1. Creating an effective PowerPoint Presentation
Performer - Culture & Literature
Marina Spiazzi, Marina Tavella,
Margaret Layton © 2013

2. Steps to be covered Outline Slide Structure Fonts Colour Background
Creating a PowerPoint Presentation
F. S. Fitzgerald
Steps to be covered
Outline
Slide Structure
Fonts
Colour
Background
Graphs
Spelling and Grammar
Conclusion
Performer - Culture & Literature

3. 1. Outline Plan your content first
Creating a PowerPoint Presentation
F. S. Fitzgerald
1. Outline
Plan your content first
Use an interesting title and pictures in the first slide to grab the viewers' attention
Make your second slide an outline of your presentation
Follow the order of your outline
Place only the main points in the outline slide. Each will become a title of your slide
Communicate your information clearly using bullet points, numbered lists
Performer - Culture & Literature

4. 2. Slide Structure Use 1-2 slides per minute of your presentation
Creating a PowerPoint Presentation
F. S. Fitzgerald
2. Slide Structure
Use 1-2 slides per minute of your presentation
Don’t put too much in each slide, only include 5-6 points per slide
Use key words and phrases only
Use each slide to express one idea
Avoid switching between programmes - such as calling up a Web page -  it might take too much time
Performer - Culture & Literature

5. 2. Slide Structure Do not use distracting animation.
Creating a PowerPoint Presentation
F. S. Fitzgerald
2. Slide Structure
Show one point at a time. This:
will help the audience concentrate on what you are saying
will prevent the audience from reading ahead
will help you keep your presentation focused
Do not use distracting animation.
Performer - Culture & Literature

6. 3. Font Use at least an 18-point font
Creating a PowerPoint Presentation
F. S. Fitzgerald
3. Font
Use at least an 18-point font
Use different size fonts for main points and secondary points
this font is 16-point, the main point font is 20-point,
and the title font is 40-point
Use a standard font like Arial
Capitalise only when necessary
Use italics rather than underlining. Underlines can obscure letters and make the text difficult to read
Performer - Culture & Literature

7. 4. Colour Use a colour of font that works well on a screen
Creating a PowerPoint Presentation
F. S. Fitzgerald
4. Colour
Use a colour of font that works well on a screen
Ex: a blue font on a white background
Preview your presentation before the exam  there is often a difference between how something looks on your computer screen and how it appears on a screen or wall
Use colour to reinforce the logic of your structure
Ex: a bold blue title and an orange text
Use colour either for key ideas or to emphasise a point, but do this only occasionally
Performer - Culture & Literature

8. Creating a PowerPoint Presentation
F. S. Fitzgerald
4. Colour
Remember:
Using a font colour that does not contrast with the background colour is difficult to read
Using colour for decoration is distracting
Using a different colour for each point is unnecessary
Using a different colour for secondary points is also unnecessary
Trying to be creative is negative
Performer - Culture & Literature

9. 5. Background Use plain and light backgrounds
Creating a PowerPoint Presentation
F. S. Fitzgerald
5. Background
Use plain and light backgrounds
Use the same background consistently throughout your presentation
Avoid distracting and difficult-to-read backgrounds
Remove any unnecessary detail
Performer - Culture & Literature

10. Creating a PowerPoint Presentation
F. S. Fitzgerald
6. Graphs
Use graphs rather than just charts and figures because in this way data is easier to understand
Always give your graphs a title
Support your points with visual evidence. This can include photos, images, charts and diagrams
Minimise sounds, images and charts because they can distract and annoy your audience
Performer - Culture & Literature

11. 6. A good graph Creating a PowerPoint Presentation F. S. Fitzgerald
Performer - Culture & Literature

12. 7. Spelling and grammar Revise your slides to avoid: spelling mistakes
Creating a PowerPoint Presentation
F. S. Fitzgerald
7. Spelling and grammar
Revise your slides to avoid:
spelling mistakes
repetitions
grammatical errors
distracting images
Performer - Culture & Literature

13. 8. Conclusion Before completing your presentation have you
Creating a PowerPoint Presentation
F. S. Fitzgerald
8. Conclusion
Before completing your presentation have you
planned carefully?
done your research?
thought about your audience?
timed your presentation?
practiced your entire presentation at least once?
If possible, have someone watch and listen and make comments.
Performer - Culture & Literature