Presentations

Tips for Developing A Presentation

Hints for A Successful Presentation

Focus Main points Content

Plan Layout Does everything fit together?

Practice

Do Your Research

Know your task Identify the topic Specify the information you must convey Identify key points List important questions you want to answer

Know your audience Carefully assess the knowledge, expectations,

and values of your audience Describe what the audience needs to learn

Plan Carefully

Location Size Spatial arrangement Physical characteristics of space

Length of timeContent

Provide illustrative examples of main points Repeat key concepts

Frame Your Presentation

Introduction Grab the audiences attention Create expectations in your audience

Conclusion Not a rewording of the introduction Match the tone to the audience’s primary need

Select Visuals

Help emphasize key points

Don’t let them be distracting

Identify the purpose of the visual aid

Effective PowerPoint SlidesFirst slide – name, title, and dateDesign templates

To use or not to use? Unity of design – position, colors, and styles Keep it simple

Timing Rule of thumb: One minute per slide Maximum: Three slides per minute Too many slides lose audience

Text Guidelines

Use text sparingly One thought reflected in three or four

bullets per slideGeneral rules

No more than 6 words a line No more than 6 lines a slide

Avoid long sentences Nouns and verbs rather than sentences

FontFont size

18 – 48 point “Floor test”

Easy to read fontsLarger font – more important informationConsistent style of textDark background with light font

Contrast

Grammar and Spelling

Decide on punctuation Limit punctuation Be consistent

Uppercase/lowercase DO NOT USE ALL UPPERCASE

Consistency in spelling Spell check

Avoid abbreviations and acronyms

Colors

Select colors with care Use colors that work well together

Make sure they work on the screen

Complimentary colors Avoid extreme colors No more than two colors for text

Five for charts or graphs

Be careful with red Red and green = Christmas

Clip Art and other features

Graphics should balance the slide No more than two graphics per slide

Minimize animated texts, sounds, and transitions Don’t overuse slide transitions or bullet effects Use effects to enhance presentation – not

overwhelm

The message sets the tone

Slide CoverageFill the page

Practice, Practice, Practice

Project onto a screen

Have someone watch and listen

Practice in the place you’ll deliver it.

The more you practice the easier it will be.

Giving Your Presentation

Avoid wearing distracting clothing Outfit coordinates with slides

Maintain eye contact with the audienceUse natural hand gesturesKeep body movement quiet and naturalMaintain appropriate voice volumeMaintain a constant rate of speech

Giving Your Presentation

Are you nervous? That is okay. Nervous tension can help you to

deliver a charged rather than flat performance. It means you care.

Relax and enjoy helping your audience understand the information