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How to Structure your Presentation, with Examples

August 3, 2018 - Dom Barnard

For many people the thought of delivering a presentation is a daunting task and brings about a  great deal of nerves . However, if you take some time to understand how effective presentations are structured and then apply this structure to your own presentation, you’ll appear much more confident and relaxed.

Here is our complete guide for structuring your presentation, with examples at the end of the article to demonstrate these points.

Why is structuring a presentation so important?

If you’ve ever sat through a great presentation, you’ll have left feeling either inspired or informed on a given topic. This isn’t because the speaker was the most knowledgeable or motivating person in the world. Instead, it’s because they know how to structure presentations – they have crafted their message in a logical and simple way that has allowed the audience can keep up with them and take away key messages.

Research has supported this, with studies showing that audiences retain structured information  40% more accurately  than unstructured information.

In fact, not only is structuring a presentation important for the benefit of the audience’s understanding, it’s also important for you as the speaker. A good structure helps you remain calm, stay on topic, and avoid any awkward silences.

What will affect your presentation structure?

Generally speaking, there is a natural flow that any decent presentation will follow which we will go into shortly. However, you should be aware that all presentation structures will be different in their own unique way and this will be due to a number of factors, including:

• Whether you need to deliver any demonstrations
• How  knowledgeable the audience  already is on the given subject
• How much interaction you want from the audience
• Any time constraints there are for your talk
• What setting you are in
• Your ability to use any kinds of visual assistance

Before choosing the presentation’s structure answer these questions first:

• What is your presentation’s aim?
• Who are the audience?
• What are the main points your audience should remember afterwards?

When reading the points below, think critically about what things may cause your presentation structure to be slightly different. You can add in certain elements and add more focus to certain moments if that works better for your speech.

What is the typical presentation structure?

This is the usual flow of a presentation, which covers all the vital sections and is a good starting point for yours. It allows your audience to easily follow along and sets out a solid structure you can add your content to.

1. Greet the audience and introduce yourself

Before you start delivering your talk, introduce yourself to the audience and clarify who you are and your relevant expertise. This does not need to be long or incredibly detailed, but will help build an immediate relationship between you and the audience. It gives you the chance to briefly clarify your expertise and why you are worth listening to. This will help establish your ethos so the audience will trust you more and think you’re credible.

Read our tips on  How to Start a Presentation Effectively

2. Introduction

In the introduction you need to explain the subject and purpose of your presentation whilst gaining the audience’s interest and confidence. It’s sometimes helpful to think of your introduction as funnel-shaped to help filter down your topic:

• Introduce your general topic
• Explain your topic area
• State the issues/challenges in this area you will be exploring
• State your presentation’s purpose – this is the basis of your presentation so ensure that you provide a statement explaining how the topic will be treated, for example, “I will argue that…” or maybe you will “compare”, “analyse”, “evaluate”, “describe” etc.
• Provide a statement of what you’re hoping the outcome of the presentation will be, for example, “I’m hoping this will be provide you with…”
• Show a preview of the organisation of your presentation

In this section also explain:

• The length of the talk.
• Signal whether you want audience interaction – some presenters prefer the audience to ask questions throughout whereas others allocate a specific section for this.
• If it applies, inform the audience whether to take notes or whether you will be providing handouts.

The way you structure your introduction can depend on the amount of time you have been given to present: a  sales pitch  may consist of a quick presentation so you may begin with your conclusion and then provide the evidence. Conversely, a speaker presenting their idea for change in the world would be better suited to start with the evidence and then conclude what this means for the audience.

Keep in mind that the main aim of the introduction is to grab the audience’s attention and connect with them.

3. The main body of your talk

The main body of your talk needs to meet the promises you made in the introduction. Depending on the nature of your presentation, clearly segment the different topics you will be discussing, and then work your way through them one at a time – it’s important for everything to be organised logically for the audience to fully understand. There are many different ways to organise your main points, such as, by priority, theme, chronologically etc.

• Main points should be addressed one by one with supporting evidence and examples.
• Before moving on to the next point you should provide a mini-summary.
• Links should be clearly stated between ideas and you must make it clear when you’re moving onto the next point.
• Allow time for people to take relevant notes and stick to the topics you have prepared beforehand rather than straying too far off topic.

