info for moderators

Thank you again for your assistance in moderating a panel for this event. This task is most likely familiar, but please review the reminders and expectations below to make sure we provide our student presenters a consistent, positive experience. If you have questions, please email us at UNGsigmataudelta@gmail.com.

Before the conference:

• • Review the presenter names, paper titles, and abstracts [link to abstract page] for the papers in your panel.

  • Confirm your panel time. Times listed in the program are EDT.

Day of conference:

• • Arrive in the virtual room at least five minutes before the start of the panel. Introduce yourself to the panelists as they arrive.

  • Activate your camera throughout the session, if possible, but certainly while you are speaking.

  • Begin the session on time.

  • Introduce the session and thank attendees.

  • Check the pronunciation of each presenter’s name and make note of pronouns.

  • Ask if any presenters have visual aids and will be sharing their screen. Help facilitate this process if they need help.

  • Remind attendees of the structure of the panel:

    • presenters have 15 minutes to read their paper,

    • subtle notifications (a raised hand by the moderator) will alert speakers when they are at 14 minutes

    • questions will be at the end of the session

    • microphones for everyone should be muted unless speaking.

  • Introduce each speaker immediately before they read, indicating name, school affiliation (or alumni), and paper title.

  • Keep time during the presentations, making sure speakers don’t go over.

  • Facilitate the Q&A at the end of the session.

    • Encourage presenters to ask questions of each other.

    • Solicit questions from the audience.

    • Make sure each presenter gets at least one question. Be ready with your own questions but yield your time to the audience if they have questions.

    • Intervene if an audience member is being rude or inappropriate or seems to monopolize the time. You are the “safety net” for potentially nervous presenters.

  • Wrap up Q&A by the end of the session time by thanking presenters – ask for another round of open mic applause – and attendees. Remind them of additional events on the session schedule.

Strategies for constructing conference discussion questions (adapted from englishconvention.org)

• Listen for questions that the presenter’s work poses.

• Listen for key concepts and key words and use them in questions.

• Listen for the larger issues the work addresses and ask about the connection.

• Draw connections among and between presenters’ works.

• Draw on your own experience and knowledge related to the presentation subject matter.

• Ask what or who inspired or motivated the presenter to write that work or to write about that subject matter (Class? Teacher? Dream? Event?).

• Ask what authors influence the presenter’s writing.

• Ask what works of literature influence the presenter’s writing.

• Ask presenter to explain their use of ___________ in the work (symbolism, point of view, metaphor, dialogue, etc.).

• Ask what prompted the presenter to take that approach or to look at the subject matter in that way.

• Ask the presenter to describe their writing process.

• Ask presenters if they have any questions in mind that they are hoping to hear from their audience and ask them to respond to those questions.

A Reminder to All Attendees

Help your colleagues to remember: do not enter or exit a room while a presenter is actively presenting; wait until the applause between presenters for your cue to leave.