How to Do a Research Proposal in Powerpoint

Use PowerPoint to enhance your research presentation.

No matter what type of research you're pursuing, a proposal is often called for to provide relevant information about the study you wish to perform. Visual aids such as PowerPoint assist in communicating important points, making your presentation easier to follow and capturing your audience's attention. With a minimum of planning and effort, you can create a clear, concise set of slides to increase your persuasive power.

Instructions

Creating Your Research Presentation

1. Click the "Start" button in the bottom-left corner of your screen, and select "All Programs." Choose "Microsoft Office" and click on PowerPoint 2007. You should see a blank title slide.

2. Click on the upper text box and type in the title of your proposed study. To make changes to the font, highlight the text you wish to change and select the appropriate button in the "Font" box.

3. Click on the subtitle text box to enter your name, the date and the location of your presentation. You can move this and other text boxes by hovering your cursor over the boundaries of the box until cross-hairs appear, then clicking and dragging it to a new location.

4. Select the "Design" tab at the top of your screen to change the overall theme of your presentation. Click on any of the miniature slide icons at the top of your screen in the "Themes" box to create the desired look.

5. Add new slides by clicking on the "Home" tab, then on the "New Slide" icon in the "Slides" box. Here you'll present the actual information about your proposal. Click on each text box and type in the heading and major points you wish to make.

6. Modify the way your text is laid out by using tools in the "Paragraph" box directly above your slide. Click the part of the text you wish to modify, then select the type of justification, spacing, or indent you want. Use the "Undo Typing" icon at the top left of your screen to fix mistakes.

7. Choose one of the icons in the center of blank slides to add a picture, chart, or table to a slide. If you want to modify the layout of each slide to enhance your research proposal, select the arrangement you like from the "Layout" drop-down menu in the "Slides" box.

8. Click on the thumbnails along the left-hand side of your screen to view any of the slides you have created. You can click and drag these to rearrange your presentation, or go back to change or delete a slide you don't need using the tools in the "Slides" box. Your presentation should flow in logical order---a brief introduction, the rationale for your study, methods and anticipated outcomes/benefits of your study.

9. Save your work by clicking on the floppy disk icon at the top left of your screen, and name your proposal. To prevent your hard work from being lost, plan to save after every few slides as you work.

Tips & Warnings

• Tailor your design and images to your intended audience. For example, consider leaving animation out of your proposal unless you're absolutely certain it is acceptable.

• Practice setting up and showing your slides to a colleague or fellow student, and don't forget to time yourself. Modify or delete slides if you exceed time limits, and use your practice audience's feedback to improve the length and content of your presentation.

• Don't try to cram too many points onto each slide---this constitutes information overload for most viewers and makes slides look cluttered. Instead, select three or four essential points per slide.

References

• Microsoft Office Powerpoint 2007: Creating a Presentation

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish