Guidelines

Please read carefully these guidelines before you propose a session / contribution and you prepare your presentation.

Guidelines for organisers of sessions and round tables
Notes for speakers
Checklist for poster presentations

Guidelines for organisers of sessions and round tables

Proposing a session or round table 

• When considering a proposal for a session, session organisers are expected to evaluate the theme/topic/issue to be addressed with care and with reference to its relevance to colleagues at a European level.
• Mono-national sessions are discouraged by the Scientific Committee and disapproved of. EAA seeks to avoid situations where only one country is represented.
• Sessions should normally have organisers from at least two countries (maximum number of session organisers is five, incl. main organiser) and speakers should normally be from at least three countries. Individual papers in languages other than English will be accepted but must be comprehensible to an English-speaking audience; an abstract and PowerPoint presentation in English must be provided.
• Session organisers must consider the session format that is best suited to the session theme and purpose (see the EAA AM Guidelines 5.2.8 Sessions and formats); the format of academic sessions and round tables are completely different.
• Session organisers are asked to consider the appropriate balance between invited papers, papers chosen personally, or papers submitted in the general call for papers and identified by the Scientific Committee as suited to the theme or topic of the session. A balance of all three works very well.
• Session organisers must note that the EAA does not normally allow one person to organise more than one session or round table. Organisers may, however, be involved with one other session as a co-organiser, a chair or a discussant.
• Session proposals should be made after the call for sessions in September, the year beforehand (the call for sessions closes typically in early/mid-November). Session proposals and abstracts are submitted through the on-line submission form, outlining the theme and hoped-for content. The goal and preferred format should be identified at this stage. Deadlines for each AM are clearly presented on the AM website at the time of the call for session proposals.
• Session organisers are advised to identify and invite colleagues to participate in their sessions and are expected to approach those that can contribute effectively and/or have a contribution to make to the session theme. The membership status of session contributors should be verified.
• It is important to note that sessions should normally have contributors from at least three different countries.
• The EAA Secretariat cannot normally assist in identifying suitable presenters. A call for papers to particular sessions, if required can be made through social media, TEA or the EAA-website.
• If session organisers do not intend to chair the session, it is preferable that a chairperson is identified in advance.
• Sessions should not normally be repeated or continued from one AM to another. In rare cases exceptions can be made, after the Scientific Committee has assessed the session proposal and ensures that it demonstrates a strong interest among members, or demonstrates significant development.
• If a session does not have sufficient speakers by the deadline, the session organiser must co-operate with the Scientific Committee in securing additional papers, if possible. The ScC may propose one or more paper proposals from among the papers offered by members. A failure to identify sufficient papers (at least 6) results in cancellation of the session or merger with another session.
• Session organisers are responsible for preparing the complete programme of their session and submitting their final version of the session programme to the EAA Secretariat for inclusion in the AM Abstract Book.
• Session organisers should liaise with the EAA Secretariat to ensure that all presenters have registered for the AM so that session programmes are accurately planned.

Planning the session 

• Session organisers are expected stay in contact with the EAA Secretariat with regard to possible changes required: in the date, in the programme, in the equipment needed or the size of room where the session will be held. Session organisers are expected to respect the deadlines provided.
• Session organisers should communicate with ‘their’ speakers directly to explain how the session will run (including the programme); provide any necessary instructions, including the ‘Notes for speakers’ (EAA-Guideline No. 5.2.16) and to ensure that they have read these – and that they attend.
• When preparing the session programme, session organisers are asked to allot appropriate time slots to all papers and presentations, bearing in mind the session length, and include time required for a general introduction, introduction to individual presentations/speakers and discussion.
• Session organisers should prepare a general introduction to the session that sets the papers into context, explaining the overall ‘shape’ of session programme, where the session will lead to and why the papers are set in the order they are. Links between papers should also be pointed out. This all assists the audience and ‘leads’ listeners through the session rather than be confronted with a series of apparently disjointed presentations.
• The discussion elements of the session should be prepared somewhat in advance. A series of themes and/or points should be identified that can be drawn on to direct the discussion, rather than just expecting it to develop its own accord. It is also useful to be able to call on specific members of the audience to contribute to the discussion, especially if discussion is a bit slow to start, or needs to move on to another point. Such people need to be notified in advance if they are to be called on to make a comment; members of the audience should not be asked without warning.
• When relevant (when the format is that of a round table discussion or a meeting of a particular EAA Community) session organisers are asked to ensure that they identify a Rapporteur to take notes and prepare a report or proposal for the EAA Executive Board and for those attending.
• There is the possibility that papers from sessions or round tables may be suitable for publication in the TEA, the European Journal of Archaeology (EJA) or developed into topics for publication in the THEMES in Contemporary Archaeology monographs. Please contact the TEA, EJA and/or THEMES editors in advance of the AM, or as soon as possible after it, if you are considering any one of these options (see http://www.e-a-a.org). Any AM papers submitted for publication in the EJA / THEMES will be subject all normal selection and editorial criteria, including external peer review.
• Selected sessions can be filmed and placed on the EAA website. If this is the desired by EAA, session organisers will be contacted by the EAA Secretariat staff with call for submissions and further details, including authorisation forms to be signed by presenters.