When planning your presentation write a list of main points you want to make and ask yourself “What I am telling the audience? What should they understand from this?” refining your answers this way will help you produce clear messages.

4. Conclusion

In presentations the conclusion is frequently underdeveloped and lacks purpose which is a shame as it’s the best place to reinforce your messages. Typically, your presentation has a specific goal – that could be to convert a number of the audience members into customers, lead to a certain number of enquiries to make people knowledgeable on specific key points, or to motivate them towards a shared goal.

Regardless of what that goal is, be sure to summarise your main points and their implications. This clarifies the overall purpose of your talk and reinforces your reason for being there.

Follow these steps:

• Signal that it’s nearly the end of your presentation, for example, “As we wrap up/as we wind down the talk…”
• Restate the topic and purpose of your presentation – “In this speech I wanted to compare…”
• Summarise the main points, including their implications and conclusions
• Indicate what is next/a call to action/a thought-provoking takeaway
• Move on to the last section

5. Thank the audience and invite questions

Conclude your talk by thanking the audience for their time and invite them to  ask any questions  they may have. As mentioned earlier, personal circumstances will affect the structure of your presentation.

Many presenters prefer to make the Q&A session the key part of their talk and try to speed through the main body of the presentation. This is totally fine, but it is still best to focus on delivering some sort of initial presentation to set the tone and topics for discussion in the Q&A.

Other common presentation structures

The above was a description of a basic presentation, here are some more specific presentation layouts:

Demonstration

Use the demonstration structure when you have something useful to show. This is usually used when you want to show how a product works. Steve Jobs frequently used this technique in his presentations.

• Explain why the product is valuable.
• Describe why the product is necessary.
• Explain what problems it can solve for the audience.
• Demonstrate the product  to support what you’ve been saying.
• Make suggestions of other things it can do to make the audience curious.

Problem-solution

This structure is particularly useful in persuading the audience.

• Briefly frame the issue.
• Go into the issue in detail showing why it ‘s such a problem. Use logos and pathos for this – the logical and emotional appeals.
• Provide the solution and explain why this would also help the audience.
• Call to action – something you want the audience to do which is straightforward and pertinent to the solution.

Storytelling

As well as incorporating  stories in your presentation , you can organise your whole presentation as a story. There are lots of different type of story structures you can use – a popular choice is the monomyth – the hero’s journey. In a monomyth, a hero goes on a difficult journey or takes on a challenge – they move from the familiar into the unknown. After facing obstacles and ultimately succeeding the hero returns home, transformed and with newfound wisdom.

Storytelling for Business Success  webinar , where well-know storyteller Javier Bernad shares strategies for crafting compelling narratives.

Another popular choice for using a story to structure your presentation is in media ras (in the middle of thing). In this type of story you launch right into the action by providing a snippet/teaser of what’s happening and then you start explaining the events that led to that event. This is engaging because you’re starting your story at the most exciting part which will make the audience curious – they’ll want to know how you got there.

• Great storytelling: Examples from Alibaba Founder, Jack Ma

Remaining method

The remaining method structure is good for situations where you’re presenting your perspective on a controversial topic which has split people’s opinions.

• Go into the issue in detail showing why it’s such a problem – use logos and pathos.
• Rebut your opponents’ solutions  – explain why their solutions could be useful because the audience will see this as fair and will therefore think you’re trustworthy, and then explain why you think these solutions are not valid.
• After you’ve presented all the alternatives provide your solution, the remaining solution. This is very persuasive because it looks like the winning idea, especially with the audience believing that you’re fair and trustworthy.

Transitions

When delivering presentations it’s important for your words and ideas to flow so your audience can understand how everything links together and why it’s all relevant. This can be done  using speech transitions  which are words and phrases that allow you to smoothly move from one point to another so that your speech flows and your presentation is unified.

