42nd Annual ACCA

Student Symposium

Saturday April 4th, 2009 at 

Lewis University 

driving directions at http://www.lewisu.edu

Submission information available at http://cs.lewisu.edu/accastudent

Registration 8:00-8:30 A.M.  Sancta Alberta Chapel

Continental Breakfast  8:00-8:30 A.M.   Sancta Alberta Chapel

Opening  8:30 A.M.  Sancta Alberta Chapel

Posters setup by 8:45 A.M.   Academic Building

(Presenters at posters 11:15 – 12:15)

Presentations:  8:45 A.M. - Noon  

 Session I:  8:45-9:45

 Session II:  9:55- 10:55

 Session III:  11:05-12:05

Pizza Lunch:  12:05 - 1:00 P.M.  University Dining  Hall 

DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY * ELMHURST COLLEGE * JUDSON UNIVERSITY * LEWIS UNIVERSITY

The abstract should be about one page. Everything you submit on the abstract page will be included on the Symposium CD. Your abstract should be a standard word processing document  (Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, plain text, RTF, or PDF).  Please do not use Microsoft works as these documents often do not transfer well.   The abstract page should include the following 6 categories of information and separate each category with a blank line:

Every presentation must have a faculty sponsor even if the sponsor was not directly involved in the work being reported. 

4. Discipline in which the paper will be presented .

Biology, Business/Economics, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, Psychology, Sociology/Anthropology

Investigative Research, Library Research, Off-Campus Experience, or other

6. Abstract Tex t

The balance of the page is all yours for the actual abstract. The text should  be single  spaced. You may include sketches, diagrams, charts, or anything that can be inserted into your document. You may use equations, figures, color graphics, or maps as long as they are inserted into your abstract.  Ancillary material not submitted in the abstract document will not be included on the CD.

B. State where information was obtained (lab experiments, library, interviews, surveys, etc.).

D. Summarize results and conclusions (to the extent finished) and directions for future study.

E. Off-campus experience abstracts should briefly describe the nature and purpose of the group in which the student worked. 

If you have any questions regarding abstract preparation,  see your Symposium faculty  advisor. 

Oral presentations will be 15 minutes plus 5 minutes for questions & answers.  Moderators will terminate presentations that are too long and will start each presentation on time. Presenters should check in with the moderator in their room before the first talk. Each room will have a standard computer with projector and an overhead projector for use by presenters. If you need special equipment, you must contact the director of the symposium by the due date for abstracts. The standard computer will be running Windows 2000 with PowerPoint 2003 and ancillary programs like Quicktime, Adobe Reader, and Internet Explorer will also be available. If you use Powerpoint XP or MacIntosh software to create your presentation, be sure to save it as a PowerPoint 2003 presentation for  windows so you will be able to access your presentation on the day of the symposium. 

- An Off-Campus Experience: for those who have had an off-campus activity in their major field, such as an internship, field experience, cooperative education, employment,  etc.

The primary purpose of a poster presentation at a scientific meeting is the communication of information and ideas to one’s colleagues. The poster session provides an opportunity for informal individual discussions based on the illustrative material at hand. Authors and viewers alike find this opportunity to exchange ideas highly rewarding. Abstracts for poster presentations are included in the ACCA Student Symposium Program CD. 

An excellent poster is composed of good science, uncluttered and  colorful design, legibility and brevity of text, and straightforward  organization. A central tenet  of good  poster design is simplicity. Use a  crisp, clean design and strong title. Do not tell the entire research history, present only  enough data to support your conclusions and show the originality of the work.  The text material should be extremely brief. The most successful posters display a succinct statement of major conclusions at the beginning,  followed by supporting text in later segments.

Poster elements should be mounted with an adhesive on freestanding posters up to 4’ wide; either single  panels of foam-core board or folding posters work well. The posters will be displayed on tables or easels adjacent to the dining areas. On the day of the symposium, presenters should arrive early  and setup their poster by 8:45 A.M. and then be at their posters from 11:15 until 12:15 to answer questions. 

1. The top of the board should consist of an easy-to read title that includes the author name(s). The title lettering should be about 2" to 3" with subheadings ½" to 1" high. 

2. All lettering should be legible from 5 feet away. The minimum type size you should use for text is 18 points. Text material can be printed at 12 points .(1/8"), then enlarged on a  copying machine to as large as 24 points (1/4") with no significant loss of clarity. This is an inexpensive way of producing neat-looking material. 

3. The component parts should be numbered or have arrows that lead the viewer through the display. 

6. A large and/or bright center of interest can draw the eye to the most important aspect of the poster. Use of color can add emphasis and clarity. 

7. Make illustrations simple and bold. Enlarge photos enough to show pertinent details clearly. 

8. Displayed materials should be self-explanatory, freeing you for discussion with viewers .

If you have any questions about content and graphics talk with your faculty advisor.