discuss key lecture themes, or debate particular topics. In seminars, students have the opportunity to expand and apply their knowledge of lecture content and readings. 

That’s why seminars are considered to be an interactive companion to lectures. Students can ask further questions on key debates or topics. This kind of active learning can make it easier for students to prepare for assignments or exams, and learn to think more critically. But, why do we need lectures and seminars? 

Lectures vs. Seminars 

Lectures are delivered to large groups of students who listen and take notes. The main purpose of a lecture is to introduce students to the main topics and learning material. Lectures are necessary and important part of university learning, however, they are not very interactive. 

Seminars encourage students to interact and engage with lecture content in smaller groups. This allows students to learn from each other, speak to their lecturer, and actively think about the lecture content. For some courses, seminar participation forms part of your final grade. This might be in the form of a pass/fail or as part of an assessment, such as a report or presentation using the seminar topic. 

Benefits of Effective Seminar Notes 

In seminars, students can extract a lot of value using effective notetaking. Seminars can:

  • Help you prepare for assignments and exams
  • Provide alternative points of view and critical discussion points
  • Encourage an active and engaging learning experience (rather than passive listening!)
  • Give you answers to questions you haven’t thought of yet
  • Help you clarify and deepen your understanding of the material with support from peers and lecturers
  • Encourage you to complete readings and lecture notes early so you can contribute
  • Allow you to ask questions about content you find confusing or want to explore further 

Your seminar notes will be the place where you capture all this valuable and important information. Below, we’ll share how you can take effective seminar notes, and make the most of those all-important discussions.

How to Take Effective Seminar Notes 

In seminars, students need to listen, refer to readings or lecture content, participate, and take notes. This requires more effort than notetaking during lectures - which can be a challenge too sometimes. You can take effective notes during seminars using the five tips we’ve outlined below. 

Prepare in Advance for Seminars

Seminar preparation can stop you from feeling lost or overwhelmed during the seminar. Good preparation can empower you to contribute with confidence and ask valuable questions. 

Lecture Notes and Summaries

Lecture material is often the foundation of seminar discussions. Be sure to attend lectures and catch up on material for any missed lectures. Seminars can take place straight after a lecture, or days later. In some cases, graded seminars might take place after a series of lectures. That’s why it’s important to keep up to date with the material and have a general understanding of the key topics. You can create lecture note summaries to take to seminar discussions or to use for a quick review. 

Preliminary Reading

Lecturers will sometimes assign reading material for seminars. This might be a paper from your module reading list or something new. If specific reading is assigned, it’s important to complete this before the seminar. The seminar discussion will revolve around this key reading so it’s essential to prioritise your preliminary seminar readings. 

You can note down key points or issues from the reading material. This can help you to grasp the basic concepts or theories. It’s okay if you find something difficult to understand or link to your lecture content. In the seminar, you can share these thoughts will a smaller group. Being able to point out these things shows the lecturer that you came prepared for the seminar. 

Critical Thinking and Reading

For some seminars, lectures might assign more in-depth preparatory work. Especially if the seminar is graded or will include a follow-up assignment. This could be more reading material or critical reading tasks, such as preparing questions or your thoughts and opinions. You might be expected to think about a particular debate, concept, or theory. 

Make sure to engage with these tasks! This gives you a chance to think about the topic in advance. Instead of trying to prepare on your own, you can use this task as a prompt. This can be helpful guidance where there’s a lot of lecture material and potential discussion points. 

Seminar Preparation with Genei

Genei, a research tool powered by artificial intelligence (AI), can streamline your seminar preparation. Students can use genei to read, annotate, and take notes using the power of AI . Genei summarises PDFs and webpages into bite-sized chunks and meaningful information, such as keywords, tables, figures, references and more. 

Students can build seminar notes with a few clicks using genei’s notepad. AI-powered summaries can be added to the notepad for each paper or across a project folder. In the notepad, genei offers a range of powerful and customisable AI writing features for pro members. 

Students can set up ‘prompts’ to summarise, paraphrase, expand, or condense the material in the notepad. Prompts can be customised to complete a wide range of writing tasks using your collection of notes. Pro members can also use smart search features. Students can ask genei a question and have an answer summarised from their reading material.

Active Listening 

During seminars, students can use active listening to remain engaged. Preparing in advance with lecture notes, preliminary reading, and additional tasks can help you to stay focused and follow along. This makes it easier to engage in active listening because you understand the discussions that are happening. 

Active listening simply requires you to be present and focused on understanding. Seminars are an ideal place to practise active listening. Here’s how you can engage in active listening:

  • Pay attention to the person currently speaking and let them finish their train of thought
  • Ask clarifying questions to confirm you understand their points 
  • Alternatively, you can write down your questions, or aim them at the whole group to facilitate discussion
  • Paraphrase what you heard into your notes using your own words

Taking notes is actually another technique for active listening. But, what should you write down and how can you structure your notes? It can be hard to write well-organised meaningful notes while trying to listen and contribute. You can take effective notes by understanding what information to capture and having a go-to note-taking technique. 

In your seminar notes, you can aim to make notes on the following:

  • New insights on the reading material, topic, or concepts being discussed
  • Assignment-related ideas - whether these are your own, someone else's, or hints shared by your lecturer
  • Critical questions about the discussion topic i.e., has anyone disproved this theory? 
  • Additional resources - your lecturer might signpost the group to resources for their questions that could be useful material for assignments
  • Answers to your questions or other student's questions

These are a few key examples of things to listen out for. This makes it easy to know what to look out for instead of taking notes throughout the entire discussion. You can also write down your own questions, thoughts, ideas, and critical thinking points. Seminar discussion can be a good place for refining your own understanding, so don’t forget to note those things down, even if you don’t share them in the seminar. 

Effective Notetaking Techniques

Now, you know what to listen out for and make note of, but it’s still easy for notes to become disorganised. You can make organised and easy-to-follow notes using:

Annotations

You can annotate lecture summaries, preliminary readings, or your collective notes during the seminar. This can be an easy way to link notes to the right topic or reading section. You’ll also be able to skim over the content of those notes to follow along. Annotation can also be a good way to engage in active listening. Seminar discussions are unlikely to follow a strict structure, which makes annotation ideal for skipping back and forth between different topics. 

Notetaking Methods

You could also use pre-defined popular notetaking methods, like the Outline or Cornell methods . The outline method prioritises organising information in a hierarchical way using main topics and sub-topics. The Cornell method divides the page into sections for main notes, keywords and questions, and finally a summary section. Depending on the seminar, you might want to annotate readings with discussion points, but create separate notes for the rest of the discussions. 

Visual Notes

Like annotation, visual notes can be ideal for the semi-unstructured nature of seminar discussions. You can use mindmaps to link ideas, thoughts, and questions to a range of topics and sub-topics. This can make it easier to form broad connections between material, which can be useful for developing new insights both during or after the seminar. You could also use other forms of visual notes, such as sketch notes, which is ideal for those who prefer creative note-taking methods.

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How to Plan, Organize, and Manage a Successful Seminar: A Comprehensive Guide

How to Plan, Organize, and Manage a Successful Seminar: A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction

Seminars are integral to academic life, providing a platform for knowledge sharing, networking, and professional growth. Whether you're a student, academic, or industry professional, attending a seminar can be a rewarding experience. In this comprehensive guide, we will not only walk you through the steps of planning and executing a successful seminar but also explore the core elements of a seminar, how attendees participate, and the techniques used to foster an engaging learning environment.

What is a Seminar?

A seminar is an interactive event where experts, researchers, or industry professionals gather to present and discuss their ideas, research findings, and experiences within a specific subject area. It typically involves presentations, panel discussions, workshops, and opportunities for networking and collaboration. Seminars can focus on various topics, from academic research to industry trends, and are usually organized around a central theme.

Participation and Interaction in Seminars

Unlike traditional lectures, seminars encourage active participation and interaction among attendees. Participants are encouraged to engage in discussions, ask questions, and share their thoughts. This two-way exchange of ideas creates a dynamic learning environment and enhances the overall learning experience.

Techniques Used in Seminars

To foster an engaging learning environment, various techniques are used in seminars. Some common techniques include:

How to Plan, Organize, and Manage a Successful Seminar: A Comprehensive Guide

Panel Discussions

Panels are an essential aspect of seminars, offering a platform for in-depth discussions and diverse perspectives on specific topics. Typically, a panel consists of a group of experts or professionals in the field, each providing insights and analysis. The moderator plays a crucial role in guiding the conversation and ensuring that the discussion remains focused and engaging. Panels are highly interactive, allowing audience members to pose questions and share their views, promoting a dynamic exchange of ideas. To make panels more effective, it's essential to curate a diverse set of panelists with contrasting viewpoints, enabling attendees to gain a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter. Panels are especially valuable for shedding light on complex issues, encouraging critical thinking, and fostering meaningful dialogues among participants. As an attendee, participating in panel discussions provides an excellent opportunity to engage directly with industry experts, expand your knowledge, and network with like-minded individuals. For organizers, creating well-balanced and engaging panels can significantly enhance the overall seminar experience, leaving a lasting impact on participants.

How to Plan, Organize, and Manage a Successful Seminar: A Comprehensive Guide

Workshops are an integral part of seminar organization, offering a more hands-on and interactive learning experience. Unlike traditional lectures, workshops focus on active participation and skill-building. They are typically led by experienced facilitators or subject matter experts who guide attendees through practical exercises and activities. Workshops provide a unique opportunity for participants to delve into specific topics, hone their skills, and apply theoretical knowledge in real-world scenarios. These sessions can range from small group discussions to immersive training sessions, depending on the seminar's objectives. One of the key benefits of workshops is the opportunity for attendees to engage in problem-solving, collaborate with peers, and receive immediate feedback from facilitators. As an organizer, ensuring that workshops are well-structured, relevant, and align with the overall theme of the seminar is crucial. By offering diverse and skill-enhancing workshops, seminar organizers can create a dynamic and enriched learning environment, leaving attendees with practical takeaways and a memorable learning experience.

How to Plan, Organize, and Manage a Successful Seminar: A Comprehensive Guide

Group Activities

Group activities are another essential component of a successful seminar, fostering teamwork, collaboration, and networking among participants. These activities aim to break the ice, encourage interaction, and promote a sense of camaraderie among attendees. Depending on the seminar's nature and objectives, group activities can vary widely, from icebreaker games and team-building exercises to group discussions and brainstorming sessions. The key is to create a supportive and inclusive environment where participants feel comfortable sharing their ideas and engaging with others. Group activities not only enhance the overall learning experience but also provide valuable opportunities for attendees to expand their professional networks. As an organizer, incorporating well-designed group activities can add a sense of excitement and fun to the seminar, making it more enjoyable and memorable for everyone involved. By carefully selecting activities that align with the seminar's goals and themes, organizers can ensure that participants leave the event with new connections, fresh perspectives, and a renewed enthusiasm for their academic or professional pursuits.

How to Plan, Organize, and Manage a Successful Seminar: A Comprehensive Guide

Q&A Sessions

Q&A sessions are a fundamental element of seminars that allow participants to engage in direct and interactive discussions with speakers or panelists. These sessions provide a valuable opportunity for attendees to seek clarification, share their insights, and delve deeper into the topics presented during the seminar. Q&A sessions are typically scheduled after each presentation or panel discussion, allowing the audience to ask questions related to the content or express their viewpoints.

To make Q&A sessions effective and inclusive, it's crucial for organizers to set clear guidelines and encourage active participation from the audience. Moderators play a vital role in managing the session, ensuring that questions are relevant and respectful, and giving everyone a chance to contribute. Additionally, utilizing technology such as audience response systems or online platforms can facilitate smooth communication and help manage the flow of questions.

Q&A sessions offer an opportunity for speakers and panelists to showcase their expertise, engage with the audience on a personal level, and address any lingering doubts or concerns. From the attendees' perspective, these sessions provide a chance to gain deeper insights, explore different perspectives, and enrich their understanding of the seminar's subject matter.

To enhance the success of Q&A sessions, organizers can encourage participants to submit questions in advance or use real-time polling to identify the most popular topics for discussion. By fostering a supportive and inclusive atmosphere, Q&A sessions can become a dynamic part of the seminar, sparking thought-provoking discussions and creating lasting impressions for all involved.

How to Plan, Organize, and Manage a Successful Seminar: A Comprehensive Guide

Interactive Presentations

Interactive presentations are a dynamic and engaging approach to delivering seminar content. Unlike traditional one-way lectures, interactive presentations encourage active participation from the audience, making the learning experience more immersive and memorable. Various techniques can be incorporated into interactive presentations to stimulate audience involvement and foster meaningful interactions.

One popular method is the use of multimedia elements such as videos, images, and audio clips to enhance the presentation's visual appeal and reinforce key points. This approach captivates attendees' attention and ensures a multi-sensory experience, making the content more accessible and easier to comprehend.

Another effective technique is incorporating audience polling or live quizzes during the presentation. This not only keeps participants engaged but also provides instant feedback to presenters, enabling them to tailor the discussion to the audience's interests and understanding level.

Gamification is another innovative approach to creating interactive presentations. By introducing gamified elements like quizzes, challenges, or group activities, the seminar becomes not only educational but also fun and enjoyable. This approach encourages healthy competition among attendees and motivates them to actively participate.

Additionally, interactive presentations can involve breakout sessions where attendees split into smaller groups to discuss specific topics or case studies. This allows for in-depth exploration of ideas and encourages collaboration and knowledge sharing among participants.

The benefits of interactive presentations are manifold. They foster a sense of inclusivity, as participants feel their opinions are valued and heard. The dynamic nature of these presentations helps maintain audience engagement throughout the seminar, leading to better knowledge retention and a more impactful learning experience.

Planning Your Seminar

✔︎ define your objectives.

Clearly outline the goals and objectives of your seminar. Consider the target audience, theme, and desired outcomes.

✔︎ Choose the Right Venue

Select a venue that can accommodate the number of attendees and offers the necessary facilities, such as audio-visual equipment and Wi-Fi.

✔︎ Invite Engaging Speakers

Attract knowledgeable and influential speakers who can add value to your seminar and spark meaningful discussions.

✔︎ Create an Engaging Agenda

Craft a well-balanced agenda with diverse sessions that cater to the interests of your participants.

✔︎ Implement Effective Marketing

Utilize digital platforms and strategic partnerships to promote your seminar and attract the right audience.

Managing Your Seminar

✔︎ facilitate networking.

Encourage networking opportunities during breaks and networking events to foster meaningful connections among participants.

✔︎ Ensure Smooth Logistics

Thoroughly plan event logistics, including accommodation options, catering, and onsite management.

✔︎ Foster Interaction

Encourage active participation through Q&A sessions, interactive presentations, and group activities.

✔︎ Gather Feedback

Request feedback from participants to evaluate the success of your seminar and identify areas for improvement.

A well-organized seminar provides a platform for participants to engage, learn, and collaborate within their field of interest. By understanding the core elements of a seminar, implementing interactive techniques, and facilitating meaningful networking, you can create a successful and impactful event. Whether you're a seminar organizer or attendee, embracing the spirit of knowledge sharing and collaboration will ensure a rewarding seminar experience for all involved. So, start planning your next seminar today and unlock its potential for growth and innovation in your field.

If you are interested in learning more about the academic event types you can also check our blog post article " Unraveling the Academic Event Landscape: Congresses vs. Conferences - What Sets Them Apart? "

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Are you looking to streamline your seminar planning and management process? Discover the power of MeetingHand and how it can transform your seminar organization. BOOK A DEMO NOW and join us for an exclusive online product tour. See firsthand how MeetingHand's innovative features and user-friendly interface can make your seminar preparation a breeze. Don't miss this opportunity to experience the future of seminar management with us!

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  • CAREER COLUMN
  • 15 May 2019

Ways to give an effective seminar about your research project

  • Ananya Sen 0

Ananya Sen is a PhD student in microbiology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

In my first year of graduate school, I was terrified of giving presentations. I would put too much information on my slides, talk too fast and constantly forget or trip over certain words. Unsuprisingly, the reception was lukewarm at best.

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doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-019-01574-z

This is an article from the Nature Careers Community, a place for Nature readers to share their professional experiences and advice. Guest posts are encouraged. You can get in touch with the editor at [email protected].

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Agricultural and Applied Economics—Without Apology

22 Tips for Conference and Seminar Presentations

Last updated on May 24, 2015

A graduate student whose (excellent) second-year paper was accepted at a few conferences came to my office last week to ask me how she should prepare her conference presentations. Because I have never given much thought to how I actually do prepare for conference and seminar presentations, I told her I would write a blog post on the topic after thinking about it. So here is my list of tips on how to prepare conference and seminar presentations, in no particular order. I’m sure I’m forgetting many things; please feel free to include your own best tips in the comments section.

(Note: If you are doing theory or your presentation contains some theory, I also suggest reading William Thomson’s A Guide for the Young Economist , which offers good if dated advice for budding economic theorists.)

  • Whatever you do, make sure you know exactly how long you will have to present, and prepare accordingly. There is nothing worse than showing up for a talk expecting to have the usual 75 minutes only to learn that the norm at that institution is to have a 45-minute talk followed by a 15-minute Q&A. In this case, I think the old rule of thumb of one slide per minute applies. Though this does not mean that a 75-minute seminar needs 75 slides (most of my seminar presentations have fewer than 60 slides), it really does mean that a 15-minute conference presentation should have no more than 15 slides.
  • What your presentation should include is really a function of time. For example, when presenting my work with Tara Steinmetz and Lindsey Novak on female genital mutilation (FGM) in a seminar, I go into how there are four types of FGM, present a diagram that shows the area excised under each type and what each type looks after healing, I discuss the physiological and psychological consequences of FGM in depth, etc. But when I presented at the CSAE conference last month , where presenters only have 15 minutes, earlier this month, my motivations occupied three slides, and were essentially “FGM affects 100 million women worldwide and has really bad consequences on their health; trust me on that, okay?” (though I still had five intro slides …) In other words, the less time you have, the more your motivations should be highly concentrated and the quicker they should answer the “Why should we care?” question.
  • Should you practice your talk? Absolutely. Practice over and over, and time yourself. The more you advance in your career, the less you’ll have to practice your talks, but as a beginner, you have every interest in practicing under a time constraint. As I mentioned when giving advice on the job market, I never practice my talks and I have done reasonably well following this foolhardy strategy, but this does not mean you should be equally foolhardy.
  • One thing graduate students consistently get wrong in presentations is the level of technique. Sure, you just spent the last few years doing almost nothing but learning highly mathematical concepts and methods, and you want to show off, Don’t . At an economics conference, most of your audience will have been there and done that, and your display of technical ability impresses no one, really. You can never go wrong assuming you are presenting to an audience of smart college graduates with no experience in your field. This means you should emphasize the motivations and intuition, and define technical concepts in plain English.
  • Inevitably, you’ll have to get technical and lose some people when you present your theory or empirical framework or identification strategy. That’s okay, as long as you bring them back at the end in your conclusions, and as long as you try to explain your theory, empirical framework, or identification in plain English as you go through your more technical slides.
  • Always have an outline slide, unless you use a Beamer theme that shows the outline on top and highlights which section you’re in, as in this case. It comforts your audience in that they know where you are taking them with this presentation.
  • On a related note, always provide a preview of your results. This isn’t a murder mystery: it’s only when people know where you’re taking them that they can enjoy the scenery along the way.
  • I am a big fan of using LaTex and Beamer for presentations. Almost every computer in the world can read .pdf documents and has working “Ctrl” and “L” keys. PowerPoint, however, will sometimes crash on you, or it will not display on a PC the equations that looked so pretty on your Mac, and among economists, I suspect Prezi is interpreted as a sufficient statistic for one’s lack of content. Plus, LaTex does math beautifully. PowerPoint does it horribly  not so much.
  • For your introduction, use Keith Head’s introduction formula : Hook (titillate your audience with a strong start or broad motivation), Research Question , Antecedents (the four or five studies closest to yours), Value Added (what you are bringing to the table relative to those previous studies), and Roadmap (which is really your outline slide).
  • Never, ever have a literature review in your slides. If literature reviews are boring to read in papers, they are insanely boring to listen to during presentations.
  • After your introduction, present your theoretical framework, empirical framework, data, results, limitations, and conclusion. Again, depending on how much time you have, you might want to maintain some of those steps to a minimum. One trick that few people seem to know about when presenting is the Magic Appendix Trick: You can have 15 slides for your conference presentation, followed by 30 appendix (i.e., not part of the main attraction) slides which you can resort to if people ask to see them. This is a good place to put descriptive statistics, robustness checks, proofs of propositions, additional graphs, etc.
  • If you have a theoretical model in the context of an empirical paper, unless your theory is your main contribution, it might be sufficient to just present your assumptions and testable predictions, and have your full-blown model in your appendix.
  • As above, so below, and so your presentation should follow the order in which you discuss things in your paper. It’s also perfectly fine to self-plagiarize here and cut and paste whole sentences from your paper. Writing is rewriting, and hopefully by now your paper is beautifully written. There is no use reinventing the wheel at this stage.
  • If you can tell your story with a graph or picture, do so. My two papers which were the most successful in seminars are my aforementioned paper on FGM with Steinmetz and Novak and my forthcoming paper on food prices and food riots. In both cases, the paper contains a graph that essentially tells you the whole story in one simple, self-explanatory picture. Even when presenting to the smartest people in the world, a picture is really worth a thousand words.
  • Tables of empirical results should focus on your coefficient(s) of interest. This means that you should have a line in there that says “Control Variables? Yes” for those cases where you do include controls, “Village Fixed Effects? Yes” for those cases where you do include village fixed effects, and so on. Again, stick the full-blown results in the appendix, and present only the results that are the most relevant for your talk as part of the main attraction. See slides 22 to 24 of my CSAE presentation .
  • Do not read your slides. Do not learn them by heart. Keep the tone of your presentation conversational. Abstain from making jokes: as a grad student, you want to signal that you have competently investigated an important question and provided a technically sound answer to it. Keep your jokes for when you are a senior scholar in your field.
  • Development students: Though you are undoubtedly proud of the fact that you’ve done fieldwork, but unless a picture you took while in the field is absolutely necessary for your audience to understand a point you’re making, avoid fieldwork pictures in your presentations (doubly so for pictures with smiling developing-country children, which are incredibly cliché…)
  • Likewise, maps have become pervasive in econ talks these past few years. If you are exploiting some spatial source of variation, go ahead and include a map. But if you’re just including a map because you think your audience won’t know where The Gambia is, put it in the appendix.
  • Similarly, I always thought it was a bit odd when people added a last, one-word slide that either said “Questions?” or “Thank You!” Audiences are generally not shy about asking questions, and when they are, they’ll find you after you’re done. As for thanking people, I find that the best thing you can do is thank people for their time and attention either at the beginning or at the end of your presentation.
  • I have never had to present a poster at a conference, but here is a list of tips that strike me as sensible. Perhaps the smartest idea for posters is to print your poster on location: since most conferences are held in college towns, you’ll easily find a copy shop where you can print your poster. That way, you will avoid having to travel with your poster, and risking your poster case getting crushed by that inevitable guy on your flight who tries to jam-pack his enormous-size “carry-on” luggage in the overhead compartment by pushing as hard as he can on everything else inside.
  • When questions arise, answer them to the best of your ability. If you don’t know, say that you don’t know. If your answer is tentative, explain that your answer is off the top of your head. If a question is obviously of little interest to most people, or takes you too far afield, politely offer to discuss it with the person who asked after the talk.
  • Above all, have fun. Giving talks is the most effective way to communicate your excitement about your research. If you are not having fun, chances are people in the audience aren’t either, and if they aren’t having fun, they cannot get excited about your research, which means that your impact will be much more limited.

