The Format of the Research Paper and Report Presentation

 Paper margin

Except for page numbers, leave margins of one inch at the top and bottom and on both sides ofthe text. If you lack 81/2-by-11-inch paper and use a larger size, do not print the text in an area greater than 61/2 by 9 inches. Indent the first word of a paragraph one-half inch from the left margin. Indent set-off quotations one inch from the left margin. 

Text formatting and spacing

Always choose an easily readable typeface (e.g., Times New Roman) in which the regular type style contrasts clearly with the italic, and set it to a standard size (e.g., 12 points). Do not justify the lines of text at the right margin; turn off your word processor's automatic hyphenation feature. Set your word processor to double-space the entire research paper, including quotations, notes, and the list of works cited. Leave one space after a period or other concluding punctuation mark,unless your instructor prefers two spaces.

Heading and Title

A research paper does not need a title page. Instead, beginning one inch from the top of the first page and flush with the left margin, type your name, your instructor's name, the course number, and the date on separate lines, double-spacing between the lines. Double-space again and center the title. Double-space also between the lines of the title, and double-space between the title and the first line of the text. Do not italicize or underline your title, put it in quotation marks or boldface, or type it in all capital letters.  Italicize only the words that you would italicize in the text. Do not use a period after your title or after any heading in the paper (e.g., Works Cited).

Page Numbers

Number all pages consecutively throughout the research paper in the upper right-hand corner, one-half inch from the top and flush with the fight margin. Type your last name before the page number, as a precaution in case of misplaced pages. Automatic page numbering by your word processor will save you the time and effort of numbering every page. A word processor allows you to create a running head that consists of your last name followed by a space and the page number. Do not use the abbreviation p. before a page number or add a period, a hyphen, or any other mark or symbol. The word processor may automatically insert your running head on every page of your paper if you do not specify otherwise. Some teachers,however, prefer that no number appear on the first page. Follow your teacher's preference.

Correction and Insertion

Proofread and correct your research paper carefully before submitting it. If you find a mistake in the final copy, reopen the word-processing file, make the appropriate revisions, and reprint the corrected page or pages. Be sure to save the changed file. Some writers find such software as spelling checkers and usage checkers helpful when used with caution. If your instructor permits brief corrections on the printout, write them neatly and legibly in ink directly above the lines involved, using carets to indicate where they go. Do not use the margins or write a change below the line it affects. If correctionson any page are numerous or substantial, revise your file and reprint the page.

Electronic Submission

There are at present no commonly accepted standards for the electronic submission of research papers. If you are asked to submit your paper electronically, obtain from your teacher guidelines for formatting, mode of submission (e.g., bye-mail, on a Web site), and so forth, and follow them closely.

To facilitate discussion of your work, you should incorporate reference markers in the paper if it does not include page numbers. Paragraphs are sometimes numbered in electronic publications. If you use this system, place the appropriate number, in square brackets- "[12]"-and followed by a space, at the beginning of each paragraph.

Research report presentation: Oral presentation and Power Point Presentation

Presentation Format

After your paper is accepted, the presentation of your work can help you share the idea and/or get financial support from audiences/readers. In a conference, seminar, or workshop, you can select your preferred presentation form at during the online abstract submission process: oral or power point presentation. 

Oral Presentation

For oral presentation, the time generally allocated for a plenary speaker is 45 min, for a keynote speaker is 25 min, and for a contributory speaker is 15 min, which accommodates the presentation followed by a short discussion. You should prepare your presentation with 1 -2 slides/min. The content of the presentation is

similar to manuscript submission: Introduction, Experiment, Results and Discussion, and Conclusion.

The following guidelines are very useful for oral presentation when you present your work in a conference, seminar, or workshop:

1. Introduce yourself, your advisor, and committee members.

2. Give an introduction and background information on your topic. What relevant research has been performed previously?

3. State the problems that remain unanswered.

4. State your objectives clearly and give the specific hypotheses you wish to show.

5. Describe the methodology. Be sure you fully understand your chosen methods. Give reasons why you chose these methods over other approaches.

6. Present any data you have collected.

7. Explain the significance of your findings or potential future findings.

Power point presentation

Presentation in brief: The presentation is a group project. Think of this as a visual version of your paper. The presentation should include: a short intro, your hypotheses, a brief description of the methods, tables and/or graphs related to your findings, and an interpretation of your data. The presentations should be no more than 10 minutes long. 

Title slide (1 slide). Title of the talk (probably the same as your paper), the names of all group members, the class and university names, and the date the talk is given.

Introduction (typically 3-4 slides). Explain why your work is interesting. Place the study in context – how does it relate to / follow from the scientific literature on this subject. Use some pretty visuals (photographs, drawings, etc.) to get the audience excited about the issue and questions you are addressing. Clearly state your hypotheses.

Materials and Methods (typically 2-3 slides). Clearly summarize the design. Show some bullet points and justify why they are appropriate for addressing the questions mentioned above. Mention which methods you used but do not go into detail on exact procedures. 

Results (typically 2-4 slides). First show a photograph (or sketch) that shows an interesting qualitative results. Then display the results reminding the audience of your hypothesis and stating whether it was supported as you do so. If you have multiple results, state them in a logical order.

Implications and Conclusions (typically 2-3 slides). Correctly interpret your results. Constructively address sources of error and methodological difficulties. Place your results incontext and draw implications from them.

Acknowledgments (1 slide). Thank anyone who provided advice or assistance. Verbally thank your audience for their attention and tell them you would be happy to answer any questions.