PowerPoint Guidelines

PowerPoint Guidelines

Content•Keep priorities straight when creating:–Content first–“Fun stuff” laterCONTENT IS THE MOST

IMPORTANT THING!

Word Phrasing

•Use phrases whenever possible

•Avoid sentences (too wordy)

Word Phrasing: Sentences vs.. Phrases

“To take advantage of the annual flooding of the Nile, the people built irrigation channels to carry water into the fields. They also built dams to hold back the water for use during droughts.”from Message of Ancient Days textbook p. 188

Word Phrasing: Phrases vs.. Sentences

• Annual flooding -advantages:Built: – Irrigation canals

• Carried water to the fields– Dams

• Held back water -use during droughts

Style of Font

•Choose style that is easy to read–Cute, fancy, etc.: they don’t matter!

•Should fit your topic

Size of Font•Use as large a font as possible–Suggestion:

nothing less than 40! (...and sometimes that’s even too small!)

Size of Font

•Keep audience in mind–Small group?–Whole class?

We can’t see!

Font: A Wrong Example“Eagle Flight”

An eagle wings gracefully through the sky.

On the earth, I standand watch.

My heart flies with it.

by Alonzo Lopez

Font: A Correct Example“Eagle Flight”

An eagle wings gracefully

through the sky.On the earth, I stand

and watch.My heart flies with it.

by Alonzo Lopez

Number of Words•Limit yourself to 25 words per slide

•Present only “kernel” ideas

–Use detail verbally when you present

Number of Words

•If need more room, make a new slide with additional information!

2

This slide is getting way too

crowded, so...

…MAKE A NEW SLIDE!!!

Colors•Create contrast•Use “opposite” colors when layering

•Examine carefully to see if pleasing to the eye

Backgrounds/Templates

•Should “set off” your ideas

•Should fit your topic•Should not be a distraction

Pictures/Drawings

•Must be appropriate to presentation–Must fit time period, topic, etc., of project

•Must be large enough to see from distance

Pictures/Drawings

•Must not distract from text

•Give credit for pictures at end of presentation

Credits!

Spacing

•Do not “crowd” slide–Leave “white space” so eye can process information on slide

Leave some empty space!

• Notice: –colors don’t compliment each other–background “fights” with words and

pictures–picture doesn’t “fit” with topic of slide–slide too crowded

• Notice: –colors don’t compliment each other–background “fights” with words and

pictures–picture doesn’t “fit” with topic of slide–slide too crowded

Example: A Poor Slide

• Notice: –colors compliment each other–background does not “fight” with words and pictures

–picture “fits” with topic of slide–slide not too crowded

• Notice: –colors compliment each other–background does not “fight” with words and pictures

–picture “fits” with topic of slide–slide not too crowded

Example: A Good Slide

Sounds

•Use only in limited way•Should not provide any distraction

•Useful to signal change of ideas

Animation Effects•Should not be a distraction–Consistency!

•Should make it easier to process information on slide

Animation Timing

•Mouse Click vs.. Automatically Timed–Think through how being presented

Slide Transitions•Should not be a distraction–Consistency!

•Should make it easier to process information–Not too slow; not too fast

Consistency

•If presentation is short:–All background, transitions, font styles, etc., should be same

1

Consistency

•If presentation is long: –Maintain consistency within sections of presentation

• Way too many sounds!• Way too many sounds!

Example: A Poor SlideExample: A Poor Slide

• Way too many animation effects!• Way too many animation effects!• All of the noise and activity distracts from the slide!• All of the noise and activity distracts from the slide!

–ANNOYING!!!–ANNOYING!!!

• Limited sound• Limited sound

Example: A Good SlideExample: A Good Slide

• Consistent animation effects• Consistent animation effects

• Nothing to distract from content• Nothing to distract from content

Music•If saved within presentation, uses LOTS of memory

Proofreading•EVERYTHING counts:

–Spelling–Capitalization–Grammar

MAKE SURE THAT YOUR PRESENTATION IS FREE

OF ERRORS!

Final Thoughts

•Content!

•Content!

•Content!

CreditsMessage of Ancient Days

Houghton Mifflin Social Studies: 2001Chapter 7, Lesson 1, p. 188

Star-Walk Silver, Burdett, & Ginn: 1989

“Eagle Flight” by Alonzo Lopez, p. 331

THE END