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Ten simple rules for effective presentation slides

* E-mail: [email protected]

Affiliation Biomedical Engineering and the Center for Public Health Genomics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States of America

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  • Kristen M. Naegle

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Published: December 2, 2021

  • https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009554
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Fig 1

Citation: Naegle KM (2021) Ten simple rules for effective presentation slides. PLoS Comput Biol 17(12): e1009554. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009554

Copyright: © 2021 Kristen M. Naegle. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Funding: The author received no specific funding for this work.

Competing interests: The author has declared no competing interests exist.

Introduction

The “presentation slide” is the building block of all academic presentations, whether they are journal clubs, thesis committee meetings, short conference talks, or hour-long seminars. A slide is a single page projected on a screen, usually built on the premise of a title, body, and figures or tables and includes both what is shown and what is spoken about that slide. Multiple slides are strung together to tell the larger story of the presentation. While there have been excellent 10 simple rules on giving entire presentations [ 1 , 2 ], there was an absence in the fine details of how to design a slide for optimal effect—such as the design elements that allow slides to convey meaningful information, to keep the audience engaged and informed, and to deliver the information intended and in the time frame allowed. As all research presentations seek to teach, effective slide design borrows from the same principles as effective teaching, including the consideration of cognitive processing your audience is relying on to organize, process, and retain information. This is written for anyone who needs to prepare slides from any length scale and for most purposes of conveying research to broad audiences. The rules are broken into 3 primary areas. Rules 1 to 5 are about optimizing the scope of each slide. Rules 6 to 8 are about principles around designing elements of the slide. Rules 9 to 10 are about preparing for your presentation, with the slides as the central focus of that preparation.

Rule 1: Include only one idea per slide

Each slide should have one central objective to deliver—the main idea or question [ 3 – 5 ]. Often, this means breaking complex ideas down into manageable pieces (see Fig 1 , where “background” information has been split into 2 key concepts). In another example, if you are presenting a complex computational approach in a large flow diagram, introduce it in smaller units, building it up until you finish with the entire diagram. The progressive buildup of complex information means that audiences are prepared to understand the whole picture, once you have dedicated time to each of the parts. You can accomplish the buildup of components in several ways—for example, using presentation software to cover/uncover information. Personally, I choose to create separate slides for each piece of information content I introduce—where the final slide has the entire diagram, and I use cropping or a cover on duplicated slides that come before to hide what I’m not yet ready to include. I use this method in order to ensure that each slide in my deck truly presents one specific idea (the new content) and the amount of the new information on that slide can be described in 1 minute (Rule 2), but it comes with the trade-off—a change to the format of one of the slides in the series often means changes to all slides.

thumbnail

  • PPT PowerPoint slide
  • PNG larger image
  • TIFF original image

Top left: A background slide that describes the background material on a project from my lab. The slide was created using a PowerPoint Design Template, which had to be modified to increase default text sizes for this figure (i.e., the default text sizes are even worse than shown here). Bottom row: The 2 new slides that break up the content into 2 explicit ideas about the background, using a central graphic. In the first slide, the graphic is an explicit example of the SH2 domain of PI3-kinase interacting with a phosphorylation site (Y754) on the PDGFR to describe the important details of what an SH2 domain and phosphotyrosine ligand are and how they interact. I use that same graphic in the second slide to generalize all binding events and include redundant text to drive home the central message (a lot of possible interactions might occur in the human proteome, more than we can currently measure). Top right highlights which rules were used to move from the original slide to the new slide. Specific changes as highlighted by Rule 7 include increasing contrast by changing the background color, increasing font size, changing to sans serif fonts, and removing all capital text and underlining (using bold to draw attention). PDGFR, platelet-derived growth factor receptor.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009554.g001

Rule 2: Spend only 1 minute per slide

When you present your slide in the talk, it should take 1 minute or less to discuss. This rule is really helpful for planning purposes—a 20-minute presentation should have somewhere around 20 slides. Also, frequently giving your audience new information to feast on helps keep them engaged. During practice, if you find yourself spending more than a minute on a slide, there’s too much for that one slide—it’s time to break up the content into multiple slides or even remove information that is not wholly central to the story you are trying to tell. Reduce, reduce, reduce, until you get to a single message, clearly described, which takes less than 1 minute to present.

Rule 3: Make use of your heading

When each slide conveys only one message, use the heading of that slide to write exactly the message you are trying to deliver. Instead of titling the slide “Results,” try “CTNND1 is central to metastasis” or “False-positive rates are highly sample specific.” Use this landmark signpost to ensure that all the content on that slide is related exactly to the heading and only the heading. Think of the slide heading as the introductory or concluding sentence of a paragraph and the slide content the rest of the paragraph that supports the main point of the paragraph. An audience member should be able to follow along with you in the “paragraph” and come to the same conclusion sentence as your header at the end of the slide.

Rule 4: Include only essential points

While you are speaking, audience members’ eyes and minds will be wandering over your slide. If you have a comment, detail, or figure on a slide, have a plan to explicitly identify and talk about it. If you don’t think it’s important enough to spend time on, then don’t have it on your slide. This is especially important when faculty are present. I often tell students that thesis committee members are like cats: If you put a shiny bauble in front of them, they’ll go after it. Be sure to only put the shiny baubles on slides that you want them to focus on. Putting together a thesis meeting for only faculty is really an exercise in herding cats (if you have cats, you know this is no easy feat). Clear and concise slide design will go a long way in helping you corral those easily distracted faculty members.

Rule 5: Give credit, where credit is due

An exception to Rule 4 is to include proper citations or references to work on your slide. When adding citations, names of other researchers, or other types of credit, use a consistent style and method for adding this information to your slides. Your audience will then be able to easily partition this information from the other content. A common mistake people make is to think “I’ll add that reference later,” but I highly recommend you put the proper reference on the slide at the time you make it, before you forget where it came from. Finally, in certain kinds of presentations, credits can make it clear who did the work. For the faculty members heading labs, it is an effective way to connect your audience with the personnel in the lab who did the work, which is a great career booster for that person. For graduate students, it is an effective way to delineate your contribution to the work, especially in meetings where the goal is to establish your credentials for meeting the rigors of a PhD checkpoint.

Rule 6: Use graphics effectively

As a rule, you should almost never have slides that only contain text. Build your slides around good visualizations. It is a visual presentation after all, and as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. However, on the flip side, don’t muddy the point of the slide by putting too many complex graphics on a single slide. A multipanel figure that you might include in a manuscript should often be broken into 1 panel per slide (see Rule 1 ). One way to ensure that you use the graphics effectively is to make a point to introduce the figure and its elements to the audience verbally, especially for data figures. For example, you might say the following: “This graph here shows the measured false-positive rate for an experiment and each point is a replicate of the experiment, the graph demonstrates …” If you have put too much on one slide to present in 1 minute (see Rule 2 ), then the complexity or number of the visualizations is too much for just one slide.

