Most of us have done PowerPoint presentations at some point in our professional and academic careers, and if you haven’t, you will. A good PowerPoint can make or break your presentation, and knowing how to develop a PowerPoint that engages your audience is a good skill to have. (Dissertation Editor can help with that!)
Here are some things to keep in mind to help you develop an engaging PowerPoint:
Develop an outline first. Write out an outline of your presentation first – don’t start immediately making slides. This will help keep you on track and provide guidance.
Only include one topic per slide. Cramming more than one topic onto a slide creates a busy, chaotic slide. A good rule is one topic per slide, avoiding unnecessary animations and using less text. Utilize bullet points – generally no more than 3 – to make sure it is legible from any seat in the room.
Keep it simple. Use the same slide design throughout the entire presentation. Keep it streamlined and clean. Only add the content that best supports what you are presenting: the PowerPoint is there to support and reinforce your main points; it should not be the entire presentation.
Include the audience. Make them active participants in your discussion and presentation – ask them questions and create an environment that welcomes questions and discussion about your topic.
Practice! Don’t use the PowerPoint as a teleprompter. Know your topic, practice your delivery, and experiment with presenting. The more practice you have, the more comfortable you’ll be during the presentation, providing more opportunities for you to connect with the audience.
Dissertation Editor can help with developing your PowerPoint, editing and formatting your PowerPoint, and even schedule consultations with you so you can practice your presentation. From start to finish, we are here to help you make your presentation the best it can be. Contact us today to learn more about how we can be of assistance.
