The document provides tips for creating effective PowerPoint presentations, including following the three-part structure of introduction, body, and conclusion. It recommends using bullet points, short phrases, and clear, consistent formatting. Slides should have no more than 7 lines with 7 words each, and use large fonts, graphics, and media to engage audiences while avoiding excessive text. Narration should expand upon and clarify slides, not just read text.

1. Power Pointers
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Avoiding Death by
PowerPoint
1

2. About the Slides
There’s an art
to this, you
know.
2

3. The 3-Part Presentation
• Tell
’em
what
you’re
going
to tell
’em
Introduction
Body • Then tell
• Tell
’em
’em what
you told
’em
Conclusion
3

4. Design Tips
 Bullet points
 Short phrases
 Active voice
 Clear
 Consistent
Don’t clutter:
Elements should
support, not
distract
4

5. 7 X 7
 7 lines per
slide
maximum
 7 words
per line
maximum
5

6. For High Impact
 Short shows
 Few words
 Big fonts (24 +)
 Cool graphics
◦ Respect
copyright!
 Funny is often
good
6

7. Review for
accuracy
 Spelling
 Word usage
 Content
 Proofread,
proofread,
proofread!
7

8. Draw attention with media
 Clip art
 Photos
 Sound
 Video clips
 Animation
 Transitions
Take me to
your leader
8

9. Watch out for overkill
Are you squinting trying to read
this 18-point type? Put a lot of
small text on a slide and you will
lose your audience at worst and
annoy them at best. No one at
the back of the room will be able
to read anything this small. This
is the kind of detail to add when
you talk, but in your slides, go
for high impact with minimal
elements. Let pictures focus
interest and tell a story. They
are worth a thousand words for
a reason. Pick images
interesting enough to leave up
while you fill in the details.
9

10. About the narration
Blah blah
blah blah
blah blah
blah blah
blah blah
10

11. Narration can:
 Expand
 Explain
 Specify
 Clarify
11

12. Whatever you do,
Don’t
read
the
slides!
12

13. Review
 What are the three parts of a three-part
presentation?
 State the 7X7 Rule.
 What is the purpose of media such as
clip art and animation?
 What should you never do when
narrating?
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