Rhetoric Of PowerPoint

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Rhetoric Of PowerPoint

• Julia Romberger
• 04.05.07
• English 435/535

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Presentation Overview

• Physical Presentation
• PowerPoint Content
• PowerPoint Visuals

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Physical Presentation

• Individual
• Group

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Individual Presentations

• Pay attention to your location relative to the
  screen.
• Do not talk to the screen
• you can point to things.
• Do not just read slides use them to organize
  your talk.

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Group Presentations

• When presenting in groups...
• Work collaboratively have one person work the
  technology while the other speaks.
• Do not distract audience from the speaker.

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Power Point Content

• Forecasting
• Main Points
• Wrap Up
• Transitions

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Introduction or Forecasting

• Discuss the purpose / goal of talk give
  context/specifics unique to your project.
• Provide an overview slide with main points of
  presentation (use these points as headings).

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Main Points

• Include research background and your research
  questions.
• Explain how you conducted your research.
• Give a summary of your data.
• Cover conclusions drawn from data.

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Wrap Up

• Summarize all main points.
• Give a reminder about talks purpose.
• Indicate what action you want the audience to
  take (if any).
• Ask for questions.

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Transitions

• Are connectors that join the various slides in
  your presentation together.
• Serve to orient the viewer.
• Should be consistent.

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Power Point Visuals

• Fonts
• Color
• Special Effects
• Images
• Repetition
• Appropriateness

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Fonts

• Make slide titles stand out with a larger font or
  different color.
• Use large font size for text it should be large
  enough to fit six to seven words across.
• Use sans serif font (Arial) if text heavy, use
  serif (Times).

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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.

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Special Effects

• Power Point allows you to include special
  effects.
• To include effects
• Go to Slide Show on tool bar
• Go to Animation
• It isnt recommended that you use slow or noisy
  special effects.

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Images

• Use images to help make your point.
• You can import images from other sources.
• Adjust the size and placement of image box and
  text box.

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Repetition or Visual Sets

• Repeat slide layout throughout the entire
  presentation.
• Such as text placement, font (size and color),
  background, and special effects
• This will orient your listener.

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Appropriateness

• Use appropriate backgrounds, images, and special
  effects for your presentation.
• Make only one point per slide.
• Use as little text as possible. (As a start, use
  the 1 idea /6 words/6 lines rule)

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Rhetoric of PowerPoint

• This slide show has covered
• Physical Presentation
• PowerPoint Content
• PowerPoint Visuals
• Questions?

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Rhetoric of PowerPoint

• For more on visual design, The Non-Designers
  Design Book by Robin Williams is recommended.