This document provides tips for creating an effective PowerPoint presentation. It recommends writing a script, focusing one idea per slide with one graphic. Sans serif fonts should be used for body text and decorative fonts only for headers. Dark text on a light background is best with left or right aligned text. Clutter should be avoided and text should be large and easy to read. Simple designs work best following the "KISS" principle of keeping it simple. No more than 6 lines per slide or 7 words per line is suggested. Tables are less impactful than well-designed graphs. Presentations should be consistent, spellchecked, and not overwhelm the audience with clear transitions between slides and an agenda at the beginning.

1. How to Create a Good
PowerPoint Presentation
By Zakhar Berkovich

2. Preparation
• Write a script
• One idea at a time
• One graphic at a time
• NO paragraphs!

3. Font
• Use a sans serif font for body text.
• Use decorative fonts only for slide headers,
and then only if they’re easy to read.

4. Slide Design
• Put dark text on a light background.
• Align text left or right, not both.
• Avoid clutter.

5. Things to keep in mind
Make it BIG

6. Bad Color Choice

7. Is it hard to read?
• How about now?
• And this?
• Use fonts like Arial, Times New Roman or Georgia,

8. This is not a good idea for a
presentation:
• Data Management:
[advance a comprehensive model of] the management,
analysis, and interpretation of qualitative empirical materials /
[this] model distinguishes within- from between-case analysis
while emphasizing the necessary connection between a
theory and its concepts and the empirical indicators that
reflect back through the concepts to the theory / show how
codes, memos, and diagrams can help a researcher work from
field notes to some conceptual understanding of the
processes being studied / this model stresses variables and
causal links between variables while focusing on an iterative
approach that is fully open to discovery and the treatment of
negative cases (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all
rights reserved)
Humberman, A.M., Miles, M.B., (1994)

9. Too cluttered

10. Much better

11. Best if you are presenting

12. Use KISS
Keep
It
Simple
Student

13. Kiss
• In many cases simpler is better
• Do not use different types of fonts, or font SIZES
• Content

14. 6 by 7 Rule
• No more then 6 lines per slide
• No more then 7 words per line

15. In many cases avoid:
• Sound effect, except for your voice
• Transitions (flying or Dimond shape appearance of
text or graphics)
• Aminations

16. Tables vs. Graphs
• A well designed graph is more impactful than a table
• Tables become busy
• Graphs drive the point home

17. General suggestions
• Triple-check your presentation
• Be consistent
• Spellcheck

18. General suggestions
• Do not overwhelm your audience
• Pay attention to transition between slides
• Make sure there is a clear structure to your presentation
• It may be useful to have an “agenda” at the beginning of
the presentation