Tips to Make a Great PowerPoint Presentation
by Ms. Melissa McDonald School Library Media Specialist
Keep it Simple
• Use horizontal orientation
• Use plenty of “white space”
• Limit clutter on slides
An Asian elephant bathes in the Kabani River in India.
elephant: Asian elephant. Photograph. Encyclopedia Britannica. Web. 23 July 2012. <http://school.eb.com/elementary/art-75623>.
Limit Bullet Points & Text
• Use headings
• Use short phrases & key words
• Don’t fill your slide with text -the best slides may have no text at all!
Remember:
•This is a presentation tool – it needs YOU to present the information
•Add notes in the note section to remind you what you want to say
Limit Transitions & Animation
• Limit use of animations and slide transitions
• Some animation is a good thing, but too much is bad!
Use High Quality Graphics
• Use or
• Use high quality graphics, clipart or photographs http://office.microsoft.com
• Always be sure to cite your source!
Use Color & Templates Well
• Color evokes feelings & is emotional
• Choose template that matches your topic
• Limit the number of colors on each slide
Choose Your Fonts Well
• Use the same font set throughout your entire
presentation
• Use no more than two complementary fonts (e.g., Arial and Arial Bold)
• Know the difference between a serif font
(e.g., Times New Roman) and a sans-serif font (e.g., Calibri or Arial).
References
“10 slide design tips for producing powerful and effective presentations” by Garr Reynolds
http://www.techrepublic.com/article/10-slide-design-tips-for-producing-powerful-and-effective-presentations/6117178
Template and Clipart Images from: http://office.microsoft.com