Poster Layout Diagram - Image Map Explanations

Paper Title, Author(s) and Affiliation(s)

• The paper title, author(s) and affiliation(s) should be placed in larger point size in seperate blocks at the top center. In general the rule is the following:

• If there are multiple authors, the one who is to be the correspondent should have an asterisk after their name.

• By using 14" paper, in a landscape page size setting, you can create the titles, authors and affiliations in a nice looking way.

Abstract
The abstract of your paper should not attempt to explain all the content in-depth of your paper. It should highlight just a few points about the meaning and organization of the paper.

• The major purpose of the paper

• Outline briefly the organization of the paper

• Mention 1-2 major conclusions and some idea of the significance of the work

• The abstract ideally should be between 200-300 words.

Body of Text

A poster usually allows the presenter to offer a concentrated narrative of some topic. Typically, there is an:

• Introduction that will give some background to the subject and research/study approach.

• A series of a few well-developed results of research such as an analysis of political party affiliation and regional affiliation, or instances of literary publications, one or two philosophical ideas, results of a social educational survey, 1-2 case studies of an incident or pattern of behavior, etc. The key point is to make a few cases well.

• One way to provide information is through using a "bullet" method, that summarizes the evidence or conclusions, such as is used in this section. It makes the presentation lucid and easy for the reader to follow.

• Not all information has to be accompanied by graphs, tables or pictures. For example, the distillation of a philosophical theory in a poster would provide a fruitful intellectual experience. The presenter could have a real interchange with interested attendees of that poster.

• The text should not be laden with footnotes - and with few endnotes. References should be given at the end and cited, when appropriate in the following manner:
  Single source by the author: (Name, pp.)
  Multiple sources by author (Name, short title or date, pp.)
  
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Figures
Figures can be charts, graphs, maps, photograph or art reproductions or any other visual media. For example, one way to use a figure to get across a good amount of information is to have a chronology of an incident or an historical figure. It allows for both concise and synthetic information. Many institutions have Media Centers that can help develop these in color and to your size specifications.

Tables
Tabular information is one of the useful ways to present information in a compelling and clear manner. Tables do not have to just present statistical information. They can be used to show different archival collections, database categories that were used in research, or periodizations and associated phenomona. Remember that column labels and categories should be clearly presented.

Conclusion
The Conclusion is an important part of the poster. Its main purpose should be to highlight the main idea(s) and to only briefly be used as a summation device, if at all. New interpretations or research sources/areas should be underscored in the conclusion. Again, consider using a "Bullet" format to make your points here, as well as to separate the ideas.
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Acknowledgments
Where appropriate, for granting agencies, librarians and archivists, or those who provided a place for your research, you might consider a brief acknowledgments section.

References
Concentrate on key references only. This is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of sources, either in terms of the subject area or your own research. While you want to show your expertise in the area, and back up your ideas, remember that you can expand on the discussion of sources directly with your readers during the poster session.

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