Check list for session organisers
Before the session or round table

• Make sure you check with the Registration Office to verify that all presenters have arrived and registered. If your session includes speakers that you do not know in person, please make sure you meet them and introduce yourself well before your session is scheduled, preferably on a previous day.
• Familiarise yourself with the room in which your session will be held and the equipment provided. There will be a technician on hand throughout the session to assist with audio-visual aids.
• If possible, arrange a meeting of all presenters beforehand to go through the schedule and any other relevant items.
• Be prepared to brief speakers on how you propose to introduce them to their allotted time and how you propose to indicate that their time is up. In addition, if it not included in the session programme, inform speakers how you intend to handle questions and discussion.
• . Ensure that speakers have all given their PowerPoint presentations to the technician, as specified by the local organisers. These must be loaded in due time before the session begins.
• Make sure all your speakers are present before the session starts and that they are familiar with the programme and that they are aware of the ‘running order’ of speakers (including any changes) and for how long they are allowed to speak.

During the session or round table

• Remember that it takes several minutes for the change-over between papers; during this time the chairperson is the link, who thanks the previous speaker and introduces the next.
• Remember that all participants at the AM are there as individuals, not as spokespersons for the organisations that employ them (unless they specifically indicate the contrary). Be prepared to divert ‘pointed’ questions in the event that attendees or participants attempt to solicit views about the policies and practice of particular organisations.
• Identify a rapporteur for a round table discussion, it is generally very helpful.
• Prior to discussion/questions, request those posing questions or making points to introduce themselves to the audience – this helps people make follow-up contact with one another. Make sure that those participating in the discussion are audible to the whole audience and that they wait for the microphone to arrive if there is one. If the room is large enough, invite all the presenters (or those involved in a ‘block’) to the top of the room to answer the audience.
• Remember to acknowledge and thank all contributors in an appropriate way.

After the session or round table

• Prepare a report on the results of a round table or a dedicated working meeting and ensure that any proposals to be made to the EAA Executive Board are received by the Vice-President or another ExB member identified.
• Session reports are welcomed by the editor of TEA. In the event that you bring a proposal to the ExB, you will be required to prepare a short report for publication in TEA.
• In case you have opted to have your session filmed, you will be asked to edit the filmed material before it is published.

Notes for speakers

Lecturing at an international meeting demands a particular effort beyond all the normal requirements of public lecturing. Speakers must remember to speak slowly and clearly, especially when presenting to an audience whose language may not be English.
In addition, speakers who are lecturing in a language that is not their own first language need to make a special effort to ensure that they are clearly understood. Awareness of these points ensures a good experience for all concerned.
The aim of this advice is to improve communication within EAA. It is aimed at all speakers, even those that are experienced in lecturing and presentation.
Suggestions for the improvement are welcome.
EAA members are very welcome to use these notes in the event of personally organising meetings or teaching students how to lecture in public.

General guide lines on lecturing

The basics of how to be heard:

• Before you start, check the microphone if there is one, and make sure you can be heard at the back of the audience.
• Do not move away from the microphone when lecturing in a large hall and do not stand too close to it where there is a danger you might touch it or breathe too forcibly into it.
• Try always to look at and think of your audience. Do not turn your back on the audience or talk to the screen. If you must refer to your notes be careful to look up at your audience frequently while doing so.
• Choose someone at the back of the hall as the person to whom you are talking, and try to keep their interest. This will help you to project your voice to the whole audience.

