Effective Use of PowerPoint English IV Your research presentation will include a PowerPoint or Prezi (be careful of Prezi), so let’s review effective PowerPoints.

What is PowerPoint? Definition: “PowerPoint is a software designed to create electronic presentations of consisting of a series of separate pages or slides.” It is an amazing tool, BUT It is NOT your presentation. “Was there ever a time your were PowerPointed?”

Remember this?

PowerPoint as Visual Aid How does it aid?? Five Aspects of Presentation: Clarity Retention Interest Professionalism Help Reduce Stage Fright

Simple Construction: Tell a Story BeginningMiddleEnd

Text Remember the saying, “Less is more.” Limit each slide to one idea Be concise Maximum 7 X 7 Bullet points Same structure throughout Otherwise, they will read, not listen

Fonts Bold word for attention (no italics) or change the color Maximum two fonts per slide Serif fonts–fonts with “curves” (e.g. Times New Roman, etc.) Sans Serif fonts–clean, block (e.g. Arial, etc.) Size 24+ for titles and 20+ for body DO NOT USE ALL CAPS

Backgrounds Simple backgrounds are best One background for entire presentation Use a dark font on a light background Use a white/light font on a dark background Too many colors overwhelm the eye

Graphic Balance Place graphics off center Placing graphic on left leads your eye to the text Select good illustrations and graphics Every image is important For slide transitions, use no transition

Overview of Main Rules - Use less text & more visuals - Use Sans Serif Fonts - Use very little animation - Avoid CAPS - Avoid too many colors