Creating an Effective Powerpoint
Presentation
K. Coker

What is Powerpoint
 PPT is an abbreviation for Powerpoint
 A software tool by Microsoft
 Presents information in slide-show format
 Offers text, graphics, sound effects, & video

Hints for a Successful
Presentation
 Plan carefully
 Do your research
 Know your audience
 Time your presentation
 Practice your presentation
 Speak comfortably and clearly

Effective Powerpoint Slides
 Use design templates
 Standardize position, colors and styles
 Limit the information to essentials
 Content should be self-evident
 Use colors that contrast

 Be consistent: effects, transitions & animation
 Excessive slides can lose your audience

Text guidelines
 Stay under 6 words per line
 Stay under 6 lines per slide
 Avoid long sentences
 Larger font indicates important information
 Font size ranges from
18 to
48

 Be sure text contrasts with background
 Fancy fonts are hard to read
 ALL CAPS ARE HARD TO READ
 Avoid abbreviations and acronyms
 Limit punctuation marks!!!!!

Bulleting
 Bulleting gives structure/organization to slides
 Limit to 6 bullets per slide
 Make bullets visible; 18-24 font
 Limit each bullet to 6 words
 Contrast the text with the background

Animation
 Don’t get carried away
 Restrict animation to certain slides
 Use animation for special emphasis
 Animation can demonstrate how something works
 Excessive animation looks childish
 These apply to sound effects also

Clip Art and Graphics
 Should balance the slide
 Enhance, compliment the text
 Use when text needs visual explanation
 Limit to two graphics per slide

Specifics & Tutorials
 PPT offers interesting variations
 Use pre-made templates, create your own
 The following gives links to online tutorials

Tutorial Links www.bitbetter.com/powertips.htm
www.rdpslides.com/pptfaq/ www.bcschools.net/staff/PowerPointHelp.ht
m www.actden.com/pp/ www.powerpointanswers.com/ www.awesomebackgrounds.com/powerpoin ttutorials.htm
www.computertips.com/Microsoftoffice/Ms
PowerPoint/aheader.htm
www.electricteacher.com/tutorial3.htm
www.anandnatrajan.com/FAQs/powerpoint
.html
www.tutorialized.com/tutorials/MS-
PowerPoint/Effects-and-Presentation/1

Remember This
 Slide shows aren’t your presentation
 Use PPT as an outline
 Don’t read verbatim from your PPT