Guidelines for PLSC 790: Graduate Seminar
Fall 2008
Room 114 Loftsgard Hall at 3:30 p.m. on Friday

Dr. Kirk Howatt, 470F Loftsgard Hall (231-7209)
kirk.howatt@ndsu.edu

Dr. Richard Horsley, 370H Loftsgard Hall (231-8142)
richard.horsley@ndsu.edu

 

Additional information available through the course web page:
http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/plantsci/plsc790/plsc790.htm
         How Do I Introduce a Speaker?
         Moderating the Seminar
         Suggestions for Seminar Preparation and Presentation
         Communication Skills – Making Oral Presentations
         PowerPoint Presentations – Do’s and Don’ts
         Abstract Example
         Seminar Evaluation Form

Objectives:  

  1. This class is designed to improve a student’s presentation skills with the goal of effectively communicating the most important concepts within a research review to an audience with diverse knowledge of the subject.
  2. This class also provides an opportunity to experience critique by receiving and providing review and assessment of seminar presentations. As such, seminar preparation and content, delivery style and poise, developing and leading discussion, and personal appearance are important.

 Grading:

1. All students who registered for PLSC790 will receive a letter grade. A final grade will be assigned based on the following overall points:
90-100=A; 80-89=B; 70-79=C; 60-69=D; failure to give a seminar=F
         The criteria for grades include:
                   A) Quality and content of the seminar given (65%)
                   B) Student participation (15%)
                   C) Audience evaluation (20%)
         Note: A and B are evaluated by instructors.
2. "Incomplete" grades will not be given unless the student suffers serious illness documented by a doctor's certificate. The student who signs up and fails to give a seminar will receive a grade of "F".
3. Failure to complete the dry run or self-assessment of seminar will result in a reduction of one letter grade.
   

Topic:

A topic seminar is to be a presentation of research findings (through a literature search) that is not related to the student's thesis topic. Past research reports used to complete the requirements of other classes cannot be used. The thesis exit seminar is a requirement for graduation, but does not count for credit in seminar class.

  1. The seminar topic can not be closely related to your thesis topic.
  2. Students should identify a topic with their seminar advisor ( not the student's thesis advisor). The topic has to be approved by the topic advisor before being presented to the seminar chairs.
A list of suggested topics and advisors is attached, but you are not limited to this list. If a student has difficulty identifying a seminar topic or advisor, contact the instructors.



3.

Students should submit three topics (ordered by preference) to the instructors within one week of the first meeting. Those who fail to submit topics on time will lose 10 points from the final grade for each week late. If you do not turn in topics by this date, you will not receive a grade of "A".

4.
 The chairs of the graduate seminar committee will approve a topic on a first come, first served basis. Submitting topics for approval as soon as possible to avoid duplicating other student topics. If none of the suggestions are deemed appropriate the student must provide additional topics.

Preparation/Presentation:

  1. The seminar will be given using slides either in hard-copy format or with aids such as the Proxima system or the computer available in Room #114. Students must prepare their own slides and visual aids. The instructors are available to provide technical assistance with slide preparation.
  2. Students need to have a backup plan for the seminar in the event of equipment failure and show evidence of such (please consult with instructors).
  3. Each topic seminar's length must be at least 30 minutes, not exceeding 40 minutes, with an additional 10 minutes for questions and discussion. Thesis seminars can be longer but should not exceed 45 minutes. The introduction should not exceed 10 minutes.
  4. The presentation should be based on data from multiple sources, such as refereed journals, trade magazines, meeting proceedings, books, research reports, etc.
  5. A dry run with the topic advisor is expected to occur before the dry run with the instructors.
  6. A dry run with instructors is expected the Friday prior to the date of presentation. You will need to have your seminar prepared and rehearsed by this time. The dry run will be videotaped and provided to the student as a review tool.
  7. The student is responsible for arranging the instructor dry run. This includes coordinating a time and place for the meeting and arranging the equipment use. Room, computer, projector, and video camera reservations can be made with Eileen Buringrud.
  8. Students are to bring hard copies of slides, six per page, to the dry run for the instructors, the student videographer, and any other advisors in attendance.
  9. A one-page written abstract for the seminar that has been edited by the topic advisor is due to the instructors one day prior to the date the seminar is given.
  10. The topic advisor should approve the abstract prior to submission to the instructor. The abstract is a summary of the seminar and as such it should contain the most important information presented in the seminar with key literature cited. Format should follow that of the Crop Science Society of America style manual. The abstract will be handed out immediately prior to the seminar. See an example on the class homepage.
  11. Students will be required to lead a discussion session after completion of the seminar and not merely answer questions.
  12. Appearance is important because it reflects the seriousness of the presentation. Students are encouraged to dress appropriately to reflect their commitment to the task at hand.
Remember : This may be the only chance for many of the faculty to evaluate you before being asked by colleagues at other institutions about your performance. Thus, preparation, content, presentation, and the ease of answering questions from audience and leading discussion are important.

 

 

Attendance/Evaluation:

  1. Students are expected to attend all seminars presented in the semester. If unable to attend for some unavoidable work, students need to inform the instructor prior to the seminar, not after the fact.
  2. Students are required to fill out the evaluation form for each seminar presented by students and invited speakers. The evaluator's name is placed in the top right corner of the form. Names will be removed before giving evaluations to the speaker.
  3. The speaker is responsible for reviewing his/her performance and completing a self-evaluation. View your seminar prior to filling out the evaluation form.
  4. Each speaker must arrange a time within one week to meet with the instructors for review of the self-evaluation and discussion of the seminar.
  5. The number of seminars attended, seriousness of evaluating seminars, active participation by asking questions and involvement in discussion, and fair and objective grading of seminars with written comments will be part of the criteria for determining grades.

Thoughtful and constructive comments are important to your fellow students in improving the quality of their presentation style and skill.

Presenter Introduction/Web System:

  1. Students presenting thesis seminars will be introduced by their major professors.

  2. Guest speakers will be introduced by their hosts.

  3. Topic seminar presenters will be introduced by the next student on the schedule. This student also will attend and videotape the instructor dry run. The student presenting the first seminar will introduce the last speaker in the semester.
  4. Students will be videotaped and the seminar transferred to the Department web page. If display of the student’s seminar on the internet is not acceptable to the student, the student is responsible for informing the instructor in writing by the end of the second week of class that the presentation should not be placed on the Department web page. Not receiving written notice to withhold the presentation indicates compliance with internet release.

Dishonesty:

The College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources has an Honor System (http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/colag/honor.htm), which believes that a student has the privilege and responsibility to perform honestly and responsibly. Exams will include the following pledge which students are required to sign before their exam will be accepted: "On my honor I have neither given nor received aid in completing this assignment." An indication of dishonesty will be referred to the Honor Commission made up of students. The instructor also retains the privilege of deducting points if he deems that the action is warranted. Appropriate methods are available for appeal.