1. How to Prepare Slides for a Business Presentation
Advanced Business Writing Assignment: The Progress Report

2. Start with a title slide
Identify yourself and the aim of your presentation.

3. Plan for uniformity Use the same background for all the slides:
Same Color
Same Design

4. The project status template in
Plan (cont’d)
Consider using one of the software templates to help you organize your information.
TIP
The project status template in
PowerPoint is helpful
for this assignment.

5. Prepare Your Slides Choose words carefully. Aim for:
No more than seven words per line.
No more than seven total lines.
No more than 7x7=49 words per slide.

6. Use Visual Elements When Appropriate
Charts
Graphs
Pictures
Clip art
Lists

7. Visual Elements (cont’d)
Use only one dominant visual per slide.
Keep it simple.
TIP Go to Insert--Picture
to find the Microsoft clip
art choices. .

8. Visuals (cont’d) Be sure to document borrowed images.
Use footnotes if appropriate.
Get written permission for public presentations.

9. Proofread Carefully Use a spell checker.
Double-check proper name spellings.
Use punctuation correctly.
Make sure lists are parallel.

10. Use Animation for Online Presentations
Use the “effect” feature for movement of text lines onto screen.
Use the “transition” feature for movement between slides.
Note: You can find these features in View--Slide Sorter in Office 2000.
In XP, find them under Slide Show.