Substitute (Video) Presentations

• Presentations should be 4-5 minutes long.
• Videos must meet the following criteria:
  • Filmed in horizontal/landscape orientation
  • Filmed on a plain background
  • Filmed from a static position
  • Filmed from one camera angle
  • Contain a title slide (at beginning)
  • Contain PowerPoint slides (we strongly suggest using 5 slides)

• Write for your audience
  • You should be able to explain your research to a non-specialist audience.
  • Avoid jargon and obscure academic language;
  • Explain concepts and people important to your research (you may know all about Professor Smith’s theories, but your audience may not);
  • Highlight the outcomes of your research and the impact it will have;
  • Imagine that you are explaining your research to a close friend or fellow student from another field;
  • Do not devalue your research; what you are doing is exciting and you should convey enthusiasm for your subject.
• Tell a story
  • You may like to present your five-minute video like a story, with a beginning, middle and end.
  • It is not easy to condense your research into five minutes, so you may find it easier to break your presentation down into smaller sections. Try writing an opener to catch the attention of your audience, then highlight your different points, and finally have a summary to restate the importance of your work. Have a clear outcome in mind
  • Know what you want your audience to take away from your presentation. Ideally, you would like the audience to leave with an understanding of what you are doing, why it is important and what you hope to achieve.
• What not to do
  • Do not write your presentation like an academic paper. Try to use shorter words, shorter sentences and shorter paragraphs.
  • You can use humor; however, be careful not to devalue your presentation.
• Revise
  • Proof your five-minute presentation by reading it aloud, to yourself and to an audience of friends and family. This allows you to not only check your style, but it will allow you to receive critical feedback. Ask your audience if your presentation clearly highlights what your research is and why it is important.

• Your presentation should have 5 slides telling the story of your research project.
• Use of images, graphs, charts, tables, animations, illustrations is encouraged! Keep text very brief – you should do most of the talking, not your slides.
• Required title slide (included in your 5 slide count):
  • Title slide must include (in this order):
    • Title of event (example 2025 Spring Honors Research Symposium)
    • Your First & Last Name
    • Research advisor name (Prof. Jane Smith)
    • Title of presentation
    • Research Ethics Compliance number if applicable (ex. IRB, IACUC, IBC, etc)
    • Funding source (if applicable)
  • Suggested components to include:
    • Background – why was this research needed?
    • Research questions – what did you want to discover?
    • Methodology – how was your research designed and how did you carry it out?
    • Results – clearly state the main finding(s)
    • Implications – what’s the impact and what are the future directions?
    • References/Citations
• Make sure your faculty mentor reviews and approves your finished PowerPoint presentation before you record your video and submit it.

Device Options

Recording your presentation can be done using a camera, cell phone, or computer. Most computers have recording ability (via camera or webcam) using inbuilt programs such as:

• Windows
  • Camera App
  • Microsoft Photos - Video editing feature
• Macintosh
  • QuickTime
  • iMovie
• Online programs which you might like to consider include:
  • Zoom - see how to record yourself via Zoom.

Practice, practice, practice! It’s important to practice so you can present with confidence and clarity.

• Vocal range
  • Speak clearly and use variety in your voice (fast/slow, loud/soft).
  • Do not rush – find your rhythm.
  • Remember to pause at key points, as it gives the audience time to think about what you are saying. 
• Body language 
  • Be aware of your eye movement. Maintain eye contact with the camera lens as though it were a person in the audience watching you present live.
• Dress
  • Students should follow a work casual dress code

NOTE: All videos must be uploaded to YouTube, which will automatically generate draft captions. To finalize and edit captions you will need to work from a computer (not phone).

• Ensure your completed video has been copied to your desktop or laptop device if you filmed on a phone or tablet. Videos should be saved to your device as a .mp4
• Using your William & Mary email account, create your own personal YouTube Studio
• In the top right-hand corner, click CREATE > Upload video
• Select your edited five-minute video
• Title your video: LastNameFirstName_Presentation Title (you can abbreviate your title if it is long)
• Your description should include the same information as your title
  • You must include in this order:
    • Title of event
    • First & Last Name
    • Research advisor name (Prof. Jane Smith)
    • Title of presentation
  • Language, subtitles, and closed captions (CC):
    • All presentations must include
      • YouTube closed caption instructions
    • Thumbnail (the image that will tempt viewers to click on your video)
      • Select a thumbnail or create one on your own
    • License and distribution:
      • Check ‘Allow embedding’
    • Comments and ratings
      • Select ‘Hold potentially inappropriate comments for review’
    • Visibility
      • You must select “Public”

• After you have uploaded your five-minute video presentation to YouTube, you will complete the online form where you will provide your five-minute video YouTube URL.

• Slide Formatting Checklist – created by LouAnne Hawkines and Christopher Leone
• Oral Presentation Tips – created by Lisa Scott
• Clear and Memorable Presentations – prerecorded William & Mary Libraries Zoom presentation
• Tips for a Memorable 5-Minute Research Presentation – Cornell University
• Past examples:
  • Fall 2024 Symposium
  • Fall 2023 Symposium
  • Fall 2022 Symposium
• William & Mary Slide Template