Guide: How to Create a Good Presentation
Sometimes it is much faster and effective to show something to a person rather than tell it to them. In these terms, whenever there is a need to quickly convey extensive volumes of information, or communicate effectively within a limited timeframe (and when you can choose which form of presenting information to use) it is reasonable to opt in favor of a presentation. A properly prepared presentation can save you a lot of time and effort with the same, or even better, results.
Why is it so? In oral and written speech, we need to structurize information using words, terms, long sentences, transitory constructions, and so on. Causal and other logical connections between concepts, arguments, etc. have to be explained with words. At the same time, a simple image is capable of transmitting the same amounts of information almost momentarily. How? About 95% of information human mind receives is visual; logically, our brains are focused at perceiving and processing this information. Besides, a whole explanation of how A is logically connected to B, could be expressed simply like A → B on a presentation slide.
However, a presentation requires specific approach to preparing it.
- Unlike other types of academic or business writing, presentation implies introducing information in small chunks of text. Review the info you want to get your audience acquainted with, and divide it into logical blocks. Each of these blocks will go as a group of 4-8 slides. Now, you should compress the info from each block in such a way that its content fits in a couple of simple sentences. These sentences (supported with graphs, charts, and so on) will be the backbone of your slides.
- It is important not just what you allocate on the slides, but also how you do it. Your slides should not be encumbered; 1-2 sentences (or a brief jotted list), an image or graph--this is enough to make a slide informative and easy for comprehension.
- Use headers and subheaders actively. Do not hesitate to dedicate a whole slide just to a header; however, subheaders should be allocated on the same slide with the text. Use headers to mark logical and semantic blocks of text (if any); subheaders should be used to structurize information within these blocks .
- Mind whether your presentation is easy to perceive. Avoid using fancy fonts, multiple colors and backgrounds, flashy images, and so on. Minimalism and consistency work the best when it comes to presentations.
- Consider using lists and symbols. As it was mentioned in the introduction to this tutorial, sometimes it is more effective to use “→” to mark a causation rather than compress lengthy explanations in 1-2 sentences, trying to maintain balance between size and quality. The same works for all other types of logical and semantic connections. During the presentation, you can shortly comment on the graphs you use
- Expanding on the previous point--visualize the information you present.
- Make sure to double check spelling and grammar on all of your slides to avoid embarrassing situations during the presentation. Create a backup copy of your presentation, and make sure it launches on the computer you will be using during the actual event.
- Avoid using any of the MS PowerPoint’s built-in images (except all kinds of arrows, speech bubbles, and so on) and sounds, especially those of them deemed as “funny.” There are few things less funny than a business or academic presentation with smileys.
- Keep the number of the slides you use at minimum. Present only the information your audience is really going to need.
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