Transitions can be one word, a phrase or a full sentence – there are many different forms, here are some examples:

Moving from the introduction to the first point

Signify to the audience that you will now begin discussing the first main point:

• Now that you’re aware of the overview, let’s begin with…
• First, let’s begin with…
• I will first cover…
• My first point covers…
• To get started, let’s look at…

Shifting between similar points

Move from one point to a similar one:

• In the same way…
• Likewise…
• Equally…
• This is similar to…
• Similarly…

Internal summaries

Internal summarising consists of summarising before moving on to the next point. You must inform the audience:

• What part of the presentation you covered – “In the first part of this speech we’ve covered…”
• What the key points were – “Precisely how…”
• How this links in with the overall presentation – “So that’s the context…”
• What you’re moving on to – “Now I’d like to move on to the second part of presentation which looks at…”

Physical movement

You can move your body and your standing location when you transition to another point. The audience find it easier to follow your presentation and movement will increase their interest.

A common technique for incorporating movement into your presentation is to:

• Start your introduction by standing in the centre of the stage.
• For your first point you stand on the left side of the stage.
• You discuss your second point from the centre again.
• You stand on the right side of the stage for your third point.
• The conclusion occurs in the centre.

Key slides for your presentation

Slides are a useful tool for most presentations: they can greatly assist in the delivery of your message and help the audience follow along with what you are saying. Key slides include:

• An intro slide outlining your ideas
• A  summary slide  with core points to remember
• High quality image slides to supplement what you are saying

There are some presenters who choose not to use slides at all, though this is more of a rarity. Slides can be a powerful tool if used properly, but the problem is that many fail to do just that. Here are some golden rules to follow when using slides in a presentation:

• Don’t over fill them  – your slides are there to assist your speech, rather than be the focal point. They should have as little information as possible, to avoid distracting people from your talk.
• A picture says a thousand words  – instead of filling a slide with text, instead, focus on one or two images or diagrams to help support and explain the point you are discussing at that time.
• Make them readable  – depending on the size of your audience, some may not be able to see small text or images, so make everything large enough to fill the space.
• Don’t rush through slides  – give the audience enough time to digest each slide.

Guy Kawasaki, an entrepreneur and author, suggests that slideshows should follow a  10-20-30 rule :

• There should be a maximum of 10 slides – people rarely remember more than one concept afterwards so there’s no point overwhelming them with unnecessary information.
• The presentation should last no longer than 20 minutes as this will leave time for questions and discussion.
• The font size should be a minimum of 30pt because the audience reads faster than you talk so less information on the slides means that there is less chance of the audience being distracted.

Here are some additional resources for slide design:

• 7 design tips for effective, beautiful PowerPoint presentations
• 11 design tips for beautiful presentations
• 10 tips on how to make slides that communicate your idea

Group Presentations

Group presentations are structured in the same way as presentations with one speaker but usually require more rehearsal and practices.  Clean transitioning between speakers  is very important in producing a presentation that flows well. One way of doing this consists of:

• Briefly recap on what you covered in your section: “So that was a brief introduction on what health anxiety is and how it can affect somebody”
• Introduce the next speaker in the team and explain what they will discuss: “Now Elnaz will talk about the prevalence of health anxiety.”
• Then end by looking at the next speaker, gesturing towards them and saying their name: “Elnaz”.
• The next speaker should acknowledge this with a quick: “Thank you Joe.”

From this example you can see how the different sections of the presentations link which makes it easier for the audience to follow and remain engaged.

Example of great presentation structure and delivery

Having examples of great presentations will help inspire your own structures, here are a few such examples, each unique and inspiring in their own way.

How Google Works – by Eric Schmidt

This presentation by ex-Google CEO  Eric Schmidt  demonstrates some of the most important lessons he and his team have learnt with regards to working with some of the most talented individuals they hired. The simplistic yet cohesive style of all of the slides is something to be appreciated. They are relatively straightforward, yet add power and clarity to the narrative of the presentation.

Start with why – by Simon Sinek

Since being released in 2009, this presentation has been viewed almost four million times all around the world. The message itself is very powerful, however, it’s not an idea that hasn’t been heard before. What makes this presentation so powerful is the simple message he is getting across, and the straightforward and understandable manner in which he delivers it. Also note that he doesn’t use any slides, just a whiteboard where he creates a simple diagram of his opinion.

