How to Make a Presentation


Several kinds of presentations are possible. In a distance education course, a face-to-face presentation is not always practical! However, if you do want to make a presentation to a teacher, please check with your teacher to determine what arrangements you can make.

Most presentations are made in slideshow presentation software such as PowerPoint and Prezi.

A slideshow presentation is a series of slides that can include images, graphs, charts, audio and movie files, as well as various kinds of animation-all of which make your topic come alive to your audience.

The same general rules for writing an effective paragraph or essay apply to a presentation.

  • Unity: Your ideas, images, and multimedia files must each relate to your topic. Do not throw in a picture or a movie just because it looks good! It must clearly illustrate your main idea.
  • Clarity: Your ideas should be clear and your images and multimedia files must be of good quality and be easy to understand.
  • Correctness: Spelling and grammar still count! Be sure to proofread and edit for grammar errors.

Tips for Making a Slideshow Presentation

Remember that a slideshow is designed to be shown on a large screen to a large audience. What looks great to you on your home computer might not work as a presentation. Imagine that you are showing your slides in a classroom or auditorium. Will it be easy to read from several metres away? Are your graphics clear and easy to understand? A presentation should be easy to read-avoid long paragraphs.

  • Use bullets or a numbered outline.
  • Use about 6 words per line.
  • Use about 6 lines per slide.
  • Avoid long sentences.
  • Font size should range from 18 to 48 points.
  • Font should contrast with background.
  • Avoid elaborate fonts, including all-capitals fonts.
  • Words in all capital letters are hard to read and THEY SCREAM!
  • Graphics should provide balance.
  • Transitions should be consistent.
  • Make sure your links work and your videos play before you make a presentation.

An excellent online tutorial is located here for PowerPoint.