This document provides guidance on creating an effective PowerPoint presentation in the style of a TED Talk. It recommends choosing a basic design template and modifying it with a copyright-free background photo. Bullet points should be avoided and instead information should be presented with SmartArt graphics. All videos should be embedded directly into the presentation rather than providing URLs. The presentation should not involve reading off of slides but rather using them as a guide for speaking to the audience. Effective slides contain minimal text in a large font size and use images to enhance the message without distracting from the speaker. Citations should be provided for referenced information.

1. How to Create an Amazing
PowerPoint
Presentation
by Wendy M. Stewart, MBA
Background photo credit: Giuseppe Milo

2. What inspires you?
Background photo credit: Giuseppe Milo

3. Create a 10 – 15 minute TED Talk style
PowerPoint on something that inspires you!
Background photo credit: Giuseppe Milo

4. Choose a basic design…
Background photo credit: Giuseppe Milo

5. …and alter it.
Background photo credit: Giuseppe Milo

6. First…
Background photo credit: Giuseppe Milo

7. Select a copyright-free photograph for the
background:
Background photo credit: Giuseppe Milo

8. Click on the image below to explore different
images on Flickr:
Background photo credit: Giuseppe Milo

9. Watch this video to learn how to add the
photograph you selected into the
background:
Background photo credit: Giuseppe Milo

10. Give credit to the photographer (if they ask
for you to) in Flicker.
Background photo credit: Giuseppe Milo

11. Make sure your words are easily visible over
the background image....

12. NOT
Like
This!

13. Reduce the transparency of the photograph.

14. No bullet points allowed!
• Bullet Point 1
• Bullet Point 2
• Bullet Point 3
• Bullet Point 4
• Bullet Point 5

15. Use SmartArt instead!

16. Change this:
• Bullet Point 1
• Bullet Point 2
• Bullet Point 3
• Bullet Point 4
• Bullet Point 5

17. To this:
Bullet
Point 1
Bullet
Point 2
Bullet
Point 3
Bullet
Point 4
Bullet
Point 5

18. Or this:
Bullet Point 1
Bullet Point 2
Bullet Point 3
Bullet Point 4
Bullet Point 5

19. Bullet Point 1 Bullet Point 2 Bullet Point 3 Bullet Point 4 Bullet
Point 5
Or even this:

20. With the click of a button!

21. How to change bullet points into
SmartArt:

22. Embed ALL videos into
PowerPoint. Do not show urls!
https://www.youtube.com/w
atch?v=qYPB_B0U5y8

23. Here’s How:

24. Do NOT read off of the slides.

25. Do NOT read off of the slides.

26. Talk to the audience instead!
Photo credit: TED/Robert Leslie

27. Give photo credit!
Photo credit: TED/Robert Leslie

28. Make it like a TED TALK:

29. What goes on my slides?
Speaker guide. (n.d.). Retrieved from: http://storage.ted.com/tedx/manuals/tedxspeakerguide.pdf

30. Speaker guide. (n.d.). Retrieved from: http://storage.ted.com/tedx/manuals/tedxspeakerguide.pdf
Use images or photos to enhance your presentation

31. What goes on my slides?
Speaker guide. (n.d.). Retrieved from: http://storage.ted.com/tedx/manuals/tedxspeakerguide.pdf
Use font size 40 points or larger.
Choose a common sans serif font (like Verdana)
over a serif font (like Times New Roman).

32. What goes in my slides?
Use as little text
as possible -- if
your audience is
reading, they
are not
listening.
Avoid using
bullet points.
Consider
putting
different points
on different
slides.
Speaker guide. (n.d.). Retrieved from: http://storage.ted.com/tedx/manuals/tedxspeakerguide.pdf

33. Use citations for information
Use as little text
as possible -- if
your audience is
reading, they
are not
listening.
Avoid using
bullet points.
Consider
putting
different points
on different
slides.
Speaker guide. (n.d.). Retrieved from: http://storage.ted.com/tedx/manuals/tedxspeakerguide.pdf

34. Background photo credit: Giuseppe Milo
Refer to the rubric for
grading information
Click here
for a link
to the
rubric

35. Background photo credit: Giuseppe Milo
The end…
Any questions?