How to make a PowerPoint Project

Introduction to PowerPoint  PowerPoint is a useful tool in creating presentations, it is offered as a part of the Microsoft suite that comes on most newer computers.  This program is readily available on all of the computers supported by St Cloud State University.  If you can not afford PowerPoint for you personal computer, I would recommend downloading OpenOffice a free program that is comparable to Microsoft Office

Starting a PowerPoint Project  From the start menu on you computer you will want to open PowerPoint.  This will open a window with opening slide which allows you to title your presentation  Most often you should offer a basic title in the title portion of the screen  The Subtitle can be an explanation of your base title or your name

Step Two: Adding new slides  To add more slides to your PowerPoint you can either click on the new slide icon on the left hand of the tool bar or click on Insert from the top tool bar and select new slide.  The new slide that is created will be formatted with a title section and a bulleted text space.  This part can be repeated as many time as you need to create enough slides to report the information you wish.

Step Three: Adding Text and Images  To add text to a slide, click on the space titled “add text” or “add title” this will allow you to type text into the PowerPoint or you can right click to “paste” text from another program.  To Add images you will want to select a layout that presents images, from that layout you will have the ability to add a table, chart, clip art, picture, flow chart or video image

Step Four: Changing Slide Layout  PowerPoint offers a multitude of slide options theses slides can be image oriented, content oriented, charts, and so on.  To change the layout of your slide chose new slide, pick the slide layout from the right hand side of your program, and place your curser over the layout you want which will result in a gray box showing up.  When you click on the gray box you will have the option of applying the slide layout to the selected slide, creating a new slide, or reapplying the slide.

Step Five: Designing your Presentation  Slide shows create more interest if they are astatically pleasing to add a design to you PowerPoint you will start by clicking on the design button in the tool bar.  This will bring up a listing of the different designs that are offered by PowerPoint.  To apply a design, use the same techniques as applying a slide layout

Step Six: Animation  Animation can be added to create different introductions to new slides.  A word of caution, too many animations can become annoying when presenting the PowerPoint  Animations can be added by selecting the Animation Schemes page, and double clicking on the preferred animation

Some Points on PowerPoint Presentations  For the best use of space, do not use full sentences, only statements  Images and sounds can liven up a presentation and keep the audience’s attention.  Make sure that you note on each page where you got your quotes, images, etc. This protects you from issues of plagiarism and allows others to find the sources you use.  For professional and educational PowerPoint include a works Cited Page.  To present you PowerPoint full screen you can pres F5, click on the slideshow icon in the lower left hand of the PowerPoint program, or select View Show from the Slide Show from the toolbar

Printing your PowerPoint Presentation  You have different options when you print your PowerPoint Presentation you can: Print Slides (Default, One Slide On Page) Print Note Pages (Prints one or more slides with lined notes sections near the slide) Print Handouts (Prints multiple slides on one piece of paper) Outline View (Prints a text copy of your presentation without the slide format or images)