Powerpoint Presentation

Objective: To create a professional presentation using Powerpoint presentation software. The presentation should be on a topic of professional interest. You may select any professionally-relevant topic and audience.

Contents and Process:

  • Select a topic and audience
  • Search the Internet to locate a minimum of 4 sources of information for your presentation
    • Use two search engines
    • Construct a bibliography of your sources
    • Locate and download to your disk a minimum of 2 images relevant to your topic
  • Organize your presentation
    • Identify the purpose of your presentation -- i.e., inform, persuade, educate
    • Sequence your information
  • Powerpoint presentation
    • Select a template for a presentation
    • Make a title slide
    • Presentation slides
      • Minimum of 8-10 slides
      • Utilize at least 2 different colors
      • Utilize at least 3 different transitions
      • Utilize at least 3 different building effects
      • Use at least 1 chart from imported from Excel
      • Include your graphics at appropriate points
    • Rehearse timing
    • Print handouts
  • Make presentation to class.

Simple Guidelines for Effective Presentations

Planning

  • Who is your audience?
  • What do you want to accomplish?
    • Inform ?
    • Persuade ?
    • Level of audience's knowledge - beginning to advanced
    • What are your objectives?
  • What medium will you use for your presentation?
Organizing your presentation
  • Beginning - middle - end
  • Journalists= approach
    • Tell=em what you=re going to tell them
    • Tell=em
    • Tell=em what you told them
  • Time allocation
    • Begin with an overview (1/4 time period)
    • Build up your middle and emphasize your points
    • End quickly with a summary (1/8 time)

    Supporting your presentation

  • Hard copy of your presentation - slides/overheads
  • Notes to support your presentation

    Do's and Don'ts

  • Don=t crowd presentation with detail
    • Bullets - short, five to six words per line
    • Five or six lines per overhead/slide
  • Colors
    • Brightest colors jump forward - text
    • Dark colors for background
    • Consistent color scheme throughout to link ideas together
  • Type faces (fonts)
    • Simple styles
    • One or two styles per slide
    • Retain styles throughout
    • Style variations - italics, bold, shadow, color
  • Layout
    • Consistent
    • Balance
  • Emphasis
    • Reveal information one idea at a time - buildups
    • Use transitions appropriately
  • DON=T read your information-- use the words in your own presentation

    Charts

  • Accurate
  • Easy to interpret
  • Have impact

    • Read The Art of Communicating Effectively for additional information about constructing an effective presentation.

    This page was last updated on January 1, 1999. Return to HPHM Computer Home Page