Using PowerPoint Effectively Public Speaking North Penn High School

Overview of Presentation 1. General Rules of Visuals 2. A Few Common Mistakes 3. Examples of the Good, Bad, and Ugly 4. Delivery Technique with PowerPoint 5. Some Tech-help for the Tech-less

A Few General Rules 7 x 7 Rule Visuals Should Support the Words Clarity is key You are the show Make sure you are not reading slides One line at a time is effective

Color Schemes Image Sizes Font Size Busy Backgrounds Too Much is not always good

Examples of Common Mistakes Red on Black is not a good scheme This size font is fine when you are sitting at your computer reading the screen, but let’s face it, Superman wouldn’t be able to read this with ease from his seat. First of all, this is way too many words, and second of all, it is much to small. If someone is taking the time to read all of this, that person is not listening to you. Spelling and proofreading must be perfect. If you cant spell a wurd, then peeple will not veiw you as a kredible soorce. This image is blurry. Do not try to enlarge a thumbnail size photo.

Another Common Mistake This Background is too busy. Audience cannot see the words clearly.

Too Much of a Good Thing There was music from my neighbor’s house through the summer nights. In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars. At high tide in the afternoon I watched his guests diving from the tower of his raft, or taking the sun on the hot sand of his beach while his two motor-boats slit the waters of the Sound, drawing aquaplanes over cataracts of foam. On week-ends his Rolls-Royce became an omnibus, bearing parties to and from the city between nine in the morning and long past midnight, while his station wagon scampered like a brisk yellow bug to meet all trains. And on Mondays eight servants, including an extra gardener, toiled all day with mops and scrubbing-brushes and hammers and garden-shears, repairing the ravages of the night before.

Exception to the 7x7 rule “I believe that on the first night I went to Gatsby’s house I was one of the few guests who had actually been invited. People were not invited — they went there. They got into automobiles which bore them out to Long Island, and somehow they ended up at Gatsby’s door.” If you are using a quote or famous saying, it is best to include it on a separate slide.