Rule 7: Design to avoid cognitive overload

The type of slide elements, the number of them, and how you present them all impact the ability for the audience to intake, organize, and remember the content. For example, a frequent mistake in slide design is to include full sentences, but reading and verbal processing use the same cognitive channels—therefore, an audience member can either read the slide, listen to you, or do some part of both (each poorly), as a result of cognitive overload [ 4 ]. The visual channel is separate, allowing images/videos to be processed with auditory information without cognitive overload [ 6 ] (Rule 6). As presentations are an exercise in listening, and not reading, do what you can to optimize the ability of the audience to listen. Use words sparingly as “guide posts” to you and the audience about major points of the slide. In fact, you can add short text fragments, redundant with the verbal component of the presentation, which has been shown to improve retention [ 7 ] (see Fig 1 for an example of redundant text that avoids cognitive overload). Be careful in the selection of a slide template to minimize accidentally adding elements that the audience must process, but are unimportant. David JP Phillips argues (and effectively demonstrates in his TEDx talk [ 5 ]) that the human brain can easily interpret 6 elements and more than that requires a 500% increase in human cognition load—so keep the total number of elements on the slide to 6 or less. Finally, in addition to the use of short text, white space, and the effective use of graphics/images, you can improve ease of cognitive processing further by considering color choices and font type and size. Here are a few suggestions for improving the experience for your audience, highlighting the importance of these elements for some specific groups:

  • Use high contrast colors and simple backgrounds with low to no color—for persons with dyslexia or visual impairment.
  • Use sans serif fonts and large font sizes (including figure legends), avoid italics, underlining (use bold font instead for emphasis), and all capital letters—for persons with dyslexia or visual impairment [ 8 ].
  • Use color combinations and palettes that can be understood by those with different forms of color blindness [ 9 ]. There are excellent tools available to identify colors to use and ways to simulate your presentation or figures as they might be seen by a person with color blindness (easily found by a web search).
  • In this increasing world of virtual presentation tools, consider practicing your talk with a closed captioning system capture your words. Use this to identify how to improve your speaking pace, volume, and annunciation to improve understanding by all members of your audience, but especially those with a hearing impairment.

Rule 8: Design the slide so that a distracted person gets the main takeaway

It is very difficult to stay focused on a presentation, especially if it is long or if it is part of a longer series of talks at a conference. Audience members may get distracted by an important email, or they may start dreaming of lunch. So, it’s important to look at your slide and ask “If they heard nothing I said, will they understand the key concept of this slide?” The other rules are set up to help with this, including clarity of the single point of the slide (Rule 1), titling it with a major conclusion (Rule 3), and the use of figures (Rule 6) and short text redundant to your verbal description (Rule 7). However, with each slide, step back and ask whether its main conclusion is conveyed, even if someone didn’t hear your accompanying dialog. Importantly, ask if the information on the slide is at the right level of abstraction. For example, do you have too many details about the experiment, which hides the conclusion of the experiment (i.e., breaking Rule 1)? If you are worried about not having enough details, keep a slide at the end of your slide deck (after your conclusions and acknowledgments) with the more detailed information that you can refer to during a question and answer period.

Rule 9: Iteratively improve slide design through practice

Well-designed slides that follow the first 8 rules are intended to help you deliver the message you intend and in the amount of time you intend to deliver it in. The best way to ensure that you nailed slide design for your presentation is to practice, typically a lot. The most important aspects of practicing a new presentation, with an eye toward slide design, are the following 2 key points: (1) practice to ensure that you hit, each time through, the most important points (for example, the text guide posts you left yourself and the title of the slide); and (2) practice to ensure that as you conclude the end of one slide, it leads directly to the next slide. Slide transitions, what you say as you end one slide and begin the next, are important to keeping the flow of the “story.” Practice is when I discover that the order of my presentation is poor or that I left myself too few guideposts to remember what was coming next. Additionally, during practice, the most frequent things I have to improve relate to Rule 2 (the slide takes too long to present, usually because I broke Rule 1, and I’m delivering too much information for one slide), Rule 4 (I have a nonessential detail on the slide), and Rule 5 (I forgot to give a key reference). The very best type of practice is in front of an audience (for example, your lab or peers), where, with fresh perspectives, they can help you identify places for improving slide content, design, and connections across the entirety of your talk.

Rule 10: Design to mitigate the impact of technical disasters

The real presentation almost never goes as we planned in our heads or during our practice. Maybe the speaker before you went over time and now you need to adjust. Maybe the computer the organizer is having you use won’t show your video. Maybe your internet is poor on the day you are giving a virtual presentation at a conference. Technical problems are routinely part of the practice of sharing your work through presentations. Hence, you can design your slides to limit the impact certain kinds of technical disasters create and also prepare alternate approaches. Here are just a few examples of the preparation you can do that will take you a long way toward avoiding a complete fiasco:

  • Save your presentation as a PDF—if the version of Keynote or PowerPoint on a host computer cause issues, you still have a functional copy that has a higher guarantee of compatibility.
  • In using videos, create a backup slide with screen shots of key results. For example, if I have a video of cell migration, I’ll be sure to have a copy of the start and end of the video, in case the video doesn’t play. Even if the video worked, you can pause on this backup slide and take the time to highlight the key results in words if someone could not see or understand the video.
  • Avoid animations, such as figures or text that flash/fly-in/etc. Surveys suggest that no one likes movement in presentations [ 3 , 4 ]. There is likely a cognitive underpinning to the almost universal distaste of pointless animations that relates to the idea proposed by Kosslyn and colleagues that animations are salient perceptual units that captures direct attention [ 4 ]. Although perceptual salience can be used to draw attention to and improve retention of specific points, if you use this approach for unnecessary/unimportant things (like animation of your bullet point text, fly-ins of figures, etc.), then you will distract your audience from the important content. Finally, animations cause additional processing burdens for people with visual impairments [ 10 ] and create opportunities for technical disasters if the software on the host system is not compatible with your planned animation.

Conclusions

These rules are just a start in creating more engaging presentations that increase audience retention of your material. However, there are wonderful resources on continuing on the journey of becoming an amazing public speaker, which includes understanding the psychology and neuroscience behind human perception and learning. For example, as highlighted in Rule 7, David JP Phillips has a wonderful TEDx talk on the subject [ 5 ], and “PowerPoint presentation flaws and failures: A psychological analysis,” by Kosslyn and colleagues is deeply detailed about a number of aspects of human cognition and presentation style [ 4 ]. There are many books on the topic, including the popular “Presentation Zen” by Garr Reynolds [ 11 ]. Finally, although briefly touched on here, the visualization of data is an entire topic of its own that is worth perfecting for both written and oral presentations of work, with fantastic resources like Edward Tufte’s “The Visual Display of Quantitative Information” [ 12 ] or the article “Visualization of Biomedical Data” by O’Donoghue and colleagues [ 13 ].

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank the countless presenters, colleagues, students, and mentors from which I have learned a great deal from on effective presentations. Also, a thank you to the wonderful resources published by organizations on how to increase inclusivity. A special thanks to Dr. Jason Papin and Dr. Michael Guertin on early feedback of this editorial.

  • View Article
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  • 3. Teaching VUC for Making Better PowerPoint Presentations. n.d. Available from: https://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/making-better-powerpoint-presentations/#baddeley .
  • 8. Creating a dyslexia friendly workplace. Dyslexia friendly style guide. nd. Available from: https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/advice/employers/creating-a-dyslexia-friendly-workplace/dyslexia-friendly-style-guide .
  • 9. Cravit R. How to Use Color Blind Friendly Palettes to Make Your Charts Accessible. 2019. Available from: https://venngage.com/blog/color-blind-friendly-palette/ .
  • 10. Making your conference presentation more accessible to blind and partially sighted people. n.d. Available from: https://vocaleyes.co.uk/services/resources/guidelines-for-making-your-conference-presentation-more-accessible-to-blind-and-partially-sighted-people/ .
  • 11. Reynolds G. Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery. 2nd ed. New Riders Pub; 2011.
  • 12. Tufte ER. The Visual Display of Quantitative Information. 2nd ed. Graphics Press; 2001.

notice for seminar presentation

How to write a Seminar-Showing its arrangement.

notice for seminar presentation

For Project Materials in your field…click here!

A simple definition of Seminar:

“A conference or other meeting for discussion or training.” “A class at a college or university in which a topic is discussed by a teacher and a small group of students.”

A seminar paper is a work of original research that presents a specific topic and is presented to a group of interested persons, usually in an academic setting.

There are various formats for writing a seminar paper, this depends on schools and your course of study. However, these formats are not much different from the general format we will show you here.

These steps below will give you the guide to arranging a quality and well-researched seminar paper.

– Title Page (The title of your seminar paper should state your topic exactly in the smallest possible number of words.)

– Author’s Name ( Put your name, your ID number, the name of your department, and the name of your university under the title.)

– Table of Contents

The abstract should state the most important facts and ideas in your paper. It should be complete in itself. The length of the abstract should be about 200 words.

The abstract should state clearly: the problem studied, the method used, the main results, the main conclusions.

Do not put information in the abstract which is not in the main text of your paper. Do not put references, figures, or tables in the abstract. It is advisable to read how to write a good abstract .

– Main body (Introduction, Sections, Summary and Conclusion) The main body of your paper should be divided into sections, each with a separate heading.

The first section should be an introduction to your topic. This section should review the background of your topic and give an outline of the contents of your paper.

You should get the information for your paper from various sources, such as books, journals, lecture notes, etc. You must write the paper yourself using this information. You must not copy text written by other authors. Instead, select only the information you need and summarize this information in your own words.

The final section of your paper should summarize your conclusions.

– Symbols and Units (if any)

– References

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CHAPTER 18 Guidelines to qualitative academic seminar presentation

Profile image of Udeme Usanga

The primary objective of seminar presentation is to enhance presentation skills when persuading, educating, or informing an audience. Specifically, it provides a focus on the fundamental aspects of a quality academic, professional and business communications including structure, preparation and strategy for delivery, using visual aids, and handling question and answer sessions. The presenter/student practices by preparing and delivering an ideal real-life academic/business presentation. Strict adherence to the instructions outlined allows the presenter to evaluate his/her progress and alter any distracting behaviours before and during presentation. It also enables the participant to learn by doing. The aim of this paper is to introduce students to simple principles on how to plan, writs and present their findings as technical conference papers, then act as the mini-conference programme committee members in reviewing each other's submissions. Finally, in addition to the model itself, description of some variations in instantiation and an assessment of the benefits of this general approach and recommendation for adoption by faculties and educators are proffered. Introduction Rarely are the three pillars of academia-research, teaching and service-addressed together, within one intellectually cohesive context in the graduate curriculum. Such a context is important for exposing students to the interrelationships among these facets. Oftentimes, people are confused what a seminar, workshop or conference means. They are sometimes considered to mean the same thing. However, workshop is a brief intensive educational programme for a relatively small group of people that focuses on techniques and skills in a particular field. Seminar on the other hand is a meeting of a group of advanced students studying under a professor/officer with each doing original research and all exchanging results of their findings through reports and discussions. A conference is a meeting of two or more persons/bodies organized for the benefit of discussing matters of common concern, which usually involves formal interchange of views.

