Presentations Tips for Developing A Presentation

Hints for A Successful Presentation Focus  Main points  Content Plan  Layout  Does everything fit together? Practice

Do Your Research Know your task  Identify the topic  Specify the information you must convey  Identify key points  List important questions you want to answer Know your audience  Carefully assess the knowledge, expectations, and values of your audience  Describe what the audience needs to learn

Plan Carefully Location  Size  Spatial arrangement  Physical characteristics of space Length of time Content  Provide illustrative examples of main points  Repeat key concepts

Frame Your Presentation Introduction  Grab the audiences attention  Create expectations in your audience Conclusion  Not a rewording of the introduction  Match the tone to the audience’s primary need

Select Visuals Help emphasize key points Don’t let them be distracting Identify the purpose of the visual aid

Effective PowerPoint Slides First slide – name, title, and date Design templates  To use or not to use?  Unity of design – position, colors, and styles  Keep it simple Timing  Rule of thumb: One minute per slide  Maximum: Three slides per minute  Too many slides lose audience

Text Guidelines Use text sparingly One thought reflected in three or four bullets per slide General rules  No more than 6 words a line  No more than 6 lines a slide Avoid long sentences  Nouns and verbs rather than sentences

Font Font size  18 – 48 point  “Floor test” Easy to read fonts Larger font – more important information Consistent style of text Dark background with light font  Contrast

Grammar and Spelling Decide on punctuation  Limit punctuation  Be consistent Uppercase/lowercase  DO NOT USE ALL UPPERCASE Consistency in spelling  Spell check Avoid abbreviations and acronyms

Colors Select colors with care Use colors that work well together  Make sure they work on the screen Complimentary colors Avoid extreme colors No more than two colors for text  Five for charts or graphs Be careful with red Red and green = Christmas

Clip Art and other features Graphics should balance the slide  No more than two graphics per slide Minimize animated texts, sounds, and transitions  Don’t overuse slide transitions or bullet effects  Use effects to enhance presentation – not overwhelm The message sets the tone

Slide Coverage Fill the page

Practice, Practice, Practice Project onto a screen Have someone watch and listen Practice in the place you’ll deliver it. The more you practice the easier it will be.

Giving Your Presentation Avoid wearing distracting clothing  Outfit coordinates with slides Maintain eye contact with the audience Use natural hand gestures Keep body movement quiet and natural Maintain appropriate voice volume Maintain a constant rate of speech

Giving Your Presentation Are you nervous?  That is okay. Nervous tension can help you to deliver a charged rather than flat performance.  It means you care. Relax and enjoy helping your audience understand the information