Creating a Presentation in PowerPoint
I. Creating a new slide presentation and setting basic display information
A. Opening the PowerPoint program
1. Choose "Blank Presentation" from the options offered to
you when the program opens and click "OK." A window with slide
layout options will appear.
2. Select a slide layout (probably a title slide) by clicking on a thumbnail
illustration and click "OK"
B. Setting color choices
1. Click on the "Format" menu and select "Slide Color Scheme"
2. Click on the "Custom" tab and select the colors for your
slide background, text, and other visual elements
3. Click "Apply to All" to set these as the standard for all
your slides
C. Setting type style and size
1. Click on the "View" menu, select "Master," and
then "Slide Master"
2. Set type style and size for title and other elements by highlighting
the element and then changing the font and point size information.
3. When you have finished, select "View" and "Slide"
II. Adding slides and slide text to your presentation
A. To add a new slide, click on the "Insert" menu and select
"New Slide"
B. Pick a slide layout by clicking on a thumbnail illustration and click
"OK"
C. To add text to your presentation, click in the box where you want the
text to appear and type it in.
III. Viewing the contents of your presentation
There are several different ways to look at your presentation. These
views can be
accessed from the "View" menu at the top or via the set of icons
in the bottom, left-hand corner of the PowerPoint window (above the "Draw"
menu). The views are:
A. Slide View. This is the standard view for editing your slide.
B. Outline View. This will render your slides in an outline format.
C. Slide Sorter view. This view shows you thumbnail size images of all
of your slides and allows you to change the slide order by clicking and
dragging or to delete them by clicking on the slide and backspacing.
D. Notes Page View. In this view, you can enter notes to accompany your
presentation. That way, you can print out copies of your slides and have
your notes with them. They will not be visible in your slide show.
E. Slide Show. This view will show the current slide as it will appear
in the slide show. To view the entire slide show, you must choose "Slide
Show" from the "View" menu as opposed to using the icon
at the bottom of the screen.
IV. Adding Tables, Graphs, and Images
A. Adding Tables.
1. You can create a table in PowerPoint by selecting the "Table"
layout when you add a new slide.
2. When the slide appears, double click the table box. Input the number
of rows and columns that you'd like and click "OK."
B. Adding Graphs
1. Create your graph in Excel (see Excel handout).
2. Select your graph in Excel by clicking on it.
3. From the "Edit" menu, select "Copy."
4. Open up PowerPoint, locate your slide, and choose "Paste"
from the "Edit' menu.
C. Adding an Image from a file
1. Click on the "Insert" menu and select "Picture"
and then "From File."
2. Locate your image file and select it. Click "Insert."
V. Animating Your Slide
A. Click on the "Slide Show" and select "Custom Animation"
1. Select an Object
2. Click the "Effects" tab and then choose an action.
B. You can preview the animation by clicking the "Preview" button. If you like it, click "OK." To view it at full size, click on the "View" menu and select "Slide Show."
Slide Production Tips
1. Type: Make sure the font size is big enough --24-point or higher --and use no more than two fonts per presentation
2. Color: Use colors for background and type that contrast sharply.
3. Bulleted Points: Keep number of words to a minimum. Identify key words, concepts, or questions that you will discuss orally in your presentation.
4. Images: Select and/or create images that illustrate issues in your
presentation. Random graphics for a show are not effective. Avoid clip-art
if possible.
5. Keep It Clean: Don't overload your slides. Keep to one Idea or summary
of Ideas per slide.
