Does populism undermine democracy?

4PIRS002W
 Democracy in Crisis?

Final assignment What makes a good poster?

Poster assignment

Here’s one I prepared earlier….

Why posters? • Posters are an effective way of communicating information

concisely, visually and attractively.

• Academic posters summarise information or research to help publicise it and generate discussion

• Posters are often used in conferences and workshops in all spheres of work

Questions • Does populism undermine democracy?

• Can climate change be solved by democracies?

• Is democracy racist?

• Can new forms of participation revitalise democracy?

• Why have some democracies been more effective in responding to Covid-19?

Overall criteria for assessment • Extent to which the poster indicates an understanding and

synthesis of the academic and non-academic evidence on the topic • Extent to which the poster introduces ideas in an interesting

and engaging manner • Clarity of information • Range and correct attribution of sources • Appropriate use of tables, graphs, figures and images etc.

Things to consider… • An academic poster is designed to communicate clearly, concisely,

and visually. • It should be self-explanatory. • It takes skill to summarise a complex topic without losing some

meaning or connections. • Think what is essential to know about the topic? • How might you use images or diagrams to help convey your message?

Things to consider… • Poster quality

• Can you combine visual impact and clarity in the way you present your ideas to the passer-by?

• Explanatory quality • Are you sharp, engaging and comfortable explaining the topic? • Is there evidence of wide reading around the topic area?

• Substance • Do you have an appropriate title? • Why does your topic matter? • Do you provide evidence of an integrated review of relevant literature? • Do you provide clear conclusions? • Do you provide adequate referencing / citations?

Some examples from previous years….

• What are the strengths and weaknesses of these posters?

• https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=Ir5LVXqyzyc&feature=youtu.be

Designing a great poster

First steps… • Decide what you need to communicate, and how. • What is your main message? • What does your viewer need to know? • Identify the key points, always keeping your topic or task in mind.

• Make a rough draft of the information you need. • Decide on the main title. • Identify the graphics you might need, such as photos,

diagrams, graphs or charts. • Remember: Academic posters need to show evidence of

reading and research, so you must always include references

Some tips… • An academic poster should be both professional and concise, so a

general rule is only to include graphics that really support your content. • Use diagrams, graphs or flowcharts to help explain complex information

visually. Every image should have a purpose. • Make sure there is not too much text. It must be readable from

distance. • Try not to use too many different or strongly contrasting colours. A

limited colour palette can be very effective. • Avoid using unnecessary and distracting background textures or

decoration. ‘Negative' space and margins will give your content room to breathe • If your topic has a central statement, graphic or diagram, make this

prominent in your design. Don't hide it in a corner!

Some technical points • A poster should be legible from about one metre and attract

interest from about five metres. • Aim for a word count of no more than 300 words – beware of

being too text heavy • For clarity, use a sans-serif font like Arial or Helvetica. • Make sure there is a good contrast between text and background. • Make sure main title, sub-headings and main text are legible at a

distance. • Format headings and subheadings consistently. This helps

structure your information visually.

Some technical points… • Use any computer software, but make sure you upload

assignment as PDF • As a student, you can download Microsoft PowerPoint • Choose Portrait or Landscape orientation • Tip: To set the document size in PowerPoint, choose Design >

Slide Size > Custom > [Enter 420 x 594 into the width and height boxes for A2 poster size • Remember: To print effectively, images should be high

resolution (150-300 dpi)

Finally…

• Like other types of academic writing, an academic poster should be well organised, with clear headings and subheadings – and references!