EFFECTIVE PRESENTATIONS I

These tips are also applicable to most web page design!

Include only necessary information

• Chose your “bullet” points carefully.
• With each “bullet” point ask yourself:

– Is this an important point?

– Is this really something that needs to be highlighted?

Slide contents should be self evident

• Your slides/overheads should highlight important points. •Do not duplicate your entire presentation.

Avoid “mega data” slides

• If you put too much on a slide, you will lose your audience. •Use numbers with only a few significant digits, round up if necessary.
• Seven words per line, seven lines per slide

About Graphics

Present information graphically

• Is there a graphical way to present the information?
• If presented graphically, the audience will be more likely to understand information in the short period of time that it is on the screen.

Clip art or scanned art can be useful in illustrating a point

• Do not use art for the sake of art. •Art should serve a direct purpose or function.

Graphic devises are helpful in separating elements or directing attention

• Borders, boxes, shadows, lines, arrows, symbols, and blank spaces are helpful in separating elements or directing attention.

Graphs, Diagrams, and Tables

Graphs, diagrams, and tables show relationships, comparisons, and changes

Graphs should not contain much detail and should be concise

• Graphs should be used only to portray concepts.

Different graphs serve different purposes

• A pie graph divides a whole into component parts. •Bar graphs show relationships between two or more things. •Line graphs show trends.
• Remember, lines need to be bold!

Diagrams are used to demonstrate

• Diagrams demonstrate ideas, facts, plans, concepts, processes, and sequences.
• •Examples include:
• Organizational charts
• Flow charts
• Gantt charts
• Critical path networks
• Time lines

No more than two graphics or diagrams per slide

• More than two per slide would be WAY too much information and inundate your audience.

When using graphs and diagrams, remember the basics

• Select appropriate type.
• Illustrate abstract concepts rather than detailed facts.
• If possible, read from left to right label directly to avoid a legend.
• Use scale values in rounded elements.
• In bar graphs place time scales on the horizontal line and other information on the left.

Graphics need to be fairly big and bold to stand out and to be seen

Thin lines and small graphics may be more distracting than helpful.