The Wisdom of a Third Grade Dropout – by Rick Rigsby

Here’s an example of a presentation given by a relatively unknown individual looking to inspire the next generation of graduates. Rick’s presentation is unique in many ways compared to the two above. Notably, he uses no visual prompts and includes a great deal of humour.

However, what is similar is the structure he uses. He first introduces his message that the wisest man he knew was a third-grade dropout. He then proceeds to deliver his main body of argument, and in the end, concludes with his message. This powerful speech keeps the viewer engaged throughout, through a mixture of heart-warming sentiment, powerful life advice and engaging humour.

As you can see from the examples above, and as it has been expressed throughout, a great presentation structure means analysing the core message of your presentation. Decide on a key message you want to impart the audience with, and then craft an engaging way of delivering it.

By preparing a solid structure, and  practising your talk  beforehand, you can walk into the presentation with confidence and deliver a meaningful message to an interested audience.

It’s important for a presentation to be well-structured so it can have the most impact on your audience. An unstructured presentation can be difficult to follow and even frustrating to listen to. The heart of your speech are your main points supported by evidence and your transitions should assist the movement between points and clarify how everything is linked.

Research suggests that the audience remember the first and last things you say so your introduction and conclusion are vital for reinforcing your points. Essentially, ensure you spend the time structuring your presentation and addressing all of the sections.

Home Blog Presentation Ideas How to Start a Presentation: 5 Strong Opening Slides and 12 Tricks To Test

How to Start a Presentation: 5 Strong Opening Slides and 12 Tricks To Test

Knowing how to start a presentation is crucial: if you fail to capture the audience’s attention right off the bat, your entire presentation will flop. Few listeners will stick with you to the end and retain what you have told.

That is mildly unpleasant when you are doing an in-house presentation in front of your colleagues. But it can become utterly embarrassing when you present in front of larger audiences (e.g., at a conference) or worse – delivering a sales presentation to prospective customers.

Here is how most of us begin a presentation: give an awkward greeting, thank everyone for coming, clear our throats, tap the mic, and humbly start to mumble about our subject. The problem with such an opening performance? It effectively kills and buries even the best messages.

Table of Contents

• The Classic Trick: Open a Presentation with an Introduction
• Open a Presentation with a Hook
• Begin with a Captivating Visual
• Ask a “What if…” Question
• Use the Word “Imagine”
• Leverage The Curiosity Gap
• The Power of Silence
• Facts as Weapons of Communication
• Fact vs. Myths
• The Power of Music
• Physical Activity
• Acknowledging a Person

How to Start a PowerPoint Presentation The Right Way

Let’s say you have all of your presentation slides polished up (in case you don’t, check our quick & effective PowerPoint presentation design tips first). Your presentation has a clear storyline and agenda. Main ideas are broken into bite-sized statements for your slides and complemented with visuals. All you have left is to figure out how you begin presenting.

The best way is to appeal to and invoke certain emotions in your audience – curiosity, surprise, fear, or good old amusements. Also, it is recommended to present your main idea in the first 30 seconds of the presentation. And here’s how it’s done.

1. The Classic Trick: Open a Presentation with an Introduction

When you don’t feel like reinventing the wheel, use a classic trick from the book – start with a quick personal introduction. Don’t want to sound as boring as everyone else with your humble “Hi, I’m John, the head of the Customer Support Department”? Great, because we are all about promoting effective presentation techniques (hint: using a dull welcome slide isn’t one of them).

Here’s how to introduce yourself in a presentation the right way.

a. Use a link-back memory formula

To ace a presentation, you need to connect with your audience. The best way to do so is by throwing in a simple story showing who you are, where you came from, and why your words matter.

The human brain loves a good story, and we are more inclined to listen and retain the information told this way. Besides, when we can relate to the narrator (or story hero), we create an emotional bond with them, and, again – become more receptive, and less skeptical of the information that is about to be delivered.

