{ PowerPoint Pet Peeves What not to do!

The idea behind a PowerPoint presentation is to help the audience follow by just highlighting key points on the screen. If you are going to write out your presentation and then read the slides out loud, then just send out your slides. Don’t force the audience to listen to you read them out loud. It’s unbearably boring. Writing out and reading text.

 Bulleted lists should not be centered.  The idea of bullets is a list.  Centering them is confusing.  Bulleted lists should be left justified.  If you want to center, don’t use bullet points. Bulleted lists not left justified.  Bulleted lists should not be centered.  The idea of bullets is a list.  Centering them is confusing.  Bulleted lists should be left justified.  If you want to center, don’t use bullet points.

 Bullets indicate a list of similar items.  The bullets should be alike.  Don’t have a different type for each bullet.  Bullets indicate a list of similar items.  The bullets should be alike.  Don’t have a different type for each bullet. Different types of bullets in the same list.

 Bullets imply a list.  One item isn’t a list.  If you have only one item, them you don’t need a bullet.  Take it off. Bullets imply a list.  One item isn’t a list.  If you have only one item, them you don’t need a bullet.  Take it off. A lone bullet.

 You have an entire slide to fill.  Use your space.  Make it readable.  This text is way too small for the space. Tiny Text

 You have an entire slide to fill.  Use your space.  Make it readable.  Don’t overwhelm your title. Text too large. Text too large.

 You have an entire slide to fill.  Use your space.  Make it readable.  Don’t overwhelm your title. Tiny Text

 Slides should have a consistent look.  Don’t use different styles of fonts.  Or change the size of the font.   Unless you are trying to make a point! Different fonts or font sizes in the same list.

There are two sub-points on this slide: The first sub-point.  Each sub-point has supporting examples.  The examples are listed with bullet points. The second sub-point:   Either center both sub-points   Or left justify both sub-points   Using both is visually confusing Some subtitles are centered and others are left justified.

The first sub-point:  Each sub-point has supporting examples.  The examples are listed with bullet points. The second sub-point:   Either center both   Or left justify both Some subtitles are centered and others are left justified. The first sub-point: 1. Each sub-point has supporting examples. 2. The examples are listed with bullet points. The second sub-point: Either center both Or left justify both

Select a theme and stay with it. Or use the same modification throughout. Don’t have every slide with a different background.

Picture Errors  A picture should complement your content.  The placement should be balanced.  Don’t have text running over the picture.  Refrain from combining real photographs and clip art.  Clipart, if used, should be a similar style.

 Tiny text and humongous picture.  The picture is stretched out of proportion. Picture Errors.

Text and slide background in same color group. The text color should stand out on the back ground. Don’t, for example, use blue on blue. The text color should stand out on the back ground. Don’t, for example, use green on green.

CMST & 220 Instructor: Clarence Darrow Topic: How to win. Include only what reinforces or clarifies and idea. Don’t put up unnecessary information.

Avoid  Too many slides.  Overusing pointers. Unreadable fonts.  Overusing visual effects and clipart.  READING FROM THE SLIDE OR TALKING TO THE SCREEN S t a n d i n g i n f r o n t o f t h e s c r e e n.

Prepared by the Public Speaking Center Green River Community College