How to Use Microsoft Powerpoint

With PowerPoint, you can create a presentation from scratch or use a "wizard," which allows you to enter your information into a pre-designed template. The wizards allow inexperienced or rushed people to create good-looking presentation visuals--fast.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Select a Format

1. Choose "Blank Presentation" to create your presentation from scratch. Choose "Design Template" to add your own, unique information into a pre-designed template. Choose "Auto Content Wizard" to be walked through the steps to create a presentation that will suit your style and needs.

2. Select a layout. If you choose to start with a "Blank Presentation," you will be given a choice of slide styles. You can choose among title slides, bulleted lists, charts, text slides, clip art and other options.

Create Slides

3. Write the title of your presentation on the "Click to Add Title" page. This will be the first slide of your presentation.

4. Follow the prompts to add text and/or graphics on subsequent slides if you are working from a wizard. If you are creating a presentation from scratch, you will be given a choice of slide style (usually a menu to the right of the slide with which you are working).

5. View your presentation in a variety of formats. Normal view shows you one slide at a time while outline view puts your slides in a traditional outline (hierarchical) form, which can assist in organizing the presentation.

6. Use the "Slide Show" viewing option, found under "View" on the toolbar, when you have finished creating your presentation. Hit "Enter" to move forward to the next slide. This allows you to give your presentation a final look, so you can make sure every slide is in proper order and well formatted.

Tips & Warnings

• Once you get the hang of adding your own text, titles and graphs to a PowerPoint presentation, use the toolbar to discover how to add effects to make your presentation more appealing. You can even add your own music to one slide or the entire presentation.
• Try out title slides, which are simply slides that allow you to enter the title of your presentation, and let PowerPoint center the text for you, using a larger, bold font to emphasize that slide's importance.