Student posters will be hung on poster rails along classroom hallways. Students will be required to be near their posters for the 2-hour duration in order to present their research to any individuals who approach.

Posters should be constructed using PowerPoint.  You can download three different templates below, and you are free to use any of these as they are already set to the correct dimensions for printing on our large format printer. All templates have a designated spot for a QR code, see instructions below for making a QR code.  Note: Once you have submitted your poster for printing, it cannot be edited unless you incur the cost of printing a second copy.

QR codes may be used to link to a variety of different material. They have been used on posters to link to short elevator talks about the project, videos/sound files for some portion of the project or to a citation list too long to be included on the poster.  If you would like to use a QR code for this start by saving whatever you wish to link to in your OneDrive folder.  Then you will use the link below.  Here you will see a QR code.  It can be modified using the tools to the right but for your poster I would use the default (don’t worry it randomizes every time you click on the link).  Below the QR code is a box to enter the html that links to your file.  To make this link, open your OneDrive and right click on the file you wish to share.  Choose Share.  When the Share box opens, you will see a title Copy Link and below it will show a ribbon that says – People in McMurry University with the link can edit. Click on that ribbon and the box will change to give you Sharing Settings. Click in the button next to the green Anyone, then under More Settings, click the arrow on the right and choose Can View, then click Apply at the bottom of the box. Then click Copy, this will copy the long html to the left of Copy.  Go back to the browser window opened previously and paste the html into the box below the QR code.  You can use the shortcut CTRL+V to do so. Then click Create QR Code. You will notice the picture change.  Right click on the image and choose Save Image As. In the following save box, give the file a name and save it to your preferred location as a PNG image.  You will then be able to add the image to your PowerPoint and place it in the box in the bottom right hand of the template.

• Dress appropriately. You are representing your Department, your Institution, and yourself, so be professional!
• When developing your presentation using PowerPoint, think the project through from start to finish and develop the “storyline” you wish to present. Fit your story to the poster in a logical layout.
• Don’t get cutesy with the title – this is a professional presentation!
• Confine content to the basics and your text to the most important information.
• Do not distract with the composition or colors used.
• Be sure information and labels are clearly visible and with a font size that can be read from a distance of 4 ft.
• Your “take-home message” is in the form of a statement, not a question.
• When a guest comes to your poster, do not wait for them to ask you a question.
  • Begin by thanking them for coming, and then give your “elevator speech” (a 1-minute synopsis of the why, what, how, and takeaway meaning) for your project.
  • Know the story so that you do not have to refer to notes. Look the audience in the eye and relax.
  • Nobody else knows more about the project than you do. Relax and be the expert on the subject that you are!
• If someone asks a question about the project that you don’t know the answer to, this is an opening for the two of you to discuss and perhaps come up with their insight to your work that can help in future research and in answers to other guests who stop by.
• If someone asks a question that is not covered by the project you are presenting, it is truthful and acceptable to respond with, “That is a good question, but it lies outside of the scope of this project”.

Start early.  Practice, practice, practice

McMurry’s Playfest celebrates the work of McMurry students by producing original student written plays. Original pieces are selected by Theatre professors and directed by student directors under the guidance of McMurry Professors. Each performance will be staged with minimal set, lighting and costumes and with the full support of the theatre department.

• Original work – not yet produced
• One Act play – no longer than 45-60 minutes
• Name the playwright
• Name the director
• List cast size

Please note:
McMurry is both an American liberal arts and a Christian university, thus in the McMurry Theatre Department we do our best to steer between the poles of free artistic expression and Christian values. Anything you’ve seen, are seeing, or expect to see onstage is not endorsed by McMurry University. We hope you will continue to support our students and our department as we navigate the tumultuous, beautiful, and highly-vulnerable waters of creative freedom and self-expression.