 These are some of the basics of how to be understood:

• Speak slowly.
• KKeep it simple. Short sentences are most easily understood.
• In a 15-minute presentation you can only make a limited number of points. Be clear about what is important, and do not attempt to do too much.
• Try to highlight the main points of your talk in your PowerPoint presentation.
• Use the Arial or Helvetica fonts because they are most easily read from a distance and of course by people with difficulties such as dyslexia.
• Names of sites, people and numbers in another language can be difficult to catch, so make sure these appear in your visual aids.
• Help your audience to concentrate. When pointing to details on the projection screen hold the pointer as still as you can on the detail being indicated for a couple of seconds. Do not wave the pointer about on the screen. Try to avoid pointing and talking at the same time as the audience will probably not hear you if you move away from the microphone. Be sure to point only at the screen if using a laser pointer.
• Finally, English is the international language for the EAA. You must therefore ensure that your presentation can be understood in English, whatever language you may be speaking in, by using English in your PowerPoint presentation, or in any handouts you prepare. There are various ways of doing this, and rules for helping the audience, and some are listed in the following sections.

Specific guidelines for lecturing in your own language

Note – this section has been written especially (but not only!) for native English speakers. This is because native English speakers are generally less used to lecturing in or listening to another language (and to trying to grasp its meaning) and therefore they can be less sensitive towards an international audience’s difficulties of comprehension.
In addition to the suggestions given in the general points above, there are various further suggestions for those lecturing in their mother tongue:

• Assume you will have three types of people in the audience: those who understand very little or nothing, those who have various levels of understanding but are still improving their skills, and those who speak the language fluently. You must try to cater for all of them.
• Be extra careful to speak VERY clearly, slowly, distinctly and keep it simple. Do not mumble or run your words together.
• Summarise the main points of your talk in your PowerPoint presentation because most people usually read a language which is not their own much better than they understand it when spoken.
• Do not use colloquialisms or expressions which may not be easily understood by those whose mother tongue is not the same as yours.

Specific guidelines for lecturing in a second language

In addition to the suggestions given in the general points above, there are various ways of making your presentation comprehensible specifically for those lecturing in a second language.
First and foremost, recognise that you will probably be speaking with an accent and intonation that may be comprehensible to native speakers but very difficult for others to understand, so try to speak especially slowly and clearly.

• If possible get a native speaker to check your text beforehand.
• You can also have three types of additional aids to make your paper understood by everyone in the audience:

• Simultaneous translation. If this is available (it is expensive and rare) try to speak to the translators before your lecture, and give them the text in advance so that specialist terms can be sorted out.
• Handouts for the audience. These should have more detail than the published abstract or summary, and should allow the audience to follow your lecture in detail.
• Verbal summaries of your lecture in another language. These should preferably be given before the lecture itself. It takes up precious time in a session, but may be necessary in discussion sessions.

Styles of lecturing.

There is no single way to give a good lecture, and a mixture of styles may make a session more interesting. In any case, whichever method or combination of methods you choose, it is important to be thoroughly prepared. Nothing makes a worse impression than a hesitant delivery, with many pauses between words and sentences, and an appearance of disorganisation. There are, however, some basic rules which should not be broken.

• Speaking without a text.This is a good way for those who can do it – it works on the principle that if you cannot hold in your head what you want to say, there is no way the audience will be able to grasp it. Use your PowerPoint slides as prompts. Remember that it is usually recommended that each slide should have a maximum of 30-35 words, but less is better. If you are lecturing in a language which is not your own, and forget a word, ask the audience – it keeps them involved! This style needs careful preparation beforehand (talking to oneself!). It allows you to address the audience more directly, to adjust your time (but keep a close eye on the clock!). The disadvantage is that you may miss a key point or over-run badly.
• Lecturing from a prepared text. Reading from a text gives you greater control over the timing, but you must read the lecture out loud to yourself -slowly - two or three times beforehand. If you have to read fast, then it is too long. Although this style is normal in some countries, it may not be ideal when speaking to international audiences. Your written style may be too literary for your audience so you should make a special effort to write simply. Pay particular attention to your speaking style and intonation, as this type of lecturing may lead you to read it in a monotonous tone and not to look up at your audience. If something goes wrong, you have very little flexibility. In some lecture theatres there can also be problems with lighting so you cannot read your text and show PowerPoint at the same time. Make the text easy to read – large lettering, and widely spaced. A 15 minute lecture will consist of about 3 - 4 typed pages with 1.5 line spacing, but usually you should restrict yourself to 13 minutes to allow time for changeover of speakers.
• Lecturing with only brief notes. This can be difficult as you have continually to look up from your notes to the audience, and then back again to the notes. It is better – and helps the audience to follow you – to put your headings on your PowerPoint slides.

