Making Good PowerPoint Slides

Points to be Covered Outline Slide Structure Fonts Color Background Graphs Spelling and Grammar Conclusions Questions

Some details FIRST SLIDE: PUT YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION, AND NAMES OF ALL GUIDES AND THEIR AFFILIATIONS (DEPTS, ORGANIZATIONS, etc.) TIME FOR SYNOPSIS: 25 MIN + 5 MIN Q&A; MAX 15 SLIDES (STRICTLY) TIME FOR ABSTRACTS: 40 MIN + 10 MIN Q&A; MAX 30 SLIDES (STRICTLY)

Outline Make your 1 st slide an outline of your presentation Follow the order of your outline Only place main points on the outline slide

Slide Structure Plan for about minutes per slide in your presentation Write in point form, not complete sentences, i.e., use key words and phrases Not everything needs to be presented: choose material to be put on slides Slides should be un-cluttered and use bullets

Fonts Use 28-point (Caps) font-size for text and 32 point (Caps) for titles/headings Use a standard font like Times New Roman or Arial

Color Use colors so that the text contrasts sharply with the background Make a mock presentation and see your slides presented on a screen/wall (and not on a computer screen only)

Background Use backgrounds such as this one that are attractive but simple Use backgrounds which are light Use the same background consistently throughout your presentation

Graphs Use graphs rather than charts and words – Data in graphs is easier to comprehend and retain than is raw data – Trends are easier to visualize in graphical form Always title your graphs

Spelling and Grammar Proof your slides for: – spelling mistakes – the use of repeated words – grammatical errors you might have made If English is not your first language, please have someone else check your presentation

REFERENCES: STYLE (FULL INFORMATION NEEDED) FOR RESEARCH PAPERS, USE: Chiu, W. Y., Carratt, G. M. and Soong, D. S., A Computer Model for the Gel Effect in Free-Radical Polymerization, Macromolecules, 16, (1983). FOR BOOKS, USE: Beveridge, G. S. G. and Schechter, R. S., Optimization: Theory and Practice, New York: McGraw-Hill, New York, 1970.

Conclusion Use a conclusion slide to: – Summarize the main points of your presentation – Suggest future avenues of research

Questions?? End your presentation with a simple question slide to: – Invite your audience to ask questions – Provide a visual aid during question period