toward a professional power point presentation the title contrast these two titles – sanitary...
TRANSCRIPT
Toward a professional power point presentation
The Title
• Contrast these two titles– Sanitary landfills in
Denton, Texas
– Location matters for sanitary landfills: A case study of Denton, Texas
swamplot.com
Where you want their attention• Bullet points
– Provide structure• You provide the substance
– Keywords and phrases
• You want your audience to look at you– Not the screen– Nor their phones– Or at the ceiling!
• Remember to look to your audience– Not at the screen
Professional Appearance
• DO NOT use your professors for inspiration; we are generally clueless about how to dress
Slide Structure - Bad
• This page contains too many words for a presentation slide. It is not written in point form, making it difficult both for your audience to read and for you to present each point. Although there are exactly the same number of points on this slide as the next slide, this one looks much more complicated. In short, your audience will spend too much time trying to read this paragraph instead of listening to you.
Slide Structure – Good
• Use 1-2 slides per minute of your presentation• Logical flow between slides• Write in point form, not complete sentences• Include 4-5 sub-points points per slide
– But be careful not to clutter the slide• Avoid wordiness: Use key words and phrases
only
Slide Structure – Good
• Show one point at a time:– Will help audience concentrate on what you are
saying– Will prevent audience from reading ahead– Will help you keep your presentation focused
The suspense is not captivating• OK, I have something to say• Bet you want to know what it is• Psych, not this time• Not this time either• OK, I have a secret• Knock, Knock• Who’s there?• Nobody• Nobody who?• ……………. (get it?)
A simple rule
• Academic writing is not a ‘who dun it’• If they are bored at the beginning
– They will have checked out by the end• So
– Tell ‘em what you’re going to tell ‘em– Tell ‘em– And then, Tell ‘em what you told ‘em
Fonts - Good
• Use at least an 18-point font• Use different size fonts for main points and
secondary points– This font is 24-point, the main point font is 28-
point, and the title font is 36-point• Use a standard font like Times New Roman or
Arial
Fonts - Bad• 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.
• Don’t use a complicated font– Like this one– Or this one!
Color and font coordination• Using a font color that does not contrast with the
background color is hard to read • Using color for decoration is:
– Distracting and annoying.• Using a different color for each point is
unnecessary– Using a different color for secondary points
demonstrates• you have way too much time on your hands.
• Trying to be creative can also be bad
• Is your font big enough for all– Not just people in the front row
Slide Structure - Bad
• Do not use distracting animation
• Do not go overboard with the animation
• Be consistent with the animation that you use
An effective use of transitions
Cool picture
• But what is my point• Are you sure your audience can read it???
Industrial Agriculture• Historical productivity of farmers
– 1900: 20 people– 1950: 75 people– Today: 150 people
Background – Bad
• Avoid backgrounds that are distracting or difficult to read from
• Always be consistent with the background that you use
Don’t make your audience guess
What would Sigmund Freud think?Actually processing what is being said
10%
Listening but not absorb-
ing24%
Not listening17%
Thinking about sex
49%
Audience attention
Graphs - Bad
January February March AprilBlue Balls 20.4 27.4 90 20.4Red Balls 30.6 38.6 34.6 31.6
Graphs - Good
Items Sold in First Quarter of 2002
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
January February March April
Blue Balls
Red Balls
Graphs - Bad
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
Graphs - Bad
• Minor gridlines are unnecessary• Font is too small• Colors are illogical• Title is missing• Shading is distracting
Proff reed you’re sideshow
• Spell right and do good grammer– Nothing discredits you fasster than then riting like a 3rd
grader– Don’t thrust spill-chick
• Avoid don’t use extra repeated additional words text• u r oblgtd to spll evrythg out.
– Twitter wrtg not accptbl.
• English is your second language?– seek help
Substance
• Practice– In the mirror– In front of friends / colleagues / advisor
• Timing– Don’t try and fill the entire time slot
• People love short and sweet
– Ensure you leave time for questions
• Slide Maximum– What is appropriate (10-15 for a 20 minute talk)
Conclusion
• Use an effective and strong closing– Your audience is likely to remember your last
words
• Use a conclusion slide to– Summarize the main points of your presentation– Suggest future avenues of research
Conclusion
• Simplicity– Paragraphs provide napping opportunities– Omit bells and whistles
• Objectives are “eyes on you” & “ears on you”– Pictures good, words bad– Don’t trust spell-check– Color schemes; fonts, et cetera
Potential crises & disappointments
• What if you mess up in your presentation?– Relax, and keep going…
• What if you get criticized… by an angry expert?– You should not argue, you may not know…– Suggest that you talk after the presentation
• What if you spill coffee on an expert?– Try not to…
• What if you throw up?
Questions??
• End your presentation with a simple question slide to:– Invite your audience to ask questions– Provide a visual aid during question period– Avoid ending a presentation abruptly