PowerPoint Presentations

PowerPoint Presentations Effective tips for using PowerPoint and Giving oral presentations

What is a PowerPoint Presentation used for? Used to accompany & enhance oral presentation Used to share information with (large) group Used like an outline of your presentation

Content and Timing • Know your topic • Consider audience, purpose, occasion when deciding style and approach • Information should flow • Don’t jump from 1 point to a totally different one • Incorporate Graphs and/or tables, definitions, lists, essential facts, necessary images • Work on timing • Maximum 3 slides per minute • Give the audience time for notes

Text • List rather than full sentences (often) • Pay attention to font size & do “floor test” • Place slide printout on floor: can you read it standing? If not, increase the font size • Reinforces main points & key terms • Don’t overflow page • Try to limit to 6 points per slide & 6 words per point • Benefits of Using Parallelism in Phrase Structure • Clarity • Emphasis • Equal weight for equal items • Prominence for entire Series • Fluency/Flow • Anticipation by readers • Progress through rhythm

Assertion-Evidence Structure • Helps: • Shape an argument-based presentation • Audience understand the content • Audience engage with speaker and vice versa • Often features sentence-assertion headline supported by visual evidence • Example to left

Visual • Images illustrate/highlight main points • Select carefully • Appropriate • Make sure can be seen • Select colors with care • Use colors that work well on screen • Use colors that can be seen • Keep slides unified • Try a master slide • Minimize special effects • Avoid switching between programs

DO: • Choose a single background for presentation • Use simple, clean fonts in a size that can be seen clearly • Use white space to set off text & visual • Make sure slides are placed logically & use a heading for each slide • Write in bulleted format & use consistent phrase structure • Provide essential information only • Key words • Definitions when necessary • Use direct, concise language • Text to minimum

Do NOT: • Clutter the slide with graphics • Use complicated fonts • Add superfluous information • Put down every word you are going to say • Use images if they will distract • Use hard to read color combinations • DO try to use high contrast combinations

FOCUS – PLAN – PRACTICE • FOCUS on main points you want to make • PLAN layout of presentation • Does everything fit? • PRACTICE the entire presentation before you present. • If possible, use screen/projector • Have someone watch & review

Tips From: Microsoft About.com desktop publishing The writing center at George mason university

Microsoft Tips • Grab viewer’s attention • Use space effectively • Use theme, visual, audio, graphics and animations • Enhance if not overused • Stay in control • Keep file size manageable • Use the tools to get it right the first time • Turn off/manage AutoCorrect options • Know exactly what viewers will see • Clearly communicate information • Outline presentation • Masters and layouts save time & look better • Consider differences between on-screen and print-outs • Use note pages and handouts • http://www.microsoft.com/atwork/skills/presentations.aspx

About.com Desktop Publishing Tips • Match Design to Purpose • Entertain, inform, persuade, sell, etc • Light-hearted or formal? • Keep it simple & cut the clutter • Be consistent • Use templates to help • http://desktoppub.about.com/od/microsoft/bb/powerpointrules.htm

The Writing Center at George Mason University • Visuals • Images • MUST be relevant & enhance • Tables, charts, graphs • Easy to read & understand • Text • Keep to minimum • Use white space to set off blocks of text • Use bullet points as default format • PROOFREAD

Oral Presentations Preparing Presenting

Preparing • Getting started • Identify expectations (How long? Intent?) • Analyze audience (What do they know? Expect? Are they interested? Biased?) • Parts • Research • Presentation: Introduction & Thesis, Supporting, Conclusion • Multipurpose Introductions • Hook audience • Preview content • Establish common ground • Build credibility

Rhetorical Signposts & Memory Aids/Meta-commentary • Give audience cues to help follow ideas • Numbers • Old-to-New transitions • Parallel sentence structure • Repeat key words/ideas • Restate thesis as transition to new idea • Group set of ideas together under single heading • Give short internal summary • Explain why telling specific information • Strategies to Highlight Important Points • Repeating/reiterating • Key words/vocab • Flagging “If you remember just one thing…” • Doing the unexpected • Humor, anecdote, changing tone/volume, attention-grabbing visual, getting audience involved

Presenting Delivery DOs: Delivering DON’Ts: • Breathe • Appear confident & knowledgeable • Speak slowly & clearly • Maintain good eye contact • Occupy the space • Stand up straight • Use natural hand motions for emphasis • Be prepared for Q&A • Relax & TRY TO HAVE FUN • Let nervousness distract audience • Speak too quickly • Read directly from a script • Pace, rock, slouch, tap hands or feet, twirl hair, or adjust clothes • Constantly use distracting hand gestures • Chew gum, eat, drink • Repeat stalling words (um, er, uh, basically, you know, like) • Speak with rising inflection (as if asking a question)

Presenting, cont. • Notecards • Format notes with bullet points & important words highlighted (to reference easily) • If have a script, convert to notes • For timing: a typed, double-spaced page will take about 2 minutes to read • Practice, practice, practice • Do a test run in a mirror • Demonstrate presentation for a friend • Videotape it • Use notecards & time it

Overcoming Nervousness • “A survey of more than 2,500 Americans revealed that people feared public speaking before a group more than death. Amazing as it may seem, many Americans appear to consider public speaking a fate worse than death.” • Stephen E. Lucas, The Art of Public Speakingi Feel free to browse books on public speaking to help with nerves & delivery

PowerPoint Presentations