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Creating Academic Posters
Creating Academic Posters
As part of your course work, you may be required to produce an academic poster. You will need to creatively demonstrate that you have an understanding of your topic, and are able to effectively communicate this to your tutors, or an audience. Academic posters can combine, text, images, links, audio-visual material to communicate a message. You will need to use sources to support your ideas as with other assignments.
Creating Academic Posters
The Assignment Brief
The first step is to read the assignment brief carefully to understand what is expected of you.
Read the assignment brief to determine
Circle keywords within the assignment brief.
What is message will the poster communicate to the audience?
What is it you need to do?
What information will you need to communicate my message?
Answering the Question
You will need to gather the information that supports your message, make sure the sources you choose are clear and directly related. Search, Books/eBooks, Journal Articles, Government Websites, and Reputable organisations.
Planning the Poster
Before you begin the design process you need to plan the assignment.
1. Decide on the text that you will include in your poster. Does this text answer the question/ communicate your message?
2. Could the information in the text be presented as a diagram or a visual? Would this be a better way to communicate the information?
3. Decide on which visuals you would like to include? Check that you can use these visuals. Are they clear and do they complement the text and your overall message?
Components of a Poster
You will need to include certain components on your poster.
Introduction – Introduce the topic, set the scene, provide background information, provide evidence.
Methods/ Actions/ Reflection – What is it you did and how?
Results – What did you find out?
Discussion – What does this mean? What are you going to do next? What would you have done differently?
Format of a Poster
•Formal with minimum text necessary to explain the topic with Visual interest
•Text = 1.5 line spacing or sensible
•Stand ‘alone’ figures and tables and be discussed within the text
•Save space with bullet points and short sentences. Use no more than 10 lines of text in a paragraph.
•Know when to use images instead of words.
“Use ‘the rule of thirds: divide your poster into three columns and rows. Place the most important sections (main message, results, graphs, outputs) near the central four points.”
The Rule of Thirds
“Use ‘the rule of thirds: divide your poster into three columns and rows. Place the most important sections (main message, results, graphs, outputs) near the central four points.”
Using Colour
Using Images
¬Use a few good-quality images.
¬Only use copyright-free images. These include figures or photos you have created yourself or images from one of the copyright-free sources listed below.
¬Never use images from the internet or any other source that you do not have permission to use.
¬Always cite the source of images on your poster. Check with your tutor on the format for image citations.
Referencing an Image
Give each figure a number in bold above it. Include a title, this should be spaced below the figure number and should be in italics. This note acts as an in-text citation. In APA, this is known as copyright attribution. See the example below.
Figure 1.
Structure of the National Curriculum
Note: From The Department of Education, 2013, (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/
attachment_data/file/425601/PRIMARY_national_curriculum.pdf)
Example 1
Example 2
Creating Leaflets
Components of a Leaflet
There are several components of a leaflet.
The main title - This should directly relate to what your leaflet is about.
An introduction - This should be a clear and concise description of what the leaflet is about.
Sub-headings - To guide the reader easily through the leaflet.
Graphics - Attract the attention of your readers to engage with your leaflet and provide a visual accompaniment to information.
Further sources - This may include links or contact details on where readers can find more information.
Note on Referencing: Generally, references would not be included on your leaflet, check with your tutor about how to reference and where to submit them.
Format of a Leaflet
The standard format for a leaflet is a tri-fold. These can be made using programs such as but not limited to WORD, Publisher, and CANVA.
It is suggested to include the following pages:
Front page – An eye-catching image, the title of your brochure and a short statement indicating what it is about.
Inside cover – Functions as your introduction to the topic, orientates the reader. Paragraphs and image.
Back page – Gives further contacts, service contact details, details about standards etc. Key info/bullet points.
Main page – This is where most of your actual information will go. Should flow from left to right. Use headings and images to break up the text and make it easier to understand. Think about what to put where: remember that pane 1 is also visible when the front page has been opened and the reader is looking at the inside cover. You can comfortably fit about 600-700 words onto this page.
Take a look at the example below:
