Research and Writing

PowerPoint Creation and Presentation

Researchers may be asked to create a PowerPoint presentation when sharing their work at a conference or event. Sometimes, this takes the form of a lightning talk, where the presenter has just five to ten minutes to highlight the most important parts of their research. This page has all the tips and tricks for designing an effective, engaging PowerPoint and delivering a strong presentation.

Designing a PowerPoint Presentation

The best practices for PowerPoint design are similar to those for posters, but slides allow for more dynamic content and pacing.

Here are some tips for building your PowerPoint slides:

• Keep text minimal. Your slides should supplement your talk, not deliver it. Use short, bulleted phrases rather than writing a script on the slides. You are the communicator of your message, not the slides.
• Use visuals to make your point. Charts, graphs, images, and diagrams can be more effective and engaging than blocks of text.
• Avoid clutter. Too much text or visuals distract from your message. Aim for clean, focused slides.
• Prioritize accessibility. Use high-contrast colors, readable fonts, and alt text for images when possible. An audience member at the very back of an auditorium needs to be able to see what's on your slide. If you're using a Summa-provided template, stick to the defaults.
• Stick to a consistent design and layout. Keep your fonts, spacing, and colors the same throughout the presentation. If you have to shrink the text to fit it on the slides, you're writing too much.
• Leave the slide transitions and sound effects in the early 2000s where they belong. These distract from your message - especially when a forgotten sound startles you when moving through a presentation.

Templates

Preparing Your Presentation

Once you've designed your slides, it's time to prepare the actual spoken presentation. Proper preparation will help you confidently deliver an engaging presentation to your audience. Here are some tips:

• Practice out loud. Preferably with an audience that can give you feedback. Practice calms your nerves, makes you sound more natural, and helps you catch any wonky organization or word choices.
• Know your audience. Tailor your tone and level of detail to the folks you're speaking to. Avoid field-specific jargon if you are speaking to a more general audience.
• Make notes or cue cards. Notes help you stay on track without staring at your slides. They may also help you remember an anecdote or other "candid" comments you want to share, but not write on your slides.
• Anticipate questions and prepare answers. This will help you feel prepared and may also inspire content tweaks.
• Familiarize yourself with the room and technology. When possible, plan to arrive early to test equipment, see the size of the room, and gauge if you're dressed too warmly or need to put on a cardigan.
• Bring back up copies. Aim to have your presentation saved to a USB drive, emailed to yourself, and available on your phone or in the cloud. Consider that internet access or cell service could be strained at a huge conference.
• Bring a notepad and pen. You may want to write down contact information, ideas for modification, etc. after your presentation!

Delivering Your Presentation

• Make eye contact with your audience. Or at least look at their foreheads. This engages you with your audience.
• Avoid heavy reliance on your slides. Remember, the slides are cues, not the script. Trust in your preparation and notes.
• Speak calmly, pause strategically. Do not rush  through your presentation. Use pauses to emphasize important points, take a sip of water, or to slow down. Pausing has the bonus effect of regrouping a racing mind, too!
• Keep your knees slightly bent. If you lock your knees, you might pass out.
• Take your time with questions. Repeat the question for clarity (and to give you time to think of an answer!), and answer clearly. It's okay to not know the answer - offer to follow up at a later time with a business card or by writing down an email address.

Presenter Resources