1. Introduction to Effective Presentations

2. Overview General tips for presentations Effective slide content
Slide Layout
Pacing the presentation
Color and type usage
Things to avoid
Counterexamples

3. General Tips Organize in advance Know your audience
Be familiar with material
Relax
Practice your words
Don’t race through the text

4. Effective Slides Include only essential information
Like an outline of a paper
Limit number of words per line
Limit lines per screen
Usually seven is a good limit

5. Use of Media Use graphs and images when needed
Minimize non-essential media
Animation can be very distracting
Transitions should be consistent
Graphics should be good quality

6. Arranging Slides Left justify body text Balance the information
Leave space between lines
Use consistent layout templates
Don’t surprise viewers

7. Pacing Use slides as mnemonic aids Don’t leave a slide on for too long
Don’t whiz through slides

8. Color Minimize use of colors Use contrasting colors
Avoid garish color schemes

9. Type Usage Avoid novelty typefaces
No more than two or three type sizes
18 to 48 points
Use system fonts
Avoid all caps
Minimize punctuation

10. Surprises Unnecessary visual effects Change in slide layout
Images or video that don’t fit
Bad typeface Choice

11. Some Counterexamples

12. Wordy Slide
This is a slide that has way too much written on it. The screen is cluttered with words and the audience feels obliged to read it. Since the audience is reading the slide, their attention is focused on that instead of what the presenter is saying. It’s possible that when everyone is finished with the slide, the audience will remember half of what was on the screen and half of what the presenter said, maybe garbled together in a way that makes no sense at all. Or maybe they won’t remember anything at all because they’ve zoned out.

13. Text that is bigger seems more important
Text Problems
Text should be clearly visible
Viewers in the back should be able to read
People in the front should be able to read
Text that is bigger seems more important
ALL CAPS IS HARD TO READ…
…AND LOOKS LIKE SHOUTING!

14. Bad Color Combination Black on blue is bad
Many other color combinations are bad
You need enough contrast
Avoid garish combinations

15. Conclusion Organize! Rehearse Minimize distractions
Use slides to reinforce what you say