Visual aids. 

General guidelines: 

• Visual aids should generally be bold and simple – audiences cannot take in too much information when they are listening at the same time.
• Make sure that every slide makes a point, and do not pad your lecture with unnecessary slides – it is a sign you are insecure.
• Leave the slide on the screen long enough for the audience to absorb its contents.
• Ensure your text is legible: use a large font size (24 pt or bigger).
• Do not put too much text on one slide. The ideal maximum number of words is 30-35 per slide, but less is better. If you have several points to make, spread them over several slides rather than on one slide.
• Use lower and upper case characters in text rather than simple block letters.
• Use line weight, style, symbol, etc. to convey important information, but do not use too many variations.
• Maintain consistency in images, legends, colours, etc.
• Check for misspellings.
• You may want to use the background colour to link points together and to change colour when you change topic.

PowerPoint 

• PowerPoint allows a combination of text and graphics, but it is important to get the balance right: too much text is unreadable; too little can leave the audience lost. Here we offer only a few general words of advice.
• PowerPoint allows you to use visual gimmicks, but remember that these are more likely to distract your audience than to help them understand your point. Use them only occasionally, when you are sure they will enhance your presentation.
• In PowerPoint you have the option of editing the illustrations you import, e.g. darkening or lightening or sharpening them to improve clarity. You can also reduce the size of your files to alleviate problems of presentation – 200-300 dpi or even less is usually sufficient for lecturing.
• Use colours in an effective way and remember that some member of the audience may be colour blind or dyslexic. Try to use either light background with black letters or, inversely, dark background with white letters.
• Make sure you label slides and plans with the name of the sites (names and large numbers are difficult to understand for those not familiar with them).
• Make sure images are properly trimmed, redraw frames, and perhaps clean up lettering on scanned images (poor quality images reflect on your preparation and therefore your credibility).
• Make sure your version of PowerPoint is compatible with that which will be used at the AM (e.g. presentations prepared on the most recent versions of PowerPoint may not be compatible with earlier versions).
• Bring your file on a memory stick, but email it to yourself before the AM as well / store it in the cloud. Always be prepared to lecture without the visual aids in case some disaster strikes. Make sure your filename includes your name or initials, not just the paper’s title or session title.
• All the files should be loaded on to the computer before the session starts, and the icons should be displayed on the desktop in the order that the lectures will be given. This means that you should make sure that you contact the session organiser(s) beforehand to ensure that this is done before the session.
• Often the last slide will stay on the screen while questions are being asked or changing lecturers, so why not suggest three or four items for further reading on it? There is no need to end only thanking your audience for listening!

Some final suggestions - before and after the session. 

In addition to the points mentioned above, here are four further suggestions regarding what to do before the session:

• Make yourself known to the session organiser and any one providing technical help as soon as possible – the organiser should arrange a meeting beforehand of all participants in the session.
• Try out the equipment in the lecture theatre beforehand, so you know how to switch equipment and lights on and off, use of the mouse, pointer, etc.
• Run through your PowerPoint to make sure it works, and if possible stand at the back of the room to check that the text is legible.
• Take a watch or clock with you – all lecture theatres should have a clock, but many don’t!

After you have given your paper, try to get advice from someone on how you might have improved your presentation.
Finally, there is the possibility that papers from sessions or round tables may be suitable for publication in the EAA’s European Journal of Archaeology (EJA) or THEMES in Contemporary Archaeology in whole or part. Please contact the EJA / THEMES Editors in advance of the AM, or as soon as possible after it, if you are considering this option (see http://www.e-a-a.org). Any AM papers submitted for publication in the EJA / THEMES will be subject to the normal editorial conditions, including external peer review.

Checklist for poster presentations

1. Make it short, visually attractive and easy to read, with as many pictures and as little text as possible. This will attract the casual passer-by; or
2. Aim for a limited, but more interested group, by having considerably more text.

Language

Content

Size  

Poster Sessions