Friday Student Research Presentations
Pre-Class
-
- Reading Assignment – Instructor assigns 3 research papers (aligned to Monday/Wednesday lectures). Also releases 30 guiding questions (~10 per paper).
-
- Team Assignment – 10 teams; each team receives 3 unique questions distributed across the 3 papers. All students are expected to read all papers to enable high-quality critiques.
In-Class Flow (50 min)
| Time |
Activity |
| 0–3 min |
Setup |
| 3–65 min |
Team Presentations (30 total questions): 2 min per question, max 4 slides; all team members present at least once. |
| During |
Non-presenting teams take notes and prepare one strength + one constructive suggestion for each question they critique. |
| 65–75 min |
Instructor highlights top insights, addresses misconceptions, and connects to lecture themes. |
Grading Rubric (Per Week)
Total: 100 points/week (3 presentations + 7 critiques)
A. Presentations – 63 points total (21 points per question)
| Category |
Points |
Criteria |
| Accuracy & Completeness |
0–10 |
Correct, thorough, and directly answers the assigned question. |
| Clarity & Slide Quality |
0–6 |
Logical flow; readable slides; concise wording and effective visuals. |
| Timing & Engagement |
0–5 |
Within 2 minutes, confident delivery; all team members contribute. |
B. Critiques – 37 points total (5 points per critique)
| Category |
Points |
Criteria |
| Relevance |
0–2 |
Feedback addresses the technical content and presentation. |
| Constructiveness |
0–2 |
Specific, actionable suggestions; not generic praise or nitpicks. |
| Insightfulness |
0–1 |
Shows deeper understanding of the paper and broader context. |
Rules:
-
- Max 4 slides per question — prioritise diagrams and figures over dense text.
-
- Strict 2-minute limit — rehearse answers; hard cut-off will be enforced.
-
- Cite the paper(s) your answer is based on.
-
- Feedback must be specific, actionable, and respectful.