Creating PowerPoint Presentations

1
Creating PowerPoint Presentations

• Content and Visuals for Presentations

2
Content for Presentations
Whatever organization pattern you use,the speech
needs to be well-marked for the user and follow a
general format.

• Introduction forecastwhat you are going to say
• Main points
• Wrap up summary

3
Introduction Forecast

• Discuss the purpose / goal of talk
• Provide an overview slide including all main
  points (organizational plan) that you plan to
  address and use these points as main headings )

4
Main points might include

• Statement of clients problem/need (background)
• Research methodology (process)
• Findings (documenation)
• Recommendations

Be certain to label the points for your specific
situation (talking heads)
5
For each main point

• Say what the point is
• Provide details about the point
• Summarize the point (if point requires more than
  one slide)
• Make a transition to the next point

6
Wrap up

• Summarize all main points
• Say what the talk has tried to do
• Indicate what action you want the audience to
  take
• Ask for questions

7
Visuals for Presentations

• The following nine slides will discuss
• Font size
• Font type
• Color
• Visual sets
• Readability
• Special effects

8
Font Size

• Use a much larger font size for headings to
  clearly differentiate the main point from the
  explanation (or use a different color for
  headings)
• Use the largest font size that consistently
  allows all the text you wish to include on each
  slide

9
Font Type

• Use a sans serif font such as Helvetica for
  headings and for sparse text
• If you have wordy slides, use a serif font such
  as times new roman for the text part of the slide
  
• In most cases, avoid using all capital letters
  for headings

10
Color

• Make a strong contrast between background and
  text
• Use a dark text with a light background and a
  light text with a dark background
• Make the background match the room color (light
  in a bright room, dark in a dark room so that the
  words stand out)

11
Visual Sets

• Visual sets are any repetitious aspect to your
  slides
• Include as many visual sets as possible to help
  orient your listeners to your talk

12
Visual sets include

• consistent placement of headings
• consistent color scheme and font
• using the same PowerPoint template for entire
  presentation
• using same effects for all slides (e.g.., fade to
  black for transition, points fly in from left,
  etc.)

13
Readability

• Include one main point per slide
• Limit six words per line
• Limit six lines per slide
• Use as little text as possible on each slide
• Use a conservative template appropriate for your
  audience

14
Using Special Effects

• If you want to illustrate an overview, dont fade
  or dissolve points
• Remember that the goal of your presentation is
  communicationdont let special effects obstruct
  the info

15
Giving PowerPoint Presentations

• Content
• Introduction forecast
• Main points
• Wrap up

• Visuals
• Font
• Color
• Visual sets
• Readability
• Special effects