2022 CSUF/CSU Student Research Competition (SRC)

Application, Written Summary, and Presentation Directions: Deadline Noon, February 25, 2022

Submit the SRC Application & Written Summary and the Zoom Recorded 8-Minute Presentation by noon, February 25, 2022 to the CSUF Student Research Competition 2022 Dropbox (see below for more information about preparing the written summary and video).

Save the SRC Application and Written Summary as “Your last name SRC 2022 APPSUM.docx” and the SRC 8-minute recording as “Your last name SRC 2022 RECORD.” Student teams: include each team member’s last name in the "saved as" document title.

1. SRC Application

The SRC Application asks for basic information about you, your project (e.g., title, brief synposis), department, major, advisor (if applicable), etc., and the category to which you are submitting.

2. SRC Written Summary 

A. The SRC Written Summary is a description of your research/creative activity, not to exceed five pages. It is the last component in the SRC application. The written summary details: 

1) The purpose of your project. Clearly describe the problem or aim of this project. Why this project? What were the objectives?

2) How your project fits in your major or discipline (cite previous studies or locate your creative work in relation to its artistic antecedents)

3) The methods you used to test, assess or analyze your project; or artistic mediums you used to create your work

4) Your research findings or artistic results

5) A discussion of why the findings/results are meaningful (e.g., Why does this project matter?)

6) Practical applications or artistic breakthroughs (important component!)

B. The format of the written summaries will vary based upon your discipline, but must follow these guidelines:

1) Include title and name(s) of the student(s) who are applying to the SRC

2) Do not exceed five doubled-spaced pages

3) Use 12-point font and one-inch margins all around

4) Appendices (e.g., bibliography, graphs, photographs, or other supplementary materials) do not exceed three pages

5) Research using human or animal subjects must have appropriate institutional review approval (include IRB/IACUC number)

 3. 8-Minute Zoom Recorded Presentation

Record yourself on Zoom presenting your research/creative activity using PowerPoint (or a similar software program) and aim to memorize your presentation (to the best of your ability at this stage - don't stress if it's not fully memorized). You may use note cards to aid in your presentation at the CSUF competition level, but not if you advance to the statewide competition. Use the structure of the written summary to shape your oral presentation. Semi-finalists will be asked to schedule a brief Zoom meeting to take questions (this simulates the question-and-answer session at the systemwide SRC when students answer questions from judges for five minutes). Q&A times are listed in the SRC APPSUM. Please select all the times for which you are available.

Preparing your recorded presentation:

A. General presentation guidelines

1. In the Zoom recording, make sure your face is visible along with your PPT screen share. You may want to practice by having someone else record your presentation. But don't worry if you don't get it perfect at this point!

2. Speak to a general audience and define key terms that someone outside of your discipline may not know. Clearly articulate your ideas.

3. Make your slides easy to follow: do not include too much text or too small text (aim to keep the font larger than 22 point)

4. Represent ideas with pictures, graphs and/or charts when possible (so you do not only have text on all your slides)

5. Avoid reading from your slides. Keep information on the slides minimal and speak to the audience (talk around the information on the slide)

6. Rehearse your presentation multiple times to stay within the 8-minute limit. You may need to record more than once, so leave time for a few practice recordings. If you go a bit over 8 minutes, don't worry at this stage.

B. Particular presentation guidelines for research projects and creative projects

1. Presentation Structure for Research Projects

a. State your name, class standing (undergraduate/graduate), and field of study (include this information on your first slide, along with your project title). Include your name, major, grade level, and project title on your first slide

b. State your topic or project focus

c. Provide a general background on your topic and describe how your project fits into your field/discipline

d. Explain your objectives or research questions

e. Describe your methods or artistic medium(s)

f. Describe key findings or project results. If you have multiple small findings, provide a general summary of findings

g. Explain why the findings or creation are important and how they can be applied to your field (e.g., Can your project results help in the prevention of disease? Do your findings help better educate children?)

2. Presentation Structure for Creative Activities

a. State your name, class standing (undergraduate/graduate), and field of study (include this information on your first slide, along with your project title). Include your name, major, grade level, and project title on your first slide

b. State your topic or project focus – include a visual representation of the work (via images or videos), and provide a rationale for your topic (why this performance, piece, or art project?)

c. Provide a general background on your topic and describe how your project fits into your field/discipline (the historical context)

d. Explain your objectives or artistic/creative aims

e. Describe your methods or artistic medium(s)

f. Explain why the findings or creation are important and how this piece matters to your particular art discipline. (e.g., Does your choreography push past disciplinary obstacles? Does your drawing challenge conventional notions?)