Making Effective PowerPoint Presentations
Science and Technology Research Unit
Acknowledgements:
Mr. Crimson Tayco,
Dr. J.Yazon
A. Chupungco
Outline
I. Discussion Structure
II. Slide StructureA. Layout
B. Font
C. Color Scheme
D. Background
III. Figures and Other Non text Elements
IV. Concluding Your Presentation
I. Discussion Structure
• Outline the discussion– This provides flow and directionality to
both listeners and speaker
• Use only main points in the outline– i.e. slide titles
What you can bring into a PowerPoint presentation:
• Text from a document (e.g., Word)– Sort into chunks– Dispense with undesirable content– Leave key text that could form titles and
bullet points
• Hyperlinks
II. Slide Structure
• Arrangement of elements in your slide
• Aesthetic look and schemes
Slide Layout
• Title and body should be clearly seen
• Title should summarize slide content
• Body must be bulleted and not wordy (follow the maximum 6 elements X 6 lines rule)
Established Rules for the Use of PowerPoint:
• Slides should be restricted to 4 to 5 bullet points.• Each bullet point should be a short phrase or a few
words that you can build on.• Charts and graphs are better than tables of data.• Graphs should show trends rather than the detail of
the data points.• Do not use elaborate transition effects or sounds.• Use animations sparingly.• Use colors, fonts and designs consistently.• Use large fonts that will be readable by everyone in
the audience (some suggest as large as 24 points as minimum).
• Be consistent in the use punctuations and cases.
The Light Microscope
• The microscope has several important parts. The illuminator or light source is the origin of radiation of the microscope. The condenser collects and directs passing light from the illuminator through the specimen. The stage is where the specimen is fixed unto. After light passes through the specimen, it goes in the objective lenses just above the stage where it is held in the nosepiece. Light then exits through the ocular lenses where the image formed is viewed and observed (Tortora et. al., 2004).
WRONG!
The Light Microscope
• Has several parts:– Illuminator: light source– Condenser: light collector and director– Stage: where specimen is– Objective lenses (OL): collects light after
passing to the specimen– Nosepiece: holds the OL– Ocular Lens: where image is viewed
Font
• Use standard fonts– Times New Roman and Arial
• Use varying sizes for different points (larger than 18 pt size)
Font
• If you use a small font, your audience won’t be able to read what you have written
• CAPITALIZE ONLY WHEN NECESSARY. IT IS DIFFICULT TO READ– i.e. to emphasize on certain points
• Don’t use a complicated font
Slide Background
• Use simple but attractive backgrounds
• Light backgrounds over dark, complicated ones
• Be consistent
Slide Background
• Coryza or the common cold is a very abundant disease that occurs worldwide
• There are extremely many antigenically distinct common cold
• The disease has many symptoms • No cure against the common cold has ever
been found
AVOID BACKGROUNDS THAT MAKES READING TEXT HARD
Color Scheme
• Combination of slide background and font color
• Use color that contrasts sharply
• Use color to:– Emphasize– To reinforce structure and outline
Color Scheme
• Trying to be creative can be bad
• This has no contrast
• Be simple
III. Figures and other Non text Elements
• Images and other figures must also be organized
• Must not be distracting and easily understandable
Images or Pictures
• Added visual aid
• Always include figure labels
Aloe vera has positive effects on the colonic anastomotic healing of rats
Aloe vera can be considered since it has an organic and inorganic composition.
Aloe vera has hypoglycemic-activity-possessing elements in the gel. Traces of the elements in the gel might account for the hypoglycemic nature of the plant.
Inorganized photos are meaningless
Images or Pictures
Figure 1. Laboratory mice, Mus musculus.
Graphs and Numerical Data
• Data is a very important element
• Must be presented in a way that will facilitate easy understanding
Wavelength (nm) Tryptophan TyrosineBovine Serum
Albumin
230 0.570 0.974 1.367
240 0.229 0.099 0.312
250 0.298 0.094 0.121
260 0.468 0.232 0.151
270 0.607 0.438 0.207
280 0.613 0.393 0.229
290 0.361 0.041 0.103
300 0.067 0.009 0.020
310 0.023 0.005 0.009
320 0.017 0.005 0.009
330 0.015 0.003 0.007
Graphs and Numerical Data
Table 1. Absorbance readings of untreated protein samples from 230 nm to 330 nm .
A table doesn’t convey much meaning
Graphs and Numerical Data
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
1.4
1.6
200 250 300 350
Wavelength (nm)
Ab
sorb
ance Tryptophan
Tyrosine
Bovine SerumAlbumin
Figure 1. Plot of Absorbance against wavelength of the untreated protein samples.
Graphs and Numerical Data
20.4
27.4
90
20.4
30.6
38.6
34.631.6
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
January February March April
Blue Balls
Red Balls
Too many fine details
• Minor gridlines are unnecessary
• Font is too small
• Colours are illogical
• Title is missing
• Shading is distracting
Graphs and Numerical Data
Concluding the Presentation
• Summarize main points and principles tackled
• If applicable, add recommendations or future plans
• Use a strong closing– Most likely to be remembered by listeners
IV. Additional Tips
• Check for errors in grammar and spelling
• Inconsistencies in formatting
In relation to how slides are used,
• Do not allow the slides to dominate your presentation.
• Do not read the text on the slide to the audience.
Lastly…
• End your presentation with a question slide– Invite audience to ask questions– Avoids abrupt end in presentation
References
IASTED. http://www.iasted.org/conferences/formatting/Presentations-Tips.ppt
Student Presentations
Making Effective PowerPoint Presentations
Questions?