Preparing Effective Presentations and Handouts
Handouts
Handouts are useful when:
 Technology is unavailable, fails or is limited.
 To Engage audience participation; Listeners need to take notes.
 Information is complex or additional supporting data is given
 Listeners will need future reference or to help audience remember.
 To give your audience a way to contact you.
Characteristics of an effective handout:
 Do more than repeat presentation.
 Inspire audience to take action and resources to do so.
 Provide a roadmap to continue learning after the presentation.
Follow these rules:
 The key is simplicity – clear summary, few fonts, & no ornate borders.
 Relate each point on handout to presentation key points.
 Used to remind – had out at end.
 Used to clarify – hand out before and let audience read in advance.
 Make handout appealing to the eye – white space, vary the look
Slide Shows
Oral slide show presentations are meant to illustrate your story. TALK IT!
Begin with an overview slide unless the presentation is VERY short.
Never read directly from the slide. The slide is not your crutch.
Keep it simple by avoiding the temptation to cram in everything. BORING!
Use illustrations to clarify or make emotional connections.
Use bullet points & animation to focus attention, not to detract.
Whit, Chris. Witt Communications. N.D. 5 Jan. 2009. <http://www.wittcom.com>
Simons, Tad. “Does PowerPoint Make You Stupid?” Presentations. Mar. 2004
5 Jan. 2009. <http://www.presentations.com>
(Orignally published in Presentations Magazine.)
Altman, Rick. Why Most PowerPoint Presentations Suck. Harvest Books, 2007.
(Hear interview - http://www.betterppt.com/the_book/interview.mp3)
Atkinson, Cliff. Beyond Bullet Points. Microsoft Press, 2007.
Prepared by Fawn Morgan, Library Media Teacher, Layton High School. fmorgan@dsdmail.net