How to Make a Good PowerPoint Presentation

How Many Slides Do You Need?

1st Slide - Title Slide

* Include a relevant title

* Include your first and last name.

* Add graphics if you want.

2nd Slide - Table of Contents

* Bulleted List

* List the main ideas of your presentation

* Main idea should be in the form of a short phrase or sentence – short phrase is preferred.

* List the main ideas of your presentation in bulleted list form.

* Each main idea should be a separate bullet.

3rd Slide - Content Slides

* The actual information in your presentation

* Each content slide should have a slide title.

* Slide title must match a table of contents item

* Supporting information is listed on the slide in bullet form.

* Should be a sentence or phrase. NOT A PARAGRAPH.

* Add graphics, video, sound, and other things to enhance the slide.

* You can have a slide with all pictures, but make sure it fits into the presentation.

* If your slide is crowded with information do 1 of 2 things. 1. Spread the content over two slides. 2. See if your information can be broken down into another subtopic. Be sure to add the sub-topic into the table of contents

Last Slide - Conclusion

* Summarize your presentation without repeating all of the information word for word.

Total Number of Slides = Number of items on the Table of Contents Slide + 3.

Your presentation should have a minimum of 5 slides.

Slide Backgrounds

* Keep the background simple.

* Use PowerPoint Templates or a simple background color.

* Do not use a photograph or picture as the background. It makes the text on the slide very difficult to read.

Clip-Art and Photographs

* Use graphics that compliment your presentation.

* Do not put random images in your presentation that have relation to the content.

* When resizing your pictures, do not stretch the graphic in only one direction. This distorts the picture and takes away from the overall appearance of your presentation.

* Do not take a small picture and make it really big. If you resize a picture and it appears distorted or grainy, pick another graphic.

General Notes

* Use 2 or 3 different fonts at the most.

* Use a color scheme

* Use short sentences or phrases

* Do not copy sentences from your information source.

* Do not take a copied sentence and change a few words around.