04 Dec What is a PechaKucha?

A PechaKucha is a presentation style that originated in Japan. The basic format is 20 slides presented at a rate of 20 second each. The idea is to make a more visual, engaging-style of presentation. Whereas many presenters who aren’t using the PechaKucha format use fewer slides and load their slides with text (e.g. some lectures given by college faculty), PechaKucha presenters speed up the pace. In many cities, “PechaKucha Nights” feature presenters talking about various subjects using timed slides to keep everyone on pace. Most PechaKucha slides are visual as opposed to text-based. Some presentations contain no text whatsoever.

Examples of PechaKucha

1) PechaKucha on Making a PechaKucha

a. Some of the slides are used as “special effects” to appeal to the audience.

b. Notice the juxtaposition of simple/complex material.

2) Student PechaKucha on Minimum Wage

a. More “found images” and memes as opposed to original slides

b. Play of voices/rhetorical questions/use of a “naysayer” to create a sense of conversation and structure.

c. Presented from script

3) Next Generation Work, Next Generation Workers

a. A “true” PechaKucha using only images; no text.

b. Presented before an audience without notes.

Additional Resources for Examples and Strategies

1) Pechakucha.com

2) YouTube

Recording

The easiest and most versatile way to record your presentation is to use an application many people already have on their computer: Zoom. If you don’t have Zoom, you can download it for free online. Inside of Zoom, you will “host” a meeting with yourself as the sole participant, share your screen and video, and record your presentation. Here is a short video that explains the process.

Considerations

I will be looking for the following from your presentation

1) Overall run-time for the presentation of 6:30-8:30 minutes. Don’t worry about editing out dead air and the beginning and end of the presentation. Don’t worry about minor stumbles. But do practice your presentation and keep it short. Nothing longer than 8:30 please! We want you to give a streamlined version of your argument. This will require you to cut and rework material from your essay, possibly for a different audience.

2) General use of the PechaKucha format. I will not be counting slides or timing them; however, I do expect you to adhere to the general principles of PechaKucha outlined above. You should have at least 15 slides and spend roughly 20-40 second per slide.

3) Presentation features evidence of efforts to engage the audience by way of slide design, rhetorical questions, tone, etc.

4) Presentation presents a clear and concise summary of its problem/research question, surrounding discourse, argument

5) Presentation demonstrates evidence of planning through slide design, flow, structure, etc.

Category

Score

Presentation is a PechaKucha between 6:30-8:30 minutes in length and features 15-20 slides (20 points)

Presentation features evidence of efforts to engage the audience by way of slide design, rhetorical questions, tone, etc. (20 points)

Presentation presents a clear and concise summary of its problem/research question, surrounding discourse, argument. (25 points)

Presentation demonstrates evidence of planning through slide design, flow, structure, etc. (25 points)

Use of at least three original photographs taken by you, the presenter (10 points)

Total: