Paper Presentation Rubric

Paper Presentation Rubric#

In this course, each student will present a primary research paper. The goal is not to recite the paper, but to explain, synthesize, and evaluate it for your peers. A strong presentation tells a clear scientific story: What is the problem? Why does it matter? What did they do? What did they find? What does it mean? What should come next?

Your presentation should balance the following criterions:

1. Background and Motivation#

What we are looking for:

  • Clearly explains the relevant background and prior work.

  • Explains why this problem is interesting or important in the broader context of the field.

  • Provides enough context that a non-specialist in this sub-area can follow the rest of the talk.

2. Central Question or Hypothesis#

What we are looking for:

  • Explicitly states the main question(s) or hypothesis the paper addresses.

  • Makes clear what was unknown or unresolved before this study.

  • The rest of the talk is clearly organized around answering this question.

3. Methods and Approach#

What we are looking for:

  • Explains the key methods or modeling approaches at a conceptual level.

  • Explains why these methods are appropriate for the question.

  • Clarifies the logic of the experimental design, comparisons, controls, or assumptions (as appropriate).

  • Avoids unnecessary technical detail that does not serve understanding.

4. Results#

What we are looking for:

  • Presents the main results clearly and in a logical order.

  • Explains figures rather than just showing them.

  • Distinguishes core results from secondary or control analyses.

  • Builds a narrative: each result should move the story forward.

5. Interpretation and Main Takeaway#

What we are looking for:

  • Clearly states the authors’ conclusions.

  • Explains how the results answer (or fail to answer) the original question.

  • Distinguishes between what the data show and how the authors interpret it.

  • Summarizes the paper’s main contribution in a small number of clear points.

6. Critical Evaluation#

What we are looking for:

  • Discusses strengths and limitations of the study.

  • Considers alternative interpretations, missing controls, or potential confounds.

  • Shows independent scientific judgment, not just agreement with the authors.

7. Future Directions#

What we are looking for:

  • Proposes logical next steps, experiments, or modeling directions.

  • These are clearly motivated by the results or limitations of the paper.

  • Explains what these future studies would clarify or test.

8. Organization, Clarity, and Presentation Quality#

What we are looking for:

  • The talk has a clear structure and logical flow.

  • Slides are readable, not overloaded, and figures are well chosen and legible.

  • Explains things clearly, manages time well, and highlights what is important.

Overall Goal#

A strong presentation should teach your classmates something: it should motivate the problem, explain the approach, walk through the key results, synthesize the main message, critically evaluate the work, and place it in a forward-looking scientific context.

Note, often less is more - highlight the main points and takeaways from the paper without getting too bogged down into the details. But you can’t be so high level that you lose sight of what was actually done. This balance is hard to strike but is important for presenting your science!

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