Simple Rules for Great PresentationsLee Andrew Hilyer, MLIS, M.Ed.

http://www.hilyer.info

Say the words.

Show the pictures.

Text is for take-away.

A great presentation starts with a great script. Use Word before you use PowerPoint.

Use an outline to focus

on your main points.

3-5 points maximum**For talks of 30 minutes to 1 hour; use same rule for multi-hour workshops.

“FRUIT” OUTLINE ACTIVITY

On the following page you’ll find a structured outline for a fictional presentation on a fruit of your

choice. Spend 5-10 minutes completing as much of the outline as you can.

Remember this is for practice only, so feel free to get creative!

You will also find a blank presentation outline that you can print out and use for your own

presentations.

 

Beyond Bullet Points Story Template, © 2007 Cliff Atkinson www.beyondbulletpoints.com  

 

Title of Your Presentation:  Your Name   Date/Time of Presentation: 

 

Key Point (5 minutes):   Explanation (15 minutes):  Detail (45 minutes): 

Description of the fruit (what it looks like, where it grows, etc.) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nutrition information  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

History or interesting facts about the fruit. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This worksheet is based on the BBP Story Template, © 2007, Cliff Atkinson. Hilyer, UH Libraries, 2012. 

 

Beyond Bullet Points Story Template, © 2007 Cliff Atkinson www.beyondbulletpoints.com  

 

Title of Your Presentation:  Your Name   Date/Time of Presentation: 

 

Key Point (5 minutes):   Explanation (15 minutes):  Detail (45 minutes): 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This worksheet is based on the BBP Story Template, © 2007, Cliff Atkinson. 

Create a storyboardfor your visuals.

STORYBOARDING ACTIVITY

On the following page you’ll find a simple storyboard form you can use to plan the visuals in your

presentation. Make copies of this sheet as needed or you can create your own by using PowerPoint:

Open a new PPT file and create 3 blank slides.

Print a handout (3 vertical with notes).

Remember that people learn better from words and pictures than from words alone.

Your presentation will be more effective if you combine thoughtful spoken remarks with relevant and

high-quality visuals. Avoid putting large amounts of text on your slides.

Using the “fruit” outline you created earlier, draw some pictures to represent key points from your

outline.

Again, remember this is practice so feel free to get creative!

There are numerous sources for free stock photos listed on my website, http://www.hilyer.info.

2/14/2013

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Reduce auditory channel overload by removing or replacing text with images.

Or, shift text from your slides to a handout.

Create a meaningful handout your audience can use after the presentation.

Adapted from: Dietz‐Uhler, Beth and Jason R. Lanter. 2009. “Using the Four‐Question Technique to Enhance Learning.” Teaching of Psychology. 36: 38‐41.  

Reflection Please take a few moments to reflect on your learning and answer the questions below. Completing this 

activity will help you to retain more details of the content covered today. 

List 3‐5 new things that you learned during this workshop. 

 

 

 

Why are these ideas or tips important to you? 

 

 

 

 

How can you apply what you’ve learned to your own presentations? 

 

 

 

 

What questions has this workshop raised for you? What are you still wondering 

about?