How to Properly Create a PowerPoint Presentation

William L. Rogers

Hardeeville Middle School

Hardeeville, SC

Important Points To Consider

• Make the Presentation interesting for yourself and the audience.

• Make sure the presentation is information needed by the audience.

• Make sure you keep your information accurate and useful.

Important Points To Consider

• Use 1-2 slides per minute of your presentation

• Write in list form, not complete sentences

• Include 3 - 4 points per slide

• Avoid wordiness: use key words and phrases only

Important Points To Consider: (2)

• Keep the Presentation clear – stay focused on your assigned task!

• Ensure your pictures match the content you are discussing.

• Do not place too much information on any one slide. (Example next slide)

The European Renaissance(Example of a bad slide)

• In the arts and sciences as well as society and government, Italy was the major catalyst for progress during the Renaissance: the rich period of development that occurred in Europe at the end of the Middle Ages. Because of the number of different fields in which it applied, ``Renaissance'' is a word with many layers of meaning. Accordingly, Renaissance painting cannot signify any one common or clearly definable style. As Gothic painting had been shaped by the feudal societies of the Middle Ages, with its roots in the Romanesque and Byzantine traditions, Renaissance art was born out of a new, rapidly evolving civilization. It marked the point of departure from the medieval to the modern world and, as such, laid the foundations for modern Western values and society.

Presenting Goals

• Once you have a well-designed presentation, you must work with it during your speech.• DO NOT READ THE TILES!

• What speaker says matches slides

• Slides change in sync with speaker

Presenting Goals

• Slides should not distract from speaker

• No technical difficulties!

• Keep audience engaged with speaker

Example of a Good Slide

• Show one point at a time:• Will help audience concentrate on

what you are saying

• Will prevent audience from reading ahead

• Will help you keep your presentation focused

Fonts - Good• Use at least an 18-point font• Use different size fonts for main points and

secondary points• this font is 24-point, the main point font is 28-

point, and the title font is 36-point• Use a standard font like Times New Roman

or Arial

Fonts - Bad• If you use a small font, your audience won’t be able to read what you have written

• CAPITALIZE ONLY WHEN NECESSARY. IT IS DIFFICULT TO READ

• Don’t use a complicated font

Color - Good• Use a color of font that contrasts sharply

with the background• Ex: blue font on white background

• Use color to reinforce the logic of your structure• Ex: light blue title and dark blue text

• Use color to emphasize a point• But only use this occasionally

Color - Bad• Using a font color that does not contrast with

the background color is hard to read • Using color for decoration is distracting and

annoying.• Using a different color for each point is

unnecessary• Using a different color for secondary points is also

unnecessary• Trying to be creative can also be bad

Background - Good• Use backgrounds such as this one that are

attractive but simple

• Use backgrounds which are light when possible

• Use the same background consistently throughout your presentation

Background – Bad• Avoid backgrounds that are distracting or difficult to

read from• Always be consistent with the background that you

use

Graphs - Good• Use graphs rather than just charts and words

• Data in graphs is easier to comprehend & retain than is raw data

• Trends are easier to visualize in graph form

• Always title your graphs

Graphs - GoodItems Sold in First Quarter of 2002

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

January February March April

Blue Balls

Red Balls

Graphs - Bad

January February March AprilBlue Balls 20.4 27.4 90 20.4Red Balls 30.6 38.6 34.6 31.6

Graphs - Bad

20.4

27.4

90

20.4

30.6

38.6

34.631.6

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

January February March April

Blue Balls

Red Balls

Graphs - Bad• Minor gridlines are unnecessary

• Font is too small – cannot read it!

• Colors are illogical – makes graph confusing

• Title is missing

• Shading is distracting

Spelling and Grammar

• Proof your slides for:• speling mistakes• the use of of repeated words• grammatical errors you might have make

Errors in Delivery

• Even with a great presentation, the speaker can cause confusion and misery for the audience! Practice, practice, practice!• Do not just read the tiles to the

audience – shows you did not

Prepare for the presentation.

Serious Delivery Errors• Reading the slides to the audience (Boring!)

• Not changing slide when speaking on the next topic

• Blocking the screen

• Not talking loudly enough

Serious Delivery Errors• Taking too long • Complex fonts used are not on the computer • Broken links • Too fast = Switching slides before audience

can read the slide

Questions ?????• Do you have any questions?

• Remember – NO questions about our topic are “stupid” ones• The goal is to give you what you need to

succeed – the rest is up to you!

Irritating Mistakes

• Too slow      = Same slide up too long

• Wandering away from the topic

• Not making eye contact with audience

• Using a light pointer that is too small or dim to show well on the screen

Conclusion• Use an effective and strong closing

• Your audience is likely to remember your last words

• Use a conclusion slide to:• Summarize the main points of your

presentation• Suggest future avenues of research

Questions??• End your presentation with a

simple question slide to:• Invite your audience to ask questions• Provide a visual aid during question

period• Avoid ending a presentation abruptly