How to Avoid a Power How to Avoid a Power Point DisasterPoint Disaster

For Projects, Oral Defense and SymposiaFor Projects, Oral Defense and Symposia

Created by Alicia Wargowsky & Christen RaeRevised by Mehreen Arshad Fall 2006

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IntroductionIntroduction A basic template is available from the BATS

website (http://www.dickmalott.com/students/undergradprogram/BCW/microsoftjobaids/)

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General Presentation General Presentation TipsTips Never read the content of a slide or stay

quiet during your entire power point Use your presentation as a guideline

let the audience read it to the background music

OR provide spoken elaboration of bulleted points

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General Presentation TipsGeneral Presentation Tips Contd.Contd. Don’t use esoteric or unusual abbreviations

Refrain from using automatic slide transition

Read through the text of your slide

3 times before advancing to the next slide.

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Beginning stepsBeginning steps

Create a specific folder for each PowerPoint presentation on your computer where you will save the following:PowerPoint PresentationEmbedded FontMusic file

To Create a folder on Desktop: Right Click on your desktopSelect “New”, and then “Folder”

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Beginning steps Contd.Beginning steps Contd.

To Save your PowerPoint file: Open PowerPoint program Save the file in the folder created above Save as “last name.semesteryear.” E.g.

Wargowsky.Fall2003

You may now begin making your Killer PowerPoint Presentation!

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MusicMusic

To insert Music into your slideshow: Locate the sound file you are looking for. Copy this file

into the presentation/slideshow you have created Go back to your PowerPoint program. Click Insert on

the toolbar, select “Movies and Sounds.” Select “Sound from File” and locate the sound file from

the presentation folder than you have created. Click OK once you have found your sound file.

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Music Contd.Music Contd.

Select “Yes” when prompted to play music automatically

Drag the music-speaker icon off the slide. Right click on the icon and select, “Custom

Animation.”

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Music Contd.Music Contd.

In the Custom Animation task pane on the right hand side, arrange the list of effects so that the Music file is at the top.

Click on the music file, and from the scroll down menu select “Effect Options,” and then “Effect.”

Enter the number of slides you want the music to play in by adding a number in the “stop playing after” box.

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General Tips for MusicGeneral Tips for Music Do not use music with lyrics or loud

instrumental music Make sure the transition between songs is

smooth Be thoughtful and original with your music! Remember to copy the music file to your

computer!!

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FontsFonts

Do not use unusual fonts unless you…

embed them in your power point

To learn how to embed fonts into your PowerPoint, visit (hyperlink to be added)

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Fonts Contd.Fonts Contd.

Do use: Font colors that contrast with the background, e.g. a

light font color with a dark background

Do not use: blue font color on a black background a yellow font color, unless it is on a black background and using yellow in graphs never works!

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Video & picturesVideo & pictures

Use original digital photos or videos about you and the project you worked on!

Use clip art to fill spaces that are empty!

Use a graphic on each slide!

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ThemesThemes

Students often use themes in PPT slide shows.

While your presentation should be colorful, creative, and entertaining, themes are very distracting.

Examples: Lion King, Power Puff Girls, Friends, etc.

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Themes Contd.Themes Contd.

Do Not use themes, especially TV shows or cartoons! Unless you are REALLY GOOD at them! Unless it is a good theme for what you are talking

about!

Instead use clip art, original photos, and videos about your project or research

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Appendix A:Appendix A: Content for P499 &Content for P499 & BATS MA Students BATS MA Students

Follow the outline of your thesis

Focus on your system’s disconnects and how you have fixed them

Only use the 3-Con model if it applies to the participants of your project rather than applying it to yourself or your supervisor.

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Appendix A Contd.Appendix A Contd.

Just present your project, not the BRSS or the BRSS contingencies.

Show the responsibilities of each student participating in your project and how it contributes to the overall goal of your project.

Show relevant samples of material that you have developed, if applicable (e.g.=manual).

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Appendix B:Appendix B: Presentation ChecklistPresentation Checklist

Title Slide

Slide with Comments

Question & Thank You Slide

Clip Art

Charts, Diagrams

Remove Speaker Icon off the slide

MusicAvoid loud music or music with lyricsRemember to copy music in folder

Avoid using distracting backgrounds Do not use blue font color on a black backgroundDo not use yellow font color in text or graphs

Do Not read from the slides

No more than 8 words a sentence & no more than 6 lines in a slide

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Appendix B:Appendix B: Presentation Presentation ChecklistChecklist

BulletsBullets come down one at a timeBullet style should be consistent throughout the PowerPoint