Presentation Assignment: Your Platform Autopsy Investigation

Instructions

As a key step toward completing your final "Platform Autopsy Project," you will deliver a live presentation of your research-in-progress to the class. This is your opportunity to share your initial findings, test your arguments, and gather valuable feedback from your peers and the instructor. Your goal is to clearly present the core elements of your investigation and your plan for the final creative report.

Presentation Overview

• Duration: 5-7 minutes
• Format: Live presentation to the class; a slide deck is required (~10 quality slides). You can use Canva, PowerPoint, Google Slides, or Keynote.
• Objective: To present your midterm proposal and initial research findings, receive constructive feedback, and refine your analytical approach for the final project.

Keys to a Successful Presentation

A great presentation is more than a list of facts; it's a compelling analytical story. Here’s what to aim for:

• Have a Clear Thesis: Your presentation should have a central argument. For example, don't just say "I'm studying the YouTube 'Up Next' algorithm." Argue a point: "I'm investigating how YouTube's 'Up Next' algorithm, while designed for user engagement, actively pushes creators toward more extreme content."
• Tell a Story: Structure your 5-7 minutes like an investigation. Start with the mystery (your research questions), show the evidence (your findings), and end with the takeaway (your preliminary proposal for change). This is far more engaging than a simple report.
• Use Your Slides as Evidence, Not a Script: Your slides are for showing, not telling. Use them to display the screenshot, the data point, or the policy text you are analyzing. Avoid paragraphs of text and never read directly from your slides.

For inspiration on how to design effective and engaging slides, I highly recommend this short TED talk: How to avoid death By PowerPoint | David JP Phillips.

Presentation Instructions

Your presentation should walk the class through the investigation you outlined in your midterm proposal.

1. Introduction: The Case File (1-2 minutes)

• Introduce Your Feature: Start by clearly identifying the specific digital artifact you are investigating.
• Present Your Research Questions: State the three guiding research questions from your midterm. This sets the stage for your investigation and tells the audience what you are trying to uncover.

2. Main Body: The Initial Investigation (3-4 minutes)

• Present Preliminary Findings: Share your most interesting or surprising initial findings, connecting them to the three prongs of your analysis (Policy & Design, Business Pressures, Cultural Norms).