How to Make a PowerPoint Presentation

Microsoft PowerPoint is used everywhere today, from schools to businesses to places of worship. It is the tool of choice when it comes to a professional presentation. In a few steps, you will learn the dos and don'ts of what a good PowerPoint presentation will look like.

Instructions

1. Gather your information that you want to present.

2. Make a title page and a table of contents. Make sure your title page is esthetically pleasing and simple. Your topic should be in a large font size and should include your name and who you represent. Your table of contents should include all of the titles of your slides in the order that they appear.

3. Outline your slides. Use bullet points and keywords. Do not string together long sentences. PowerPoint is a supplement, not a replacement. Assume that your audience can read, so do not simply read off your PowerPoint. This is an insult to their intelligence. A rule of thumb is four to five points per slide. Make sure these relate to each other and the title of that page. In addition, spend only 1 or 2 minutes per slide. Lingering around one slide may bore your audience. This would subtract from the value of what you have to say.

4. Use contrasting colors such as black and white or yellow and black. Make your presentation presentable. This will make the presentation more legible and will keep the audience more focused on your presentation.

5. Don't use distracting backgrounds or animations. This will divert the attention of your audience. Simplicity is the key. On the other hand, graphics such as graphs and charts will enhance your presentation.

6. Proofread. Make sure you have no grammatical or spelling errors in your presentation that will make it seem unprofessional.

7. Make a simple conclusion slide similar to your title page. This is often forgotten but it is important to convey the main points of your presentation to your audience. You can use the conclusion slide as a cue or transition into the next presentation or for prompting questions from the audience. Don't forget to thank your audience at the end.

Tips & Warnings

• Add me :)

• Make notes for yourself. This is needed for a successful presentation

• Practice practice practice!

References

• Microsoft Office: Create Your First Presentation