CQHA: Guidelines for Presenters

Tips for Presenters from the 2008 Conference (specific session times may vary depending on program details):

We have a very full schedule for the Conference of Quaker Historians and Archivists and it is important to be careful of our time. Sessions should begin and end on time.

Time is limited. Remember that it is impossible to put all of what you might like to say about your topic, or all of what you might want your audience to know about that topic, into a twenty-five to thirty-five minute (MAXIMUM) presentation. Tell us what we need to know.

We have chairs but not commentators for the sessions. In effect this means that the session as a whole—speakers and listeners—are the commentators. Ample time for questions and discussion is a good thing, both in the session and more informally during breaks, meals and after-hours times at the meeting. The chairs have an important role to play in guiding the discussion.

Time: All sessions are 90 minutes with either two or three presenters.

For those sessions with two presenters, each with have a MAXIMUM of 35 minutes. This will leave twenty minutes to be used for introductions and housekeeping (five minutes) and questions and discussion (fifteen minutes).

For those sessions with three presenters, each will have a MAXIMUM of 25 minutes. This will leave fifteen minutes for introductions, housekeeping, questions and discussion.

What this means: Speaking at 125 words per minute, average page of text (double spaced) as about 250 words, so two minutes per page.

For those with 25 minutes-- 3125 words -- a little more than 12 pages at 250 word per page.

For those with 35 minutes-- 4470 words -- between 17 and 18 pages at 250 words per page.

Your times may vary. My experience is that it always takes longer to deliver a paper (or do a talk) before an audience at a conference that the above figures would allow. It leaves time for adding a last minute thought, perhaps one arising from one of the other papers in your sessions, or perhaps rephrasing a comment if someone in the audience looks a little puzzled.

This isn’t a lot of time. For myself, I figure if I can convey three ideas in a twenty minute paper, I’m doing pretty good. The full story, with all the nuances, is for the article or the book.

In past meetings, chairs and others have made good use of warning cards: five minutes to go, one minute to go, stop (and sometimes STOP IMMEDIATELY). Beware these warnings.