Session 5B
Polish & Present Your Project
120 minutes to transform your analysis into a professional presentation
120 minutes to transform your analysis into a professional presentation
Clear, complete explanations of methodology and findings
Data presented visually with intentional design choices
Story that connects findings to business impact
Confident delivery with clear communication
• Write your analysis narrative
• Document methodology
• Explain all findings
• Polish all charts
• Add visual hierarchy
• Ensure clarity
• Complete missing docs
• Create templates
• Add context
• Practice delivery
• Refine talking points
• Build confidence
Start with: "I analyzed [dataset]. I found [key insight]. This matters because [business impact]."
Explain what data you used, how you cleaned it, what questions you asked, what tools you used
For each chart/metric: What does it show? Why does it matter? What action does it suggest?
✓ Titles: Every chart has a clear, benefit-focused title
✓ Labels: All axes are labeled with units and context
✓ Color: Color choices are intentional, not random
✓ Hierarchy: Important data stands out; secondary data recedes
✓ Consistency: Fonts, colors, and styles match throughout
✓ Context: Trends are easier to understand with reference lines or benchmarks
• Assumptions you made
• Limitations of the data
• Alternative explanations
• Data quality notes
• One-page summary
• Data dictionary
• Methodology guide
• Key findings list
Practice Out Loud: Don't just read silently. Speaking engages different parts of your brain.
Time Your Talk: Aim for 8-10 minutes of focused content delivery
Prepare Your Opening: First 30 seconds set the tone. Know it cold.
Handle Questions: "That's a great question. Let me think about that..." buys you time
Pace Your Words: Slow down. Silence is your friend. Confidence shows in calm delivery.
Deliver your 8-10 minute presentation to a peer or small group
Ask: What was unclear? What was the main insight? What surprised you?
Make one key improvement based on feedback. Rehearse again if possible.
Cleaned Dataset: Well-organized, documented, and ready to hand off
Analysis Code: Commented, repeatable, and organized by question
Visual Report: Charts that stand alone and tell a story
Written Summary: 2-3 page executive summary with methodology and key findings
Presentation Deck: Slides that support your verbal narrative without overwhelming text
You: Confident, knowledgeable, ready to discuss your work and its implications
You've done the hard work. You've analyzed real data. You've discovered genuine insights.
Now polish it. Present it. Own it.
This is how you become a data professional.