Giving Oral Academic Presentations

Supplementary Materials

English Language Centre

Activity - Discussion

• Discuss with a partner and come

up with some guidelines for the use of fonts, colours, and graphics when designing PowerPoint slides for presentations.

PowerPoint Presentation Guidelines

• The following slides present guidelines for the use of fonts, colours, and graphics when designing PowerPoint slides for presentations.

• Highlight key points and / or reinforce what the facilitator is saying.

• Should be short and to the point, include only key words and phrases for visual reinforcement.

PowerPoint Slides

• Convey a sense of completeness.

• Show headings and logos in the same spot on each frame.

• Use the same margins, font type, font size, and colours.

Consistency of Layout

Fonts

• Font style should be readable.–Recommended fonts: Arial,

Tahoma, Veranda

• Standardise the font throughout–This presentation is in Tahoma.

Do!

• This is a good title size – Tahoma 40 point.

• A good subtitle or bullet point size - Tahoma 32 point

• Content text should be no smaller thanTahoma 24 point.

• This font size is not recommended for content. Tahoma 12 point.

Font Size

Your slides must be readable, even at the back of the room.

Fonts

• Don’t Sacrifice Readability for Style.

• Don’t Sacrifice Readability for Style.

• Don’t Sacrifice Readability for Style.

• Don’t Sacrifice Readability for Style.

Don’t!

Caps and Italics

• DO NOT USE ALL CAPITAL LETTERS– Makes text hard to read– Conceals acronyms– Denies their use for EMPHASIS

• Italics– Used for “quotes”– Used to highlight thoughts or ideas– Used for book, journal, or magazine titles

Using a Template

• Use a set font and colour scheme.• Different styles are disconcerting

to the audience.• Make the audience focus on what

you present.• Remember NOT to sacrifice

readability for style.

Using the Same Background on Each Slide

Do!!

Don’t!

Don’t use multiple backgrounds in your presentation.

Changing the style is distracting.

Colours• Reds and oranges are high-

energy but can be difficult to stay focused on.

• Greens, blues, and browns are softer, but not as attention grabbing.

• Reds and Greens can be difficult to see for those who are colour blind.

Avoid These Combinations• Examples:

–Green on Blue–Dark Yellow on Green

–Purple on Blue–Orange on Green–Red on Green

Don’t!

This is a good mix of colours. Readable!

Background ColoursRemember: Readability!

This is a bad mix of colours. Low contrast.Unreadable!

This is a good mix of colours. Readable!

This is a bad mix of colours. Avoid brightcolours on white.Unreadable!

Graphs and Charts

Make sure the audience can read them!

8

Graphs and ChartsCan you see what this graph is about?

Graphs and Charts• Avoid using graphics that are

difficult to read.

• In the previous example, the bright colours on a white background and the small font make the graph hard to read.

• It would be very difficult to see, especially at the back of a room.

This graph contains too much information in an unreadable

format.

10

Don’t!

These are examples of “readable” graphs, with nice line widths and good colours.

“Readable” Graphs

Do!

Charts and Graphs

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

North America Europe Austrailia

Mode A

Mode B

Mode C

Don’t!

Charts and Graphs

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

NorthAmerica

Europe Australia

Mode A

Mode B

Mode C

Do!

Charts and Graphs

• Look at the previous slide again.

• What exactly is the chart about?

• What should be put above or underneath the chart to tell the audience what it is about!

Charts and Graphs

• Remember that a chart / graph should always carry a title which explains what it is about !

Example of a readable & understandable chart

Gross flat production in public and private sectors for theyears 1987-88 to 1996-97

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

70000

80000

90000

88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97

Fla

t P

rod

ucti

on

Title

Gross flat production in public and private sectors from the years 1988 to 1997

Example of a readable & understandable chart

30

40

30

48

40

14

74

24

2

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Exhaust gas fromvehicles

Exhaust system intunnel

Excess usage ofvehicles

% o

f res

pond

ents Cross harbour

tunnel

Eastern harbourtunnel

Western harbourtunnel

Factors leading to serious air pollutionTitle

% o

f re

spon

dent

s

Illustrations

• Use only when needed, otherwise they become distracters instead of communicators.

• Should relate to the message and help make a point.

• Ask yourself if it makes the message clearer.

• Use simple diagrams – they are great communicators. Do!

Limit Each Slide to One Idea

• Use Bullet Points to Cover Components of Each Idea.

Bullets

• Limit each bullet point to only a few words - avoid long sentences that go on and on!

• Keep each bullet to 1 to 2 lines, 3 at the most.

• Limit the number of bullets on a screen to 6,

4 if there is a large title, logo, picture, etc.

• To make a slide stand out, change the font, background, or add animation.

Limit Animation!

• Use the same animation throughout the entire presentation.

• Using more than one can be very distracting.– The audience will only see the

animation and not the message you’re trying to get across.

During the presentation…• YOU are the presenter – DON’T let the media dominate the

presentation.• Stand aside – DON’T block the

visual !• Expand on points – Don’t read word

for word !• Remove the slide when not talking

about it – DON’T leave it “up” when it’s not needed.

GOOD LUCK!!

Source

Adapted from the website of ARMA International (2013) http://www.arma.org/r1/professional-development/education/facilitator-resources/pptguidelines

(Accessed on 24 August 2013)