| Written July, 2006 |  |
File C5-137 |
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Creating a PowerPoint Presentation *
Christa Hartsook, communication specialist, Agricultural Marketing Resource Center, ISUE, 515-294-4430, hartc@iastate.edu
PowerPoint presentations can be effective tools to communicate your message to a large audience. However, they can also be over-used, structured incorrectly and damaging to your overall message you wish to convey.
First, determine if you need a PowerPoint presentation. What is your objective in speaking with your audience? Are you merely discussing ideas? Then skip the formal presentation. Are you lecturing to a class? Prepare the PowerPoint. Or, if you are somewhere in the middle - say trying to inform clients or potential customers of your products and services, it probably depends on the setting, number attending and your ease with speaking before a group and using PowerPoint.
If you determine you do need a PowerPoint, the following is a logical way to keep things structured within your presentation.
Organization
- The first slide should have your presentation title, your name, your title and the date of the presentation.
- The following slide should be an outline of what you will discuss in your presentation.
- Stick to the main points.
Points
- Slides should always be in point form – do not use complete sentences and entire paragraphs in your presentation.
- You should use a maximum of six points per slide.
- Avoid wordiness and use key words only throughout your presentation.
- Your speech will add in the other words, phrases, examples, etc., that you want to cover, but should not put into a PowerPoint.
Animation
- PowerPoint allows slides and points to be animated.
- It is generally thought to be a good rule of thumb that animating your points to show one point at a time is a good thing. It keeps attention focused on your presentation, prevents reading ahead and interests those in attendance.
- However, slide animation where slides are coming in from all directions with flashy sound effects, multiple colors, etc., is not a good thing. This is too distracting for the reader and looks unprofessional.
- Whatever animation you incorporate into your presentation, use it consistently. If you select that each bullet point should slide in from the left one at a time, do that throughout the entire presentation.
Font
- Your main font points should be 28 points.
- Use a standard font like Arial - not something difficult to read onscreen.
- Do not go below 18 points in PowerPoint.
- It becomes too difficult to read.
- Do not use all capital letters in your presentation - it looks like you are shouting at the reader.
Color
- Use a simple background - do not use a wildly patterned background that is distracting to the reader.
- Use a contrasting font color.
- Using a different font color for each point is distracting and unnecessary.
Clip Art
- Use it only if it assists. Adding trite clip art is worse than having no graphics at all.
- Use graphs, charts, etc., where appropriate throughout your presentation.
Spelling and Grammar
- Proof your slides for spelling mistakes, the use of repeated words and any grammatical errors.
- Have someone else read the presentation as well.
Conclusion
- Use a concluding slide to sell your presentation.
- Conclude by asking for questions and giving your contact information.
* Reprinted with permission from the Ag Marketing Resource Center, Iowa State University Extension.