Checklist for an effective presentation

• Use the proper size for the text. Choose a size that is large enough, yet clear to see. Make sure that it is visible also on smaller screens.
• Avoid using images as a background. They make it harder to read the text. If you feel you must use a picture as a background, use a transparency behind your text so it is easy to read, and have your text and your transparency contrasting colors. To do this, right click the text box, click on format placeholder, and change the fill to a color and make it transparent. (Around 70-80% transparency works well).
• Less is more. Do not overload your slides with too much text. Paragraphs of text will take the focus off of you, as your audience will simply drown out your speech and start reading the information for themselves. Please remember, it is harder to keep your audience focused.
• Use short sentences and phrases, keep your text short. Remember the 5 by 5 rule. Five bullets with less than 5 words each. Please, no long paragraphs or slide long quotes!
• Avoid using fancy fonts. You might like them, but it can be hard to read for others.
• Only use animations for emphasis. Don't over-exaggerate your animations, slide-ins work really well for bullets.
• If you use slide transitions, stick to only one. Don't try to mix it up because then it will look confusing.
• Duplicate your final slide. It is a common PowerPoint mistake to double-click through their final slide before the presentation has actually finished. This leads to an awkward scramble to return to the previous slide, and throws off your entire conclusion. To avoid that embarrassment, cut and paste your final slide two or three times at the end of your presentation.
• Check your presentation at least five times. Look for mistakes. Best of all, read it through as if you were giving the presentation and see how it all pulls together.

Finished presentation

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