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JSCI Systemics, Cybernetics, and Informatics

The purposes of this article is to show the differences between traditional and conversational conferences and to suggest that synergic effects might be produced when both models are adequately related in simultaneous events so cybernetic loops might be produced. The effectiveness of both approaches could increase if they are adequately related or oriented to the generation of processes that might integrate both models in the context of the same event, or chain of events. The content of this article is based on a combination of experience, reflection, and action, using the methodologies of Action-Research/reflection, Action-Learning, and Action-Design. After ten years trying to relate these two approaches we learned that they are opposite, but not contradictory with each other. They are, or can be designed as polar opposites which would complement (and even require) each other in a synergic whole, with potential emergent properties as effective learning, interdisciplinary communicat...

notice for seminar presentation

Constructivist Foundations

Christoph Brunner

This article is an open peer commentary to Johan Verbeke's target article "Designing Academic Conferences as a Learning Environment: How to Stimulate Active Learning at Academic Conferences?" (http://www.univie.ac.at/constructivism/journal/11/1/098.verbeke). It targets the field of artistic and design research and its attempt to invent new experimental conference formats. After critically examining the conception of "knowledge production" in these discourses, the commentary fosters the need to take into account sensuous and more-than-human elements shaping such emergent conference formats. The comment closes with a constructivist and speculative proposition for the future planning of creative practice events.

Computer Human Interaction

Nico Macdonald

Conferences are still valuable for established attendees and potential new audiences, and the overall audience for events can be increased, helping alleviate competition between professional organisations.In addition professional organisations need to avoid conferences being run-of-the-mill, and taking their audience for granted. They need to widen their primary and secondary audiences by helping potential attendees and presenters find out about events,

Ivan Dunđer

Przegląd Badań Edukacyjnych

Helena Ostrowicka

Ben Sweeting , Michael Hohl

Context: The design of academic conferences, in which settings ideas are shared and created, is, we suggest, of more than passing interest in constructivism, where epistemology is considered in terms of knowing rather than knowledge. Problem: The passivity and predominantly one-way structure of the typical paper presentation format of academic conferences has a number of serious limitations from a constructivist perspective. These limits are both practical and epistemological. While alternative formats abound, there is nevertheless increasing pressure reinforcing this format due to delegates’ funding typically being linked to reading a paper. Method: In this special issue, authors reflect on conferences that they have organised and participated in that have used alternative formats, such as conversational structures or other constructivist inspired approaches, in whole or in part. We review and contextualize their contributions, understanding them in terms of their connections to constructivism and to each other. Results: While this issue is of relevance across disciplinary boundaries, contributions focus on two fields: that of cybernetics/systems, and that of design. We identify the way that conference organization is of particular importance to these fields, being in self-reflexive relationship to them: the environment of a design conference is something that we design; while a conference regarding systems or cybernetics is itself an instance of the sorts of process with which these fields are concerned. Implications: Building on this self-reflexivity and, also, the close connection of design and cybernetics/systems to constructivism, we suggest that conference organization is an area in which constructivism may itself be understood in terms of practice (and so knowing) rather than theory (and so knowledge. This in turn helps connect ideas in constructivism with pragmatic fields, such as knowledge management, and recent discussions in this journal regarding second-order science. Constructivist content: As a setting for the creation of new ideas, the design of conferences is of importance where we understand epistemology in constructivist terms as a process of knowing. Moreover, the particular fields drawn on - design and cybernetics/systems - have close connections to constructivism, as can be seen, for instance, in the work of Ranulph Glanville, on which we draw here.

Chiara Belluzzi

To date, little research has been conducted on conference presentation (CP) introductions with the aim of analysing their moves, especially as far as non academic CP's are concerned. In fact, to the best of my knowledge, no study has ever focused on the non-academic context - apart from numerous public speaking handbooks, which, however, do not apply any scientific method of analysis. Therefore this study sets out to investigate non-academic CP introductions in order to determine whether they coincide with the genre of the academic CP introduction. Such a study will hopefully prove valuable not only in the field of genre analysis, but also in the field of interpreting studies. Since it is possible to determine a move model from the structure of every genre, I will set out to do this for the non-academic CP introduction as well, thus providing the interpreter with a series of speech acts a speaker can reasonably be expected to carry out. Chapter 2 of this dissertation begins with an overview of the literature on the academic CP as a genre from many different perspectives. Then the focus shifts to the introductory section of different academic written and oral genres, in particular to those studies which lead to the definition of their moves and which, therefore, will be useful in the analysis of the structure of non-academic CP introductions. Chapter 3 focuses on the non-academic CP. First, the concept of discourse community is explored in terms of both academic and non-academic discourse, with the aim of achieving a better understanding of the differences between the two as well as of the latter alone. Then a definition of the non-academic CP introduction as a genre will be developed on the basis of Swales’ (1990) criteria and Hasan’s (Halliday and Hasan 1989) notion of ‘context’, in order to determine whether academic and non-academic CP introductions belong to the same genre or not. After the theoretical framework set in the first part of the dissertation, five case studies will be analysed in Chapter 4. Five non-academic presentations were selected and their introductions were transcribed. To these I have applied Rowley-Jolivet and Carter-Thomas’ (2005) move model of academic CP introductions in order to determine whether their model can be applied to non-academic CP introductions as well. The data retrieved is analysed to let new moves emerge, too, so that a move model for non-academic CP introductions can be identified. The usefulness of this model for further and more in-depth studies is mentioned at the end of the chapter In the last chapter a suggestion is made about the application of move models to 11 interpreting studies, in particular as far as simultaneous interpretation is concerned. To be brief, since move models describe the structure shared by the texts of a given genre, they could be used by interpreters to predict the structure of the text they are going to interpret.

European Political Science

Andrew Mycock

Olga Vetrova

Abstract. Students ’ conferences make up the environment where specific competences are combined with generic competences. Our goal is to estimate the potential of the professionally-oriented academic communication in a foreign language in the students ’ conference environment and find out the ways students’ conferences could contribute to the professional competencies formation. Investigated is the polytechnical tertiary school. Integrative in its essence, the project is aimed at fostering the efficiency of the university education, creativity development, ideas generation by specialists-to-be and innovations dissemination, – all of which is supposed to upgrade the standards of tertiary education and raise the quality of vocational training. This goes in accord with the Bologna process and European, and world-wide effort to enhance flexibility and professionalism on the labour market.

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A Complete Guide On How To Prepare To Host A Seminar

Posted by Chinny Verana on Friday, May 26th, 2023

A woman speaking in front of women on a seminar.

Hosting a seminar is one effective way to contribute value to your audience or community. Preparing well for a seminar might be tedious but it will be worth the effort because the long-term results for your brand are great. It is one way to establish credibility and build brand awareness in your field. Seminars are great avenues to deliver value to your audience. 

Aside from building your presence with your audience, seminars are a great avenue for networking which audiences generally look forward to. People usually long for connection so being able to connect with colleagues in the industry and having an opportunity to expand business networks is usually a convincing factor for attendees to participate in a seminar. For event organizers, the audience of a seminar is usually considered as leads for conversion or for building a community. 

In this article, we will give a complete guide on everything you need to know plus additional tips on how to prepare a seminar. 

Article Outline

1. Determine seminar goals and objectives

2. set measurables indicators for a successful seminar, 3. choose a seminar topic and format, 4. determine seminar logistics like venue, platform, and event ticketing, 5. reach out to potential sponsors, 6. promote your seminar, 7. prepare for the seminar program, 8. conducting the seminar, 8. follow-up and evaluation, preparation checklist for your seminar, additional tips in preparing for your seminar, host your seminar with event espresso , step-by-step process of preparing for your seminar.

As with every event, the organizing team should clearly define the goal and objective of organizing. They should communicate the seminar goals and objectives among the whole event organizing team. If you’re organizing a fundraiser, clearly define the amount you need to raise and what it’s for. If you’re organizing a seminar, determine the specific outcome you want to achieve after the event. Some examples of goals and objectives are: to provide awareness of a certain product or service, provide training and professional development services, gather feedback or insights on the market, etc. 

Setting a seminar goal and objective is not enough to ensure a successful seminar. Certain measurable indicators must be set as a basis to evaluate post-event success. For example, what measurable outcome must be hit for the seminar to be considered successful? What does success look like (KPIs), e.g.: 

  • A certain Net Promoter Score?
  • Attendance numbers or rate?
  • A number of sales?
  •  Number of students enrolled in a course?

Hitting these goals can help set your targets and tactics for future seminars.

The next step to preparing your seminar is choosing a topic. Your topic is important in determining how attractive your seminar will be for your potential attendees. Research relevant topics that can also be relevant to the industry you’re serving. One good way to determine what’s trending is by browsing through discussion forums or feeds on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Reddit, and Quora. By getting a pulse of what they’re talking about, event organizers can craft a program with engaging talking points relevant to the audience. 

The format of a seminar can vary depending on the objectives and needs of the audience. Seminars are now not only limited by face-to-face events but also virtual or hybrid ones so consider what would your target audience prefer. Most seminars typically include a mix of presentations, discussions, and interactive activities. Presentations can be delivered by one or multiple speakers and can cover a variety of topics related to the theme of the seminar. 

Discussions can be facilitated by a moderator through breakout groups, allowing attendees to share their insights and experiences. Seminars can also be formatted as a virtual roundtable too if a virtual format supports the specific topic well. 

Interactive activities can include hands-on exercises, role-playing, or other activities that allow the audience to apply the information learned during the seminar. Overall, the format of the seminar should be designed to maximize engagement and ensure that attendees leave with a deeper understanding of the topic and the skills needed to apply it in their work or personal life.

Next up is finalizing the date, time, and venue for the seminar. If you’re hosting an event with participants from different states, take note of the date and time that would work best for the different time zones your guests will be attending from. 

With the date and time set, reservations for the venue can be accomplished. If it’s a virtual event, you can start preparing for the event ticket registration process and choosing the web platform you plan to host it on. If it’s a paid event, determine the price per ticket and how it will be sold. 

Event Espresso is a WordPress plug-in solution you can consider with its unlimited ticket-selling feature at a $0 commission fee. It’s a simple, plug-and-play solution with a flat fee containing all the event ticketing solutions event organizers need. For events without a website, you can try Event Smart . 

