Define the scope and research question
Before preparing the presentation, clarify the research question, target audience, and time available; if there are course instructions or assessment criteria, organize the presentation accordingly. “Climate change and cities” is a broad topic. A narrower question, such as “Under what conditions does urban tree cover reduce summer temperatures?”, makes it easier to determine which publications are relevant to the presentation. The goal is not to introduce every publication on the topic, but to compare studies related to the chosen question and show what is known and where uncertainty remains.
Read the sources and make comparison notes
As you evaluate publications, note the research question, context or sample, method, key finding, limitation, and relevance to your question. Then compare the sources side by side: Which studies report similar results? Where do findings diverge? Do differences in method or context help explain these divergences?
If you need to describe your search process, briefly state the search terms you used, where you found the sources, and any limits on date, language, or inclusion, if applicable. Include these details only if you actually applied them. To call your work a systematic review, its scope and the method you followed must be appropriate; do not label a brief search a systematic review merely because it resembles one in format.
The Foster Group’s literature presentation guide recommends placing a research article in context by connecting it to related sources and critically examining the research question, methods, data, and results. Focusing on a single study and using related publications for context is a different presentation approach from summarizing sources one after another: Literature Presentations – Foster Group.
Synthesize findings by theme
Rather than proceeding paper by paper, organize the presentation around themes that help answer the question. Themes can be based on methods, samples, theoretical approaches, or patterns in the findings. Explain what the studies show together in each section. If results conflict, compare the publications’ methods, measurements, and contexts instead of choosing one and leaving the other out. If the evidence does not explain the differences, preserve the uncertainty.
Do not present a concluding statement without making visible the study or comparison that supports it. If a detail in a source’s methods or supplementary material affects the claim, check that detail. Several publications reporting results in the same direction do not, by themselves, show that the result applies in every context; evaluate the studies’ limitations as well.
Build the slide sequence
You can shorten and adapt the following sequence to fit the time available and the instructions:
- Title and question: Topic, research question, and scope.
- Background: Essential concepts and why the question matters.
- Search approach: A brief summary of the search and selection criteria you actually applied.
- Themes: Shared findings, differences, and methodological variations.
- Evaluation: Strengths of the evidence, limitations, and unanswered questions.
- Synthesis and references: A tentative answer to the question, uncertainties, and publications used.
Give each slide one main message. The Foster Group guide recommends not listing an important result without showing the data that supports it, and explaining complex content with clear visuals. If you use a visual, include its title, units, and source. Columbia University Libraries’ workshop presentation, “Literature Reviews: How To & Why,” is another resource; the link leads to the presentation’s information and access page: Literature Reviews: How To & Why.
Fictional example: urban tree cover
This example and the study names are entirely fictional; the findings are not based on real publications. Suppose the question is: “How is urban tree cover related to pedestrian-level temperatures in summer?” First, explain what “tree cover” and “pedestrian-level temperature” mean in the presentation. Then state, as an example, that your search included studies measuring summer temperatures in urban open spaces and describing their methods; do not present these criteria as if they were your actual search.
In one theme, compare measurement methods: suppose fictional Study A used an air-temperature sensor and Study B used satellite surface temperature. Without assuming that these represent the same measurement, discuss how the difference in methods could affect comparisons between their findings. In another theme, say that two of three fictional studies reported an association between tree cover and lower temperatures, while one found no clear association. Rather than concluding that “the effect is the same everywhere,” note that differences in measurement and context in these fictional studies limit generalization. In a real presentation, match every claim to its original publication, as in the example.
Fix common problems
If the slides are packed with paper summaries: Group studies under shared themes; reserve detailed discussion for publications that are essential to understanding the question.
If sources conflict: Do not conceal opposing findings. Check for differences in methods, measurements, samples, or context; if you cannot find an explanation, state that the discrepancy has not yet been explained.
If the basis for a claim is not clear: Make the relevant source and the finding or comparison that supports the conclusion clear on the slide.
If the scope is too broad: Consider removing sources that do not directly contribute to the research question. If you need a starting point for choosing a topic, see the guide to preparing a research proposal presentation; if you are critically examining a single study, see the article on preparing a journal club presentation.
Final checklist
- Are the research question and the presentation’s scope consistent throughout?
- Have the source selection and any search limits been reported accurately?
- Have the findings been compared around themes?
- Are the sources and supporting evidence for important claims clear?
- Are opposing findings and limitations visible?
- Have quotations, references, figures, and numerical statements been checked against the original publications?
- Have slide order, spelling, and readability been checked one last time?
Frequently asked questions
How many sources should a literature review presentation include?
Rather than aiming for a single number, consider the instructions, time available, and scope of the research question. Explain how the studies you selected relate to the question and what limits your search had.
Should I discuss each paper on a separate slide?
Not necessarily. Comparing studies by theme rather than proceeding paper by paper can make commonalities and differences visible. You can devote more time to a pivotal study or an important opposing finding.
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