PRS: June 2nd, Power Point Presentation Dos and Donts

Rules:
One Basic Rule that comes before all others: put up only your main points on the screen and use the screen as a reference. In other words, put up only the keywords to help audience focus on your message.

1.Use no more than 3 slides per minute
2.Do not use any fonts smaller than 28 pts.
3.Don’t use different colours and fonts on every slide – very distracting!
4.Use normal case (not all caps) and punctuate sparingly
5.Use light backgrounds with dark type when possible, but don’t use the background that is too bright – it will hurt your audience’s eyes. Also, do not use combinations that are difficult to read such as red/green, brown/green, blue/black, blue/purple.
6.Put no more than 6 words on a line.
7.Use no more than 6 lines per slide.
8.Use the full screen, do not crowd the text at the top of the screen
9.Do not use too many animation effects! They are very distracting and they will make you look like a show-off!
10.Avoid turning your back to the audience
11. When possible, rehearse your presentation in the actual room and check out the readability from the back of the room.

MORE ABOUT PP PRESENTATIONS

1. Power Point makes slides – You give Presentations

Even though you are able to produce eye catching slides and graphics, bear in mind that the audience has come to hear you, not merely to stare at images tossed onto a screen. Let not your screen be more compelling than what you are saying. Remember: PowerPoint doesn't give presentations — PowerPoint makes slides, and you are the one who creates slides to support a spoken presentation.

2. Keep it simple.

Don’t appear to be in love with every single special effect and gadgetry available in the Power Point software. The most effective PowerPoint presentations are simple — charts that are easy to understand, and graphics that reflect what the speaker is saying. Remember no more than five –six words per line and no more than five-six lines per individual slide. Whatever you do, don’t jamble your screen with too many words and graphics. "Do you really need to have everything up on the screen?” Of course, you don’t!
3. Minimize numbers in slides.

PowerPoint's beauty is its capacity to convey ideas and support a speaker's remarks in a concise manner. Although in your Persuasive Speech I don’t expect to see lots of statistics and numbers, I’m giving you this hint for future reference: most effective PowerPoint displays don't overwhelm viewers with too many figures and numbers. Instead, leave those for a later, more thorough digestion in handouts distributed at presentation's end. If you want to emphasize a statistic in PowerPoint, consider using a graphic or image to convey the point.

4. Don't parrot PowerPoint.

Too many presents commit the worst sin of Power Point presentations: they simply read the visual presentation to the audience. If you are going to do that, you might as well sit down and let the audience read by themselves. Remember that even the most visually appealing presentation is boring the audience to the bone if it’s read. Make sure that you’re communicating with the audience, speaking to them, rather than reading to them. Even with PowerPoint, you've got to make eye contact with your audience – nobody wants to see the back of your head.

5. Time your remarks.

Another potential land mine is a speaker's comments that coincide precisely with the appearance of a fresh PowerPoint slide. That merely splits your audience's attention. A well-orchestrated PowerPoint program first brings up a new slide, gives the audience a chance to read and digest it, then follows up with remarks that broaden and amplify what's on the screen.

6. Give it a rest.

Again, PowerPoint is most effective as a visual accompaniment to the spoken word. Don’t be afraid to let your screen go blank on occasion. Not only can that give your audience a visual break, it's also effective to focus attention on more verbally-focused give and take, such as a group discussion or question and answer session.

7. Use vibrant colors.

A striking contrast between words, graphics and the background can be very effective in conveying both a message and emotion. Remember: audience responds best to dark font on light background, if possible.

9. Distribute handouts at the end — not during the presentation.

If you’ve prepared handouts for your audience, distribute them after your presentation. You don’t want to present to a crowd that's busy reading a summation of your remarks, unless, of course, it is very important that people follow a handout while you're presenting.
To read more about dos and don’ts of Power Point Presentations, go to:
http://www.uncw.edu/cte/events/fall04/pptdos&donts/img0.html
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HOMEWORK:
On the second page of the "Job Interviews" handout, you'll find a page entitled "Personal Inventory." Take time to read the questions and answer in keyword form. For example:
1. Interestests
What are te things I really like to do?
creative writing, hiking
What are the things I do not like to do?
public speaking,working with numbers
ETC.