Academic Presentation DesignAcademic Presentation Design

Creating an Effective Tool for Communicating Your Topic

Key Concepts

Purpose of slideshow

Choosing content

Developing slide layout and design

How to present

Purpose

Communicates a message

Addresses the target issue(s)

Guides your audience

Keeps speaker on track

Provides visual reference for ideas presented

ContentFactual information from reliable sources (cited, of course)Hypotheses and opinions based on your interpretation of the dataVisual elements that illustrate your topics or reinforce your positionIt should be included by cover page, out line, scope of study, introduction, literature review , conclusion.

Slide Layout and DesignText: key words/phrases, short quotes, 4-6 lines of text per slide (besides title)Fonts: easy to read, large (28+)Backgrounds: consistent, subtleColors: high contrast, not distracting, appropriate for tone of presentation

Graphics or media: relevant, necessary, good quality,Keep It Simple, Standard Logo

How to PresentOrally explain/expand upon the key words/phrases viewed on each slideSpeak clearly (enunciate), project your voice to back of roomSpeak at appropriate pace (slower than you usually would)Face your audience – use note cards as reference rather than turning your back to look at screen

Do allow time for questions

Don’t read your paper

Look at your audience

Think coda—find some way—elegantly, gracefully, and memorably—to bring your talk to a suitable conclusion.Less Is More13-15 Minutes only

Geoff Pullum's Five Golden Rules

DON'T EVER BEGIN WITH AN APOLOGY

DON'T EVER UNDERESTIMATE THE AUDIENCE'S INTELLIGENCE

RESPECT THE TIME LIMITS

DON'T SURVEY THE WHOLE DAMN FIELD

REMEMBER THAT YOU'RE AN ADVOCATE, NOT THE DEFENDANT

Additional Online Resources

PowerPoint Design Tips http://www.kristofcreative.com/services/multimedia/

powerpoint_tips.shtml

College of Education: Technology – PPT Tips http://ed.uwyo.edu/Tech/tutorials/powerpoint_design.htm

Creating Electronic Presentations http://www.evms.edu/acc/tips-present.html

It’s Showtime!!! http://fsc.fsonline.com/fsj/archive/120198kaye.html