Depending on the size and goal of your seminar, you can start scouting for potential sponsors . Having sponsors can elevate your event with the support and partnership they can offer. Whether it’s the extra exposure or additional funding, make a good first impression by crafting a good sponsorship proposal . 

Every event organizer dreams of selling out all tickets to their event. This requires going through a detailed event marketing plan and strategy.  

To promote your seminar, start by preparing the needed promotional material that you will be posting on your event website or social media. There are free tools like Canva that can help you in creating custom publication materials regarding your event. A promotional graphic should contain all the basic information your attendee will look for like the name of the event, a short description of the event, date, time, venue, and ticket price. 

An important aspect of promoting your seminar is by publishing your own event page . Having a custom event site builds your credibility as you customize and add social proof, event speaker details, etc. Your own site also allows Search Engine Optimization (SEO) which can boost the visibility of your seminar. 

Finally, you can never go wrong with promoting your event on social media. Start by sharing it with your own circle and having your immediate circle reshare it. Take advantage of the algorithm and create your content in a way that immediately hooks the attention of your audience. Try creating short videos for different platforms and tap on user-generated content or social proof posts for a more authentic type of content. 

To prepare for the seminar program itself, we recommend starting planning at least 6 months before the event. You can start by creating a seminar program flow for your event . Add the time, expected activities per hour, and contact information of people involved to ensure smooth coordination throughout the seminar proper.

During the preparation period, you should also coordinate with your speakers and print seminar materials to use for the event.

One way to keep the audience engaged throughout the program is through the slides or Powerpoint presentation. Use the presentation slide as a compelling visual aid and include prompts like icebreaker questions to start the program with energy. The seminar speaker should practice good presentation skills by keeping the slides short and only including the main key points and engaging the crowd with empathic delivery. 

By this time, you should set up and have your event ticketing registration ready to run. If you have a WordPress website, then selling your tickets and setting up registration won’t be a hassle. Event Espresso offers unlimited ticket selling at $0 commission fees . Enjoy all the features at a simple, flat rate . For those who don’t have a WordPress site, Event Smart allows you to host your own event page and sell unlimited tickets at a $0 commission fee as well. 

To ensure a smooth seminar presentation, event organizers must oversee the whole attendee experience from start to finish. Start by sending an event confirmation email to remind participants of the upcoming seminar.

During the seminar, the organizers should align speakers or moderators on the overall program flow and seminar objectives. They should craft their presentations in an engaging way, citing case studies or real-life examples that participants can remember even after the seminar. The organizers can also utilize a segment where participants can be split into small groups to encourage networking among colleagues.

After the seminar, it’s time to measure the success of your event based on the goals you’ve set in the beginning. If the seminar was an in-person event, you can pass along an evaluation paper or survey form to gather feedback and comments about the event. If the event was an online seminar, you can use your ticket registration platform like Event Espresso or Event Smart to send an email blast to the participants 

Within a week post-event is the time when you send follow-ups. Send materials you have promised during the seminar discussion, or even deliver an additional bonus value item to them to keep your brand top of mind even after their experience with you. Event organizers can use this time to maximize and maintain a long-term relationship with them moving forward, 

To help you how to prepare a seminar, here is a free downloadable preparation checklist for seminar planning that you can use. Feel free to print a copy or share it with someone who is planning a seminar soon. 

Seminar checklist PDF

audiences on a seminar

Part of preparing for a seminar is to make sure you have the right marketing principles to generate buzz for your seminar. 

Here are some tips to consider:

  • Build your community – No community is too small. Keep growing and nurturing your community no matter how small. A handful of very loyal audiences can surprise you with amazing results. Imagine 10 people inviting a person each to your seminar. You have added 10 new additional people into your community to nurture and made new people aware of you and your brand.
  • Leverage social proof and user-generated content – Good testimonials and feedback would always be a classic way to convince your potential attendees. Don’t be afraid to share authentic user-generated content and behind the scene content. People connect more with authentic content. 
  • Review your prepared script with your emcee – Your host or speaker can make or break your event so it’s critical to go through the script and make it interesting. Narrow your script to bullet points with only the main points so the speaker or moderator can focus on conversing with the audience. Build a connection with the attendees by having eye contact and adapting to the pulse of your audience. 
  • Double-check your audio – Don’t lose the crowd with audio glitches. Your main avenue to communicate with your seminar participants is through the audio. Experiencing audio difficulties during your event can potentially lose your participants’ interest from the beginning.

Hosting a seminar is ideal with Event Espresso. It offers a user-friendly interface, allowing you to customize event registration forms, set ticket prices, and handle online registrations seamlessly. It also provides robust features like attendee management, event calendars, and payment processing integration. With EventEspresso.com, you can effortlessly handle every aspect of your seminar. This includes sending out invitations to collecting feedback after the event.

Watch a demo of Event Espresso now and start planning for your seminar. 

Filed under Event Planning and tagged How to prepare a seminar , How to host a seminar , Host seminar , Tips in preparing for seminar , Preparation checklist for your seminar , Preparing for seminar

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What is a Seminar and How to Run One Like a Pro

Learn what is a seminar, along with 3 real-life examples and how to run one like a pro. Engage your audience and boost attendance with our insights.

Written by Brillixa Herdhiana

Hosting a seminar can be the ideal solution to engage and educate your clients, partners, or industry peers. It will also strengthen knowledge sharing and collaboration within your company.

Nobody wants to see screens go black or attendees checking their emails during a presentation.

Running a seminar comes with great responsibility, but when approached correctly, it becomes a powerful tool for audience engagement and building connections.

This article provides expert tips on running a successful seminar, ensuring that you make a lasting impact on your target audience and establish meaningful connections.

Discover how to run a seminar like a pro and optimize your event for maximum success.

How to Make Virtual Events Engaging

Livestorm helps teams collaborate and deliver memorable live or on-demand video experiences.

What is a seminar?

A seminar, or a panel discussion , is a focused and interactive educational event where a group of people with shared interests come together to discuss, learn, and exchange ideas .

A subject matter expert or speaker usually leads the discussion and encourages attendees to ask questions and contribute to the discourse at the end. They’re typically conducted in person, but you can also host them online through video conferencing software .

The size, duration, and format largely depends on your specific needs and goals. But the key to a successful seminar is creating an environment that encourages active participation and open dialogue.

Key takeaways of a seminar

  • Seminars are effective tools for engaging and educating clients, partners, and teams, but require careful planning and execution .
  • There are three main types of seminars : webinars, academic seminars, and professional development seminars, each serving different purposes and audiences.
  • Running a successful seminar involves steps such as choosing the right venue or platform, creating a detailed agenda, assembling a competent team, and effectively promoting the event.
  • Keeping the audience engaged during the seminar through interactive elements like live polls, Q&A sessions, breakout rooms, and visual collaboration tools is crucial, followed by post-event follow-up and feedback gathering to improve future seminars.

3 different types of seminars

Seminars can cover a wide range of topics, from webinars and academic seminars to professional development. Let’s take a look at three different types of seminars in more detail.

1. Webinars

Webinars are virtual presentations where hosts or guest speakers share their knowledge and expertise of a certain topic with a global audience . Your attendees can access the webinar live or watch the recording on demand.

Here’s an example of upcoming webinars and on-demand events here at Livestorm:

You can use webinars to showcase your products, educate and onboard customers, build brand authority, and improve internal communications and employee training.

2. Academic seminars

At academic seminars, scholars, researchers, and students come together to talk about their research and share findings .

Depending on the context, they can last for a few hours or even span several days like this seminar by Harvard Business School:

Seminars can happen at universities, research centers, conferences, or workshops. Their main aim is to encourage knowledge-sharing, networking, and in-depth discussions.

3. Professional development seminars

**A professional development seminar is a learning event that helps people enhance their job skills and network with other professionals in their industry. **

These seminars typically prioritize practical, hands-on learning. This way, the attendees gain insights they can directly apply in their workplace.

Some companies also host professional development seminars for their employees to help them grow and advance in their careers.

Here’s a professional development seminar example, held by the Tax Executives Institute (TEI):

What are the advantages of running a seminar ?

Seminars are a great way to educate your audience while building authority and trust. Below are some of the most useful ways seminars can benefit your businesses:

1. Educate your audience

Seminars help participants learn from experts and each other, exchange ideas, and solve problems . Your speakers can demonstrate best practices, techniques, or strategies your audience can learn from or emulate.

Whether it’s presenting a product demo or sharing industry insights, seminars let you offer practical tips, advice, or solutions they can use to overcome challenges or improve their skills.

Of course, seminars aren’t just for your customers.

You can also use them for employee training sessions and onboarding. And if your employees work remotely, webinars can be a great way to connect your team. All you need is a suitable virtual training platform .

2. Increase brand visibility and authority

When you hold informative, engaging seminars, you showcase your expertise and authority on a certain topic.

Valuable seminars lead to word-of-mouth recommendations, social media sharing, and increased recognition. Over time, this builds trust and authority, solidifying your brand's position as a go-to resource in your industry.

3. Engage your audience and foster relationships

Seminars help you connect with your audience and get them involved in the discussion. They’re different from other marketing channels in that way.

Seminars don't just engage your audience passively. Instead, they let them ask questions, communicate, and share their own insights.

This active participation creates a deeper, more meaningful connection between you and your audience. It can strengthen your brand, build community, and even improve internal communication for remote teams .

How to run a seminar in 6 steps

A successful seminar needs careful planning , informative content, and the right platform to engage your audience. Here are some steps to run a seminar:

1. Choose your venue or platform

The first step to any successful seminar is the right setting .

As you’re evaluating venue or platform options, consider:

  • Your audience: Are they local or global? What kind of problems are they struggling with? Is your seminar meant for external participants or your internal team?
  • Technology and equipment: If you’re hosting a webinar, pick a platform that lets you customize your branding, interact with your audience, and simplify attendance.
  • Accessibility and inclusivity : Ensure that the venue or platform is accessible to individuals with disabilities. This includes providing options for closed captioning or wheelchair access.
  • Advanced reporting features: If you’re using a webinar platform, make sure it allows you to measure your event’s performance and attendee engagement with detailed analytics.

2. Create a detailed agenda

A comprehensive agenda provides a clear roadmap for the event which helps your seminar stay on course and runs smoothly.

Here are a few items to include on your agenda:

  • List of key topics
  • Start and end times
  • Interactive elements and sessions

You can also send the agenda to your attendees beforehand so they’re familiar with the schedule and can prepare some questions in advance.

