This document provides tips for creating concise and effective PowerPoint presentations with 3 sentences or less per slide. Key recommendations include using simple designs and colors that don't distract from the text, keeping text brief with 3-5 lines per slide, employing parallel structure for lists, including images sparingly, using animations to facilitate transitions not distract, and ensuring the presentation enhances but is not relied upon during the presentation. The overall goal is for the presentation to communicate key points succinctly without straining attention or replacing the presenter's message.
3. Pithy Precisely meaningful; forceful and brief; Concise and full of meaning; succinctly well-argued; Of, like, or abounding in pith Source: en.wiktionary.org/wiki/pithy
5. Designs & Colors Choose designs that do not distract from your text Choose colors for your background and text that can easily be read
6. What not to do Reading this text is not easy for all audience members Presenting with this background can distract from the text and make the screen cluttered and unreadable YOUR MESSAGE WILL NOT BE RECEIVED!
7. What nottodo Combining bright/clashing text with bright/clashing backgrounds or pictures strains the eye Causing discomfort will not make your presentation effective
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9. Text Text should be: Short Clear 3-5 lines per slide (ideally) PITHY!
10. What not to do: “Projected slides are a good medium for depicting an idea graphically or providing an overview. They are a poor medium for detail and reading. Avoid paragraphs, quotations and even complete sentences. Limit your slides to five lines of text and use words and phrases to make your points. The audience will be able to digest and retain key points more easily. Don’t use your slides as speaker’s notes or to simply project an outline of your presentation.” Source: The Seven Deadly Sins of PowerPoint Presentations
12. Parallel Structure Sentence structured to convey equal weight to all of your points Usually used in presentations, resumes, business letters
13. Examples of Parallel Structure What not to do: Prepared weekly field payroll Material purchasing, expediting, and returning Recording OSHA regulated documentation Change orders Maintained hard copies of field documentation Source: Purdue OWL
14. What to do: Prepared weekly field payroll Handled material purchasing, expediting, and returning Recorded OSHA regulated documentation Processed change orders Maintained hard copies of field documentation Examples of Parallel Structure Source: Purdue OWL
18. Animations Should not distract Should be used sparingly Should facilitate transitions between slides When in doubt, do not use animations!
19. Presenting Tips A PowerPoint presentation: should be a visual aide, not a visual distraction! should not be read from during the presentation! should only include key points
