Have you presented original historical research at a conference? What advice would you give aspiring undergraduates ready to take their first plunge into the world of academic conference presentations? Perhaps a mentor gave you useful advice, or maybe you’ve learned something the hard way and wish to caution up-and-coming presenters so they don’t make the same mistakes.
Clio and the Contemporary invites undergraduate or recent grads to contribute a 200-word paragraph to the list of advice. Your entry will be focused on one practical piece of advice that you received or wish you had.
Contributions should:
- Open with a succinct, declarative topic sentence, in bold font
- Be written in second-person with no (or very very minimal) first-person references
- Explain how to apply the the advice and what potential outcome is
- As needed, include hyperlinks to any resources you’d recommend (this is, after all, an internet publication, so hyperlinks are welcome)
- Be a maximum of 200 words; paragraph breaks may be used
Entries are still needed about the following topics:
- How to present in a poster session
- How to identify representative examples from your sources and cut out the rest
- How to open a conference presentation (or, what to include in the first 1-2 minutes)
- The importance of succinct and appropriate historical context
- Where to seek valuable feedback on your draft
- How to identify and address distracting quirks and mannerisms while speaking
- What to consider when choosing your conference fit and what to bring with you
- How to engage with professional scholars
- How to navigate controversial topics in a conference setting
Entries will be evaluated in the order they are received, so if there’s a topic you are passionate about, submit your contribution early to claim it.
About Clio
Advice pieces are popular on Clio. Readers continue to find them well after they are published through Google searches and hyperlinks from other sites. Check out Surviving Grad School: How to Read and Take Notes Efficiently and Tips for Preparing for International Research Trips for examples.
Our site features commentary on current events from a historical perspective and articles on contemporary academia, teaching, and public history. We also publish syllabi and assignments that are innovative, address recent history, or have a digital component. Each post is sent directly to our subscribers and posted to all our social media accounts. Follow us @Cliocontemp on X, @cliocontemporary.bsky.social, and on LinkedIn.
Submit your full paragraph contribution below by June 13, 2025 for editorial review.
Featured Image: Alfred University students and faculty at the regional Phi Alpha Theta Conference at Nazareth University, April 2025. Photo courtesy of AU students.
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