Don’t forget to give your event moderator a time estimate per item to help make sure speakers don’t go over their allotted time.

3. Find your team

Your seminar dream team helps you bring your vision to life, from planning and execution to engaging with the audience.

So choose them carefully and assign them responsibilities based on roles like:

Speaker: The expert who delivers the main content and insights.

Moderator : Guides the flow of the seminar, facilitates discussions, and ensures everything runs smoothly.

Assistant: Provides technical support, manages Q&A sessions, and assists with logistics.

Host or organizer: Oversees the entire event, ensures everything is in order, and communicates with the audience.

You can use Livestorm's roles and permissions to easily establish who can perform functions like starting and ending the event, moderating events, or presenting slides.

4. Promote your seminar

Promote your event through social media and your email list at least two weeks before the date. Segment your email list and advertise the seminar to the ones that will find it most valuable.

With Livestorm, you can even send unlimited customized reminders and follow-up emails to maximize attendance.

Livestorm is also browser-based so participants can just jump into your webinar, no downloads necessary. Finally, it integrates with calendar and scheduler tools like Calendly for a better scheduling process.

5. Keep your audience engaged

During the seminar, keep your participants engaged by:

Conducting live polls: Use your webinar platform’s poll feature to ask questions and include your audience in the conversation.

Running Q&A sessions: Invite your participants to ask questions and dedicate time at the end of the event to answer them. Livestorm’s Q&A tab even lets attendees upvote their favorites so you can prioritize more easily.

Utilizing breakout rooms: Organize breakout rooms and let attendees collaborate and brainstorm in smaller groups.

Collaborating visually: If your meeting platform offers virtual whiteboards, use it for more interactive brainstorming sessions, illustrating ideas, and co-creating with your audience.

6. Follow up and gather feedback

After the event, follow up with both your attendees and no-shows, thank them for their interest, and send them a recording of the webinar .

At Livestorm, we’ve found that 31% of people who register but don’t attend actually watch the recording. So this post-event engagement method is a great way to keep potential customers interested.

Finally track your event analytics to understand your audience, what worked well, and where you can improve.

Whether you’re using Livestorm for internal and corporate communication or external events, you get detailed reports including participation data, replay analytics, and engagement metrics.

Livestorm for your upcoming seminar

The key to interesting and informative seminars is engaging your audience from start to finish.

Participants who aren’t actively involved won’t find much value in your event and they’re less likely to take the action you want them to take afterwards.

That’s why Livestorm is designed specifically to help you keep your audience hooked before, during, and after events.

Here’s how:

Automated emails and pre-built registration pages to make event promotion easier and maximize attendance

Event automation so you can focus you’re not bogged down with manual tasks

Live engagement features like timers, emoji reactions, hand raising, file and media sharing to interact with attendees

Automated recordings and on-demand session links for easy post-event follow up

With Livestorm, your seminars are more than just an event. They're a dynamic, interactive experience that leaves a lasting impact on your audience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of the seminar .

Seminars serve to educate and engage participants by facilitating interactive discussions, sharing insights, and building meaningful connections within a community.

What is a seminar vs lecture ?

In contrast to lectures, seminars prioritize interactive participation, discussions, and collaboration among participants rather than one-way communication.

What is a seminar class ?

A seminar class in academic settings encourages small-group discussions, critical analysis, and active participation among students, fostering deeper understanding and critical thinking skills.

Engage audiences

Find ideas to promote your events and make them engaging in this free Ebook.

About the author

Brillixa Herdhiana - Growth Manager

Brillixa joined Livestorm as Growth Manager in 2021. Her experience enables her to contribute to business growth through lead generation from ads and organic channels.

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How To Write A Presentation 101 | Step-by-Step Guides with Best Examples | 2024 Reveals

How To Write A Presentation 101 | Step-by-Step Guides with Best Examples | 2024 Reveals

Jane Ng • 05 Apr 2024 • 8 min read

Is it difficult to start of presentation? You’re standing before a room full of eager listeners, ready to share your knowledge and captivate their attention. But where do you begin? How do you structure your ideas and convey them effectively?

Take a deep breath, and fear not! In this article, we’ll provide a road map on how to write a presentation covering everything from crafting a script to creating an engaging introduction.

So, let’s dive in!

Table of Contents

What is a presentation , what should be in a powerful presentation.

  • How To Write A Presentation Script
  • How to Write A Presentation Introduction 

Key Takeaways

Tips for better presentation.

  • How to start a presentation
  • How to introduce yourself

Alternative Text

Start in seconds.

Get free templates for your next interactive presentation. Sign up for free and take what you want from the template library!

Presentations are all about connecting with your audience. 

Presenting is a fantastic way to share information, ideas, or arguments with your audience. Think of it as a structured approach to effectively convey your message. And you’ve got options such as slideshows, speeches, demos, videos, and even multimedia presentations!

The purpose of a presentation can vary depending on the situation and what the presenter wants to achieve. 

  • In the business world, presentations are commonly used to pitch proposals, share reports, or make sales pitches. 
  • In educational settings, presentations are a go-to for teaching or delivering engaging lectures. 
  • For conferences, seminars, and public events—presentations are perfect for dishing out information, inspiring folks, or even persuading the audience.

That sounds brilliant. But, how to write a presentation?

How To Write A Presentation

How To Write A Presentation? What should be in a powerful presentation? A great presentation encompasses several key elements to captivate your audience and effectively convey your message. Here’s what you should consider including in a winning presentation:

  • Clear and Engaging Introduction: Start your presentation with a bang! Hook your audience’s attention right from the beginning by using a captivating story, a surprising fact, a thought-provoking question, or a powerful quote. Clearly state the purpose of your presentation and establish a connection with your listeners.
  • Well-Structured Content: Organize your content logically and coherently. Divide your presentation into sections or main points and provide smooth transitions between them. Each section should flow seamlessly into the next, creating a cohesive narrative. Use clear headings and subheadings to guide your audience through the presentation.
  • Compelling Visuals: Incorporate visual aids, such as images, graphs, or videos, to enhance your presentation. Make sure your visuals are visually appealing, relevant, and easy to understand. Use a clean and uncluttered design with legible fonts and appropriate color schemes. 
  • Engaging Delivery: Pay attention to your delivery style and body language. You should maintain eye contact with your audience, use gestures to emphasize key points, and vary your tone of voice to keep the presentation dynamic. 
  • Clear and Memorable Conclusion: Leave your audience with a lasting impression by providing a strong closing statement, a call to action, or a thought-provoking question. Make sure your conclusion ties back to your introduction and reinforces the core message of your presentation.

notice for seminar presentation

How To Write A Presentation Script (With Examples)

To successfully convey your message to your audience, you must carefully craft and organize your presentation script. Here are steps on how to write a presentation script: 

1/ Understand Your Purpose and Audience

  • Clarify the purpose of your presentation. Are you informing, persuading, or entertaining?
  • Identify your target audience and their knowledge level, interests, and expectations.
  • Define what presentation format you want to use

2/ Outline the Structure of Your Presentation

Strong opening.

Start with an engaging opening that grabs the audience’s attention and introduces your topic. Some types of openings you can use are: 

  • Start with a Thought-Provoking Question: “Have you ever…?”
  • Begin with a Surprising Fact or Statistic: “Did you know that….?”
  • Use a Powerful Quote: “As Maya Angelou once said,….”
  • Tell a Compelling Story : “Picture this: You’re standing at….”
  • Start with a Bold Statement: “In the fast-paced digital age….”

Main Points

Clearly state your main points or key ideas that you will discuss throughout the presentation.

  • Clearly State the Purpose and Main Points: Example: “In this presentation, we will delve into three key areas. First,… Next,… Finally,…. we’ll discuss….”
  • Provide Background and Context: Example: “Before we dive into the details, let’s understand the basics of…..”
  • Present Supporting Information and Examples: Example: “To illustrate…., let’s look at an example. In,…..”
  • Address Counterarguments or Potential Concerns: Example: “While…, we must also consider… .”
  • Recap Key Points and Transition to the Next Section: Example: “To summarize, we’ve… Now, let’s shift our focus to…”

Remember to organize your content logically and coherently, ensuring smooth transitions between sections.

You can conclude with a strong closing statement summarizing your main points and leaving a lasting impression. Example: “As we conclude our presentation, it’s clear that… By…., we can….”

3/ Craft Clear and Concise Sentences

Once you’ve outlined your presentation, you need to edit your sentences. Use clear and straightforward language to ensure your message is easily understood.

Alternatively, you can break down complex ideas into simpler concepts and provide clear explanations or examples to aid comprehension.

4/ Use Visual Aids and Supporting Materials

Use supporting materials such as statistics, research findings, or real-life examples to back up your points and make them more compelling. 

  • Example: “As you can see from this graph,… This demonstrates….”

5/ Include Engagement Techniques

Incorporate interactive elements to engage your audience, such as Q&A sessions , conducting live polls, or encouraging participation. You can also spin more funs into group, by randomly dividing people into different groups to get more diverse feedbacks!

6/ Rehearse and Revise

  • Practice delivering your presentation script to familiarize yourself with the content and improve your delivery.
  • Revise and edit your script as needed, removing any unnecessary information or repetitions.

7/ Seek Feedback

You can share your script or deliver a practice presentation to a trusted friend, colleague, or mentor to gather feedback on your script and make adjustments accordingly.

More on Script Presentation

notice for seminar presentation

How to Write A Presentation Introduction with Examples

How to write presentations that are engaging and visually appealing? Looking for introduction ideas for the presentation? As mentioned earlier, once you have completed your script, it’s crucial to focus on editing and refining the most critical element—the opening of your presentation – the section that determines whether you can captivate and retain your audience’s attention right from the start. 

Here is a guide on how to craft an opening that grabs your audience’s attention from the very first minute: 

1/ Start with a Hook

To begin, you can choose from five different openings mentioned in the script based on your desired purpose and content. Alternatively, you can opt for the approach that resonates with you the most, and instills your confidence. Remember, the key is to choose a starting point that aligns with your objectives and allows you to deliver your message effectively.

2/ Establish Relevance and Context

Then you should establish the topic of your presentation and explain why it is important or relevant to your audience. Connect the topic to their interests, challenges, or aspirations to create a sense of relevance.

3/ State the Purpose

Clearly articulate the purpose or goal of your presentation. Let the audience know what they can expect to gain or achieve by listening to your presentation.

