The document provides tips for creating an effective PowerPoint presentation with key points being to use a large font size of at least 24 points, choose high contrasting color schemes that are easy to read, keep the presentation simple with a light background and dark text, plan the presentation thoroughly, limit text on slides to 6 words per line and 6 lines per slide, use images to communicate ideas rather than just for decoration, and save the presentation frequently to avoid losing work.

1. Effective PowerPoint Get Your Message Across

2. Effective PowerPoint Be Seen Make sure your text is big enough This is 28 point Arial Anything below 24 points is too small

3. Effective PowerPoint Use contrasting color schemes (design templates) ‏ These colors contrast These colors don’t contrast These colors contrast (harder to read?) ‏ These colors don’t contrast These colors contrast (harder to read?) ‏

4. Effective PowerPoint Be Clear Use a sans-serif font (Arial, Verdana ) ‏ Serif fonts are harder to read on-screen Italics are harder to read on-screen Use bold or color for emphasis

5. Effective PowerPoint Simple is best Basic light colored background and dark text Avoid distracting images Limit transitions, animations, and sound effects Don’t get hung up on looks

6. Effective PowerPoint Plan Plan Ahead (remember your purpose) ‏ Plan Carefully (get it under control) ‏ Plan for Disaster (next mouse click?) ‏

7. Effective PowerPoint Don’t read your screen Remember, PowerPoint presentations shouldn’t be used as cue cards. Bullet points should prompt you. Besides, your audience will read faster than you will talk. Plus your back will be them. Which leads to the next point…

8. Effective PowerPoint Avoid long sentences 6 words per line 6 lines per slide Understanding vs. Overload

9. Effective PowerPoint Use images to communicate…

10. Effective PowerPoint … Not to decorate

11. Effective PowerPoint Always save to the hard disk Floppies/Zip disks stink Periodically save to network USB “Flash” drives are great!

12. Effective PowerPoint Use PowerPoint Shows Bypass the PowerPoint Interface File > Save As… PowerPoint Show File name ends in .pps

13. Don’t be afraid!

14. Who needs bullets?

15. Don’t use PowerPoint as a crutch

16. Simple. Remember?

17. Effective PowerPoint ???