1. The Rules for the Perfect PowerPoint Presentation
Keeping it simple!
The Rules for the Perfect PowerPoint Presentation

2. Rule 1: Keep the colors simple
Your color choices are black with white or red font

3. Rule 1: Keep the colors simple
or white with black or red font

4. Rule 2: Keep the font simple
Avoid letters with “tails” like
Californian FB
Baskerville Old Face
Garamond
High Tower Text

5. Rule 2: Keep the font simple
Instead use simple fonts with no tails, like
Albertus Medium
Arial
Century Gothic
Microsoft Sans Serif

6. Rule 3: Only serious images
Include no clip art. For example, there should be no clip art pictures of Harlem or New York City

7. Rule 3: Only serious images
Instead, use high-quality pictures.…
Harlem, 1930s

8. Rule 3: Only serious images
The American Memory Project at the Library of Congress
Tuskegee Institute 1903

9. Rule 3: Only serious images
Ralph Ellison

10. Rule 4: Don’t use too many images on one slide

11. Rule 5: Use as few words as possible
PowerPoint projects are visual mediums. They are not intended to be used for lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of words. Believe me, people want to see pictures and images and not a lot of blah-de-blah-blah-blah of words and typing. Naturally, you’ll need some words to guide your readers, especially if the images presented are complex and unfamiliar to your viewer. Help them out by offering some words of guidance and wisdom. Are you sick of reading all of this blather yet?

12. Rule 6: No fancy transitions
Do you understand what I mean?
When a slide comes up
It all comes up at once.
Things don’t slide in from weird places.

13. Rule 6: No fancy transitions
Also,
Things should not
Exit your screen
In any funky ways at all.

14. Rule 7: No Custom Animation
Nothing should wiggle
Shrink or enlarge
Or do anything else with motion

15. Rule 7: No sounds!
Shhhhhh…….the only sound during your presentation will be the sound of you TALKING…and sharing all of that awesome information.

16. Rule 7: No sounds!
Exceptions: If you have any authentic sounds (music, speeches, etc) from the era, those may be used.

17. Where to look for stuff? National Archives and Records Administration
Library of Congress American Memory Project
New York Public Library Digital Collections