Advice from Previous HPS 402 Students for your Presentations and Literature Review & Policy Memos:
- Do not wait until the last minute
- If you’re stuck, ask for help from the librarian or Professor Draus.
- I decided to gather my sources early, and that really gave me a leg up when writing my memo. Also, always ask questions!
- Waiting until the last day will not be the best decision. Also, have your papers peer-reviewed prior to submission.
- For the Literature Review and Policy Memo, make sure you keep in one direction, it is very easy to be split multiple ways during research.
- Pick a topic that you already know a little bit about and that you are passionate about. When you have a connection to your topic, it is easier to be persuasive.
- Brainstorm your interests and choose a topic you are passionate about.
- Really understand your topic and have a narrow idea of what you want to talk about. Also know what policy you want to make and find really good sources to help you when writing either one.
- Choose a topic that you will be able to find community level stats/data on. Don’t be afraid to look at multiple sources and see which fits your assignment best.
- It’s going to be very confusing in the beginning but when you have the rights sources and topics it makes it so much better. I changed my topic a couple of times before my final presentation and paper.
- Ask questions if you’re not sure about the information you have gathered. Don’t read the slides directly from the PowerPoint, and engage your audience in questions when presenting.
- For the presentation, be prepared, keep slides short and simple, add a greater understanding through your own words
