Making Good PowerPoint
Presentations into
Outstanding Ones
AGRI 196
Spring 2004
Think of a great
presentation you witnessed
Why was it great?
 What did the speaker do ?
 What techniques did he/she use?
 What was the format of the
presentation?

But first, a little quiz…
The objectives of your
presentation should include:

A. The material you have decided to cover
 B. What you want your audience to listen
to
 C. What you as a speaker want to get out
of the presentation
 D. What you want your audience to know
and do at the end of the presentation
The two main things to
focus on when preparing a
Presentation are:
A.
 B.
 C.
 D.

Subject and audience
Format and room arrangement
Timing and visual aids
Beginning and Conclusion
People tend to remember
those points that are
covered:
A.
 B.
 C.
 D.

Mostly in the middle
Only at the end
Throughout the presentation
At the beginning and end
The primary reason for
using A/V aids is to:
A. Help keep the speaker on track
 B. Highlight and emphasize key
points
 C. Switch from audio to visual
stimulation
 D. Establish rapport with the
audience

Which has the most impact
on your audience:
A.
 B.
 C.
 D.

Body
Voice
Content
Attitude
The single most important
voice element in giving a
presentation is:
A.
 B.
 C.
 D.

Breathing regularly
Pacing correctly
Inflecting naturally
Pausing appropriately
Now, let’s take a look at
an Informational
Presentation Checklist.
IT Presentation Issues

Why use Presentation software?

Amount of information

Font

Color

Extras

Examples
Why use PowerPoint?

Reach different learning styles

Reinforce key information

Give clear prompts and keeps speaker on
track

Move presentation directly to your web
site

Serves as Ockham’s razor
Amount of information


Ockham’s razor: “entities are not to be
multiplied beyond necessity”
Rule of Thumb: Less is more
No more than 6 words per line.
No more than 6 lines per slide.

What do I really want them to know?

What can they see / read / take in?
Why use PowerPoint?

PowerPoint allows me to reach students of different learning
styles because it adds a visual element to my oral presentation.
This is especially important because today’s students seem to be
more visual than other generations.

It helps reinforce the key information in my presentation and
keeps student interest focused on the front of the room.

It allows me to give students clear prompts for their assignments,
especially in-class assignments. They can always look up to
refocus their attention to the assigned task.

A PowerPoint presentation can be moved directly to your web site
so that students can look at it again after class and as many times
as they want.

It serves as Ockham’s razor by helping me structure my thoughts.
Why use PowerPoint?

Reach different learning styles

Reinforce key information

Give clear prompts and keeps speaker on
track

Move presentation directly to your web
site

Serves as Ockham’s razor
Font

Choose font size and type for your
particular context.

Use same font for continuity.

Use 2 contrasting fonts to organize
information, for emphasis.
-- Comic Sans & Arial --
Font: Legibility

Which is easier to read?
ALL CAPS
or
Upper & Lower case
Font: Type Style
 Serif
Which of these is easier to read?
(Times New Roman 36)

Sans Serif
Which of these is easier to read?
(Arial 32)
Font: Size

12: Read this.

20: Read this.

32: Read this.

36: Read this.

40: Read this.

44: Read this.
60:
Read this.
Font: Color

Uses: contrast, emphasis, interest

Contrast between text & background
-- computer projection often uses a
dark background with light text
-- overhead projector:
light background, dark text
Color

Uses: contrast, emphasis, interest

Contrast between text & background
-- computer projection:
dark background, light text
-- overhead projector:
light background, dark text
light background, dark text
Font: Color

Use a consistent color scheme for
continuity.

Avoid reds & greens.

Use color sparingly for emphasis.

Don’t get carried away!
Extras:
Pictures & Animation
EZ to Use Graphing Function
50
40
A
B
30
C
20
10
0
A B
16 41
C
D F
49 43 22
D
F
Images

Generate interest

Illustrate points

Decorate
Font
Color
Content

Visual Literacy
Amount
Extras
Visual Literacy
Russia:
From Empire to Federation
Expand on ideas introduced
by images
Russia:
From Empire to Federation
You can introduce text or
images one by one
Be careful, don’t overdo it.
 Stick to one animation type
 Practice until you are smooth

Public Speaking Rule 1:
Know Your Subject
Public Speaking Rule 2:
Know Your Audience
Don’t Get Carried Away…
…with animations
 …with sounds
 …with slide transitions
 …with clip art
 …with pictures
 …lots of text
 …with all the bells and whistles

Remember the KIS
Principle

Keep it Simple

And…
Don’t forget…

Practice to a live audience and ask for
feedback
 Practice your slide transitions in
PowerPoint
 Don’t memorize your speech, but use the
slides to guide you through your talk each
time.
 Paraphrase, don’t read slides to us, it’s
boooooooooooooring.
And now, are there any
questions…?

If not, let’s take a look at the
assignment.