Learning Commons | Cardinal Cushing Library

Presentation Skills: Powerpoint

Powerpoint helps us to think of each projected page as a "slide" in a slideshow. But just as someone else’s home movies can be thoroughly uninteresting if they’re grainy, poor in quality, and irrelevant, Powerpoint slides that are too flashy, cluttered, meaningless, or poorly designed can quickly turn a darkened room full of smart people into a mere gathering of snoozers. As you design your slides, consider these factors:

• Even though Powerpoint helps you design your slides, don’t assume that someone else’s template will always match your needs.
• Take charge of slide design by considering first the most efficient way to transmit the necessary information.
  Tips:

  • Understand the difference between PowerPoint templates and themes (Microsoft)

• Keep slides as simple and uncluttered as possible, and if the information must be complex, prioritize it for your audience as you present it (e.g., if presenting a ten-column table, direct your audience to the most significant columns).
• Offer only one major point per illustration.
• If you need to focus on more than one point, re-present the illustration in another form on a separate slide with the different point emphasized.

• Give most slides titles, with a font size of at least 36 points, and body text with a font size of at least 24 points.
• If you need to cite a source of information, include the citation in a smaller font size at the bottom of your slide.
  How to:

  • Change the font size (Microsoft)
  • Add a hyperlink to a slide (Microsoft)

• Apply the "rule of 8s": include no more than 8 words per line and 8 lines per slide.

• When using bulleted lists in slides, present each bulleted line in parallel fashion—i.e., if the first line is a fragment, the others should be as well; if the first line opens with a verb, so should the others.
  How to:

  • Add bullets or numbers to text (Microsoft)

• Design slides so that their longest dimension is horizontal rather than vertical.
• Use both uppercase and lowercase letters and orient pictures left to right.
• Avoid the overuse of animations and transitions, especially audio-based transitions, which can be distracting and downright silly.
  How to:

  • Add, change, or remove transitions between slides (Microsoft)
  • Get design ideas for slides (Microsoft)

• Make sure the color for both the background and text are highly readable, especially under less than optimal lighting conditions. There’s nothing wrong with basic dark lettering and white background for your slides, particularly if they’re text-based.
• If you do choose a background theme or color, enhance continuity and viewability by keeping it consistent and subtle.
  How to:

  • Add color and design to your slides with Themes (Microsoft)
  • Apply a template to a new presentation (Microsoft)
  • Get design ideas for slides (Microsoft)

• When possible, replace words with images.
• Use images in particular when presenting data, demonstrating trends, simplifying complex issues, and visualizing abstractions.
  How to add images/videos

  • Insert a video from YouTube or another site (Microsoft)
  • Insert a video from YouTube - a video demonstration (Microsoft)

  Sources:

  • Unsplashed
  • Find Free to Use Images from Google Images

• Spelling does count, and you can’t rely on Powerpoint to be an effective proofreader. Be sure your slides are free of grammatical and spelling errors.
  How to:

  • Check spelling in your presentation (Microsoft)
  • Rehearse and time the delivery of a presentation (Microsoft)

• Print your PowerPoint slides, handouts, or notes (Microsoft)
• Format text in the Notes pane (Microsoft)
• Print slides with or without speaker notes (Microsoft)
• Start the presentation and see your notes in Presenter view (Microsoft)
• Add speaker notes to your slides (Microsoft)