CHM236 Element
Presentation Guidelines
Overview:
You will create a pre-recorded presentation focusing on the chemistry and some applications or interesting
aspects of a specific element from the periodic table (elements selected on sign-up sheet). These
presentations are directed at the level of an audience of your peers in CHM236; and therefore, should
avoid covering basic information already reviewed in class (such as valency, etc.). The presentations should
be filled with engaging well thought-out visuals, be clear and concise, and aim to “wow” the viewer in
terms of the diverse chemistry (structures/formula/reactions are expected) and some interesting
properties or real-world applications!
A significant amount of background research and effort on your part to prepare this assignment (reflecting
the substantial 25% weight of your final grade) is expected. One challenge in this project is the limited time
to communicate your presentation. As such, you must be clear, concise, and organized to produce an
information-packed and engaging presentation! Creativity is also encouraged!
Presentation Requirement:
• There is no “slide limit” or required formatting, however, the presentation should be around 3
minutes in length (we will allow up to 3 min 30 seconds).
• PowerPoint is recommended in widescreen (16:9) format. Presentations can be recorded in PPT in
a “slide-by-slide” fashion with the integrated record feature, or screen capture software of your
choosing may be used to record your entire presentation. You must record your own voice
speaking. Camera of you presenting is optional (but encouraged).
• Presentation focus should be on of the chemistry of your element and the classes/types of
compounds formed (we expect a good including showing structures and molecular formula etc.).
Some portion of your talk should discuss some very interesting or unique properties/chemistries
or real-world applications centered on your element.
• Chemical Literature citations of the papers describing the chemistry of your element are required.
The presentation should contain ORIGINAL schemes depicting chemical reactions, compounds, etc.
A picture is worth a thousand words – any instance where a picture, scheme, chemical reaction,
etc. can be utilized in place of text is suggested. If a visual component cannot be recreated (e.g.
graphs/data, pictures), appropriate citations must be given.
Submitting your Presentation:
The recording must be under 3.5 minutes maximum and uploaded to MyMedia
(https://mymedia.library.utoronto.ca/).
The MyMedia link to your video must then be submitted to the Quercus Assignment submission page
under the “Text Entry” or “Website URL” sections of the assignment submission form, along with a
copy of your PowerPoint (.ppt, .pptx) file by Nov. 24th at 11:59 pm.
Watching Presentations & Asking/Answering Questions:
Submitted presentations will be made available on the Quercus Discussion Page by Monday,
November 27th and you will have until Friday, December 1st to watch 10 presentations on elements
from different groups of the periodic table (other than the group your element is in). You are expected
to ask one question as a “reply” on the discussion board thread for each presentation you view.
After this period, you will have until Friday, Dec. 8th to answer your peers’ questions about your
presentation element by replying to their questions.
Grading (25% Total) and Deadlines:
1% - Element Selection by Sept. 29th
20% - Pre-recorded Presentation by Nov. 24th at 11:59 pm.
3% - Participation (watch 10 videos from other periodic “Groups” and ask 1 question/video)
by Dec. 1th at 11:59 pm.
1% - Discussions (respond to your presentation questions) by Dec. 8th at 11:59 pm.
Presentation Mark Criteria (20% Total):
• Content (10 %)
o Is the information accurate?
o Does the content adequately summarize the chemistry of the element?
o Are interesting aspects of the element or real world applications discussed?
o Is the level of detail appropriate for the target audience?
o Can a viewer understand the chemistry from the PPT without having to watch the
presentation?
o Are sufficient and properly formatted references provided throughout?
• Visuals (5%)
o Is the formatting legible and consistent throughout the presentation?
o Is there an appropriate balance of text and graphics (schemes, pictures, formula, etc.)
o Does the presentation also include original images (ChemDraw structure(s), etc.) in
addition to other appropriate images to enhance and support the presentation?
o Are images from the internet properly attributed?
• Video Presentation (5%)
o Is the presentation length appropriately (3 to 3.5 minutes) not exceeding the limit?
o Does the video recording summarize the content and chemistry adequately?
o Is the audio clear and understandable and at a pace that is easily followed?
o Does the presentation follow a logical, rational, and organized flow?
o Is the presentation engaging?