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

 Clearly communicate
information


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


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.co
m/atwork/skills/present
ations.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.c
om/od/microsoft/bb/pow
erpointrules.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/Metacommentary
 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, attentiongrabbing visual, getting
audience involved
Presenting
Delivery DOs:









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
Delivering DON’Ts:








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