4/ Preview Your Main Points

Give a brief overview of the main points or sections you will cover in your presentation. It helps the audience understand the structure and flow of your presentation and creates anticipation.

5/ Establish Credibility

Share your expertise or credentials related to the topic to build trust with the audience, such as a brief personal story, relevant experience, or mentioning your professional background.

6/ Engage Emotionally

Connect emotional levels with your audience by appealing to their aspirations, fears, desires, or values. They help create a deeper connection and engagement from the very beginning.

Make sure your introduction is concise and to the point. Avoid unnecessary details or lengthy explanations. Aim for clarity and brevity to maintain the audience’s attention.

For example, Topic: Work-life balance

“Good morning, everyone! Can you imagine waking up each day feeling energized and ready to conquer both your personal and professional pursuits? Well, that’s exactly what we’ll explore today – the wonderful world of work-life balance. In a fast-paced society where work seems to consume every waking hour, it’s vital to find that spot where our careers and personal lives harmoniously coexist. Throughout this presentation, we’ll dive into practical strategies that help us achieve that coveted balance, boost productivity, and nurture our overall well-being. 

But before we dive in, let me share a bit about my journey. As a working professional and a passionate advocate for work-life balance, I have spent years researching and implementing strategies that have transformed my own life. I am excited to share my knowledge and experiences with all of you today, with the hope of inspiring positive change and creating a more fulfilling work-life balance for everyone in this room. So, let’s get started!”

🎉 Check out: How to Start a Presentation?

notice for seminar presentation

Whether you’re a seasoned speaker or new to the stage, understanding how to write a presentation that conveys your message effectively is a valuable skill. By following the steps in this guide, you can become a captivating presenter and make your mark in every presentation you deliver.

Additionally, AhaSlides can significantly enhance your presentation’s impact. With AhaSlides, you can use live polls , quizzes , and word cloud to turn your presentation into an engaging and interactive experience. Let’s take a moment to explore our vast template library !

Frequently Asked Questions

How to write a presentation step by step .

You can refer to our step-by-step guide on How To Write A Presentation Script: Understand Your Purpose and Audience Outline the Structure of Your Presentation Craft Clear and Concise Sentences Use Visual Aids and Supporting Material Include Engagement Techniques Rehearse and Revise Seek Feedback

How do you start a presentation? 

You can start with an engaging opening that grabs the audience’s attention and introduces your topic. Consider using one of the following approaches: Start with a Thought-Provoking Question: “Have you ever…?” Begin with a Surprising Fact or Statistic: “Did you know that….?” Use a Powerful Quote: “As Maya Angelou once said,….” Tell a Compelling Story : “Picture this: You’re standing at….” Start with a Bold Statement: “In the fast-paced digital age….”

What are the five parts of a presentation?

When it comes to presentation writing, a typical presentation consists of the following five parts: Introduction: Capturing the audience’s attention, introducing yourself, stating the purpose, and providing an overview. Main Body: Presenting main points, evidence, examples, and arguments. Visual Aids: Using visuals to enhance understanding and engage the audience. Conclusion: Summarizing main points, restating key message, and leaving a memorable takeaway or call to action. Q&A or Discussion: Optional part for addressing questions and encouraging audience participation.

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A writer who wants to create practical and valuable content for the audience

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IMAGES

  1. Seminar Presentation Templates

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  2. Template For Seminar Presentation

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  3. Seminar Paper Outline

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  4. Seminar/Presentation Notice

    notice for seminar presentation

  5. Write a notice informing about the seminar on literacy organized by 10th class || Notice Writing ||

    notice for seminar presentation

  6. Template For Seminar Presentation

    notice for seminar presentation

VIDEO

  1. इतना कभी मत सोना #ojha #motivation##avadh ojha sirIas entry

  2. How to Prepare a Notice of Meeting with Agenda (Blocked Style)

  3. Notice , Invitation , Bar Graph

  4. GST Seminar

  5. How to start a seminar presentation || How to present a seminar ||

  6. learn something new for future| Sandeep Maheshwari| motivational video|

COMMENTS

  1. How to Write the Notice of Meeting (With Template)

    Date, Time, and Duration. Specify the meeting date and time of the meeting in a clear format (e.g., Tuesday, May 2nd at 2:00 PM PST). If applicable, include the time zone for remote participants. Additionally, providing an estimated duration (e.g., 1 hour) helps attendees manage their schedules effectively.

  2. Preparing And Presenting a Seminar

    The primary objective of seminar presentation is to enhance presentation skills when persuading, educating, or informing an audience. Specifically, it provides a focus on the fundamental aspects of a quality academic, professional and business communications including structure, preparation and strategy for delivery, using visual aids, and handling question and answer sessions.

  3. PDF Guidelines for Seminar Presentations

    Guidelines for Seminar Presentations You will have a class period (~ 45 min) for your presentation, but this will include question and discussion time during and after the presentation. This means that the presentation would take about 25 min if you were to give it straight through (i.e., without interruptions or discussion afterwards).

  4. How to Create Your Perfect Webinar Presentation (+Examples)

    Final Step: Your Webinar Presentation Design . Unlike traditional presentations, webinars are highly visual experiences. And to get there, the design of your slides plays a huge role. So, make sure to give your final presentation an eye-catching professional aspect. Click on the image to read: "Your Top 8 Sites to Find Presentation Design ...

  5. How to Take Effective Seminar Notes

    For some courses, seminar participation forms part of your final grade. This might be in the form of a pass/fail or as part of an assessment, such as a report or presentation using the seminar topic. ‍ Benefits of Effective Seminar Notes ‍ In seminars, students can extract a lot of value using effective notetaking. Seminars can:

  6. How to Plan and Manage a Seminar

    Group Activities. Group activities are another essential component of a successful seminar, fostering teamwork, collaboration, and networking among participants. These activities aim to break the ice, encourage interaction, and promote a sense of camaraderie among attendees. Depending on the seminar's nature and objectives, group activities can ...

  7. PDF How to give good seminar presentations

    Do not leave important questions unanswered at the end of the presentation. Open issues should be explicitly addressed (e.g., future work) Provide a summary of the main message of your presentation. Try to close the circle: link the results at the end to the motivating questions at the beginning.

  8. How to Give a Good Student Seminar Presentation

    At each "click" on your slides, new information is shown on the slides. Let's mark by (slides) the amount of information added following a "click". Let's mark by (speech) the amount of information conveyed by your speech between two "clicks". A good presentation has (slides)= (speech) at each point in the presentation.

  9. Ways to give an effective seminar about your research project

    Ways to give an effective seminar about your research project. Grab your audience's attention by using slides as a roadmap and focusing on your role as a presenter, recommends Ananya Sen. By ...

  10. Making a short presentation based on your research: 11 tips

    Discipline. You have (or will have) an elevator pitch from the job market - use this to trim your presentation. A few bonus resources from others Marc Bellemare has a great series of "22 tips for conference and seminar presentations," many of which apply to short presentations: "Always provide a preview of your results. This isn't a ...

  11. PDF Guidelines on Seminar Presentations

    Titles should be 36-48 point and text should be 26-36 point (72 points equals 1 inch). Also, keep similar text the same size from one visual to the next. Blank areas in a visual help the reader through the data and avoid the appearance of overcrowding. Slides should have enough margins on all sides and eye friendly.

  12. 10 Seminar Presentation Techniques : Collegelib.com

    Here are ten presentation techniques to improve your degree final-year seminar or project presentation. #1. Practice. Practice is the most important word here. If you are a first-time presenter, practice your presentation at least seven times in front of a mirror. #2.

  13. 22 Tips for Conference and Seminar Presentations

    Though this does not mean that a 75-minute seminar needs 75 slides (most of my seminar presentations have fewer than 60 slides), it really does mean that a 15-minute conference presentation should have no more than 15 slides. What your presentation should include is really a function of time. For example, when presenting my work with Tara ...

  14. PDF Section 10 Seminar Presentations

    This section focuses on seminar presentations, but most of the information given here is transferable and can be applied to all forms. of public speaking. This section is going to address a number of issues which are all relevant to preparing. and giving presentations and these include: preparing and reading background.

  15. Ten simple rules for effective presentation slides

    The "presentation slide" is the building block of all academic presentations, whether they are journal clubs, thesis committee meetings, short conference talks, or hour-long seminars. A slide is a single page projected on a screen, usually built on the premise of a title, body, and figures or tables and includes both what is shown and what ...

  16. How to write a Seminar-Showing its arrangement.

    "A conference or other meeting for discussion or training." "A class at a college or university in which a topic is discussed by a teacher and a small group of students." A seminar paper is a work of original research that presents a specific topic and is presented to a group of interested persons, usually in an academic setting.

  17. CHAPTER 18 Guidelines to qualitative academic seminar presentation

    The primary objective of seminar presentation is to enhance presentation skills when persuading, educating, or informing an audience. Specifically, it provides a focus on the fundamental aspects of a quality academic, professional and business communications including structure, preparation and strategy for delivery, using visual aids, and handling question and answer sessions.

  18. 10 Seminar preparation tips, preparing the Slides

    Remember, the seminar slides (PowerPoint or Google Slide) are critical tools for your seminar presentation, so be familiar with their usage, such as slide show, and utilize them. Writing a precise statement involves expressing a clear and concise idea with no unnecessary words or ambiguity, effectively conveying the intended message or argument ...

  19. Complete Guide On How To Prepare A Seminar

    3. Choose a seminar topic and format. The next step to preparing your seminar is choosing a topic. Your topic is important in determining how attractive your seminar will be for your potential attendees. Research relevant topics that can also be relevant to the industry you're serving.

  20. What is a Seminar and How to Run One Like a Pro

    A seminar, or a panel discussion, is a focused and interactive educational event where a group of people with shared interests come together to discuss, learn, and exchange ideas. A subject matter expert or speaker usually leads the discussion and encourages attendees to ask questions and contribute to the discourse at the end.

  21. How To Write A Presentation 101

    6/ Engage Emotionally. Connect emotional levels with your audience by appealing to their aspirations, fears, desires, or values. They help create a deeper connection and engagement from the very beginning. Make sure your introduction is concise and to the point. Avoid unnecessary details or lengthy explanations.

  22. Notice For Seminar Presentation

    Notice for Seminar Presentation - Free download as PDF File (.pdf) or read online for free.

  23. (PDF) Notes on Seminar Writing and Presentation

    one side of the paper only (Paasivaara, 2006). - Your seminar paper presentation must only 20 minutes long. - Provide the audience with a work plan or an outline of your paper at the beginning of ...