Appendix D

Format of PowerPoint Presentations

• Cover main points simply in the slides.
• Use no more than seven words per line.
• Use no more than seven lines per page.
• Use variety, but maintain consistency.
• Change format, fonts, or sounds when you change the subject, not at random.
• Establish a pattern for each main section.
• Use pre-set design templates for consistent-looking slides (background, color, font, font size, layout).
• Use fonts and font sizes that are easy to read.
• Use font size 24 or larger for greater visibility across the room.
• Keep the font consistent within sections of the presentation.
• Change font size only when you want to attract attention to the change.
• Remember that text in all uppercase letters is more difficult to read than text in lowercase.
• Be aware that bold text is easier to read than italics.
• Also be aware that sans serif fonts such as Arial are easier to read than serif fonts such as Times New Roman.

For more suggestions on creating effective PowerPoint presentations along with interactive examples, please visit the following website: http://courses.durhamtech.edu/wiki/index.php/Handouts_Office_2000

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