So here are your presentation introduction lines:

My name is Joanne, and I’m the Head of Marketing at company XYZ. Five years ago I was working as a waitress, earning $10/hour and collecting rejection letters from editors. About ten letters every week landed to my mailbox. You see, I love words, but decent publisher thought mine were good enough. Except for the restaurant owner. I was very good at up-selling and recommending dishes to the customers. My boss even bumped my salary to $15/hour as a token of appreciation for my skill. And this made me realize: I should ditch creative writing and focus on copywriting instead. After loads of trial and error back in the day, I learned how to write persuasive copy. I was no longer getting rejection letters. I was receiving thousands of emails saying that someone just bought another product from our company. My sales copy pages generated over $1,500,000 in revenue over last year. And I want to teach you how to do the same”

b. Test the Stereotype Formula

This one’s simple and effective as well. Introduce yourself by sharing an obvious stereotype about your profession. This cue will help you connect with your audience better, make them chuckle a bit, and set a lighter mood for the speech to follow.

Here’s how you can frame your intro:

“My name is ___, and I am a lead software engineer at our platform [Your Job Title]. And yes, I’m that nerdy type who never liked presenting in front of large groups of people. I would rather stay in my den and write code all day long. [Stereotype]. But hey, since I have mustered enough courage…let’s talk today about the new product features my team is about to release….”

After sharing a quick, self-deprecating line, you transition back to your topic, reinforcing the audience’s attention . Both of these formulas help you set the “mood” for your further presentation, so try using them interchangeably on different occasions.

2. Open a Presentation with a Hook

Wow your audience straight off the bat by sharing something they would not expect to hear. This may be one of the popular first-time presentation tips but don’t rush to discard it.

Because here’s the thing: psychologically , we are more inclined to pay attention whenever presented with an unexpected cue. When we know what will happen next – someone flips the switch, and lights turn on – we don’t really pay much attention to that action.

But when we don’t know what to expect next – e.g., someone flips the switch and a bell starts ringing – we are likely to pay more attention to what will happen next. The same goes for words: everyone loves stories with unpredictable twists. So begin your presentation with a PowerPoint introduction slide or a line that no one expects to hear.

Here are a few hook examples you can swipe:

a. Open with a provocative statement

It creates an instant jolt and makes the audience intrigued to hear what you are about to say next – pedal back, continue with the provocation, or do something else that they will not expect.

“You will live seven and a half minutes longer than you would have otherwise, just because you watched this talk.”

That’s how Jane McGonigal opens one of her TED talks . Shocking and intriguing, right?

b. Ask a rhetorical, thought-provoking question

Seasoned presenters know that one good practice is to ask a question at the beginning of a presentation to increase audience engagement. Rhetorical questions have a great persuasive effect – instead of answering aloud, your audience will silently start musing over it during your presentation. They aroused curiosity and motivated the audience to remain attentive, as they did want to learn your answer to this question.

To reinforce your message throughout the presentation, you can further use the Rhetorical Triangle Concept – a rhetorical approach to building a persuasive argument based on Aristotle’s teachings.

c. Use a bold number, factor stat

A clean slide with some mind-boggling stat makes an undeniably strong impact. Here are a few opening statement examples you can use along with your slide:

• Shock them: “We are effectively wasting over $1.2 billion per year on producing clothes no one will ever purchase”
• Create empathy: “Are you among the 20% of people with undiagnosed ADHD?”
• Call to arms: “58% of marketing budgets are wasted due to poor landing page design. Let’s change this!”
• Spark curiosity: “Did you know that companies who invested in speech recognition have seen a 13% increase in ROI within just 3 years?”

3. Begin with a Captivating Visual

Compelling visuals are the ABC of presentation design – use them strategically to make an interesting statement at the beginning and throughout your presentation. Your first presentation slide can be text-free. Communicate your idea with a visual instead – a photo, a chart, an infographic, or another graphics asset.

Visuals are a powerful medium for communication as our brain needs just 13 milliseconds to render what our eyes see, whereas text comprehension requires more cognitive effort.

Relevant images add additional aesthetic appeal to your deck, bolster the audience’s imagination, and make your key message instantly more memorable.

Here’s an intro slide example. You want to make a strong presentation introduction to global pollution.  Use the following slide to reinforce the statement you share:

“Seven of nine snow samples taken on land in Antarctica found chemicals known as PFAs, which are used in industrial products and can harm wildlife”

Source: Reuters

4. Ask a “What if…” Question

The “what if” combo carries massive power. It gives your audience a sense of what will happen if they choose to listen to you and follow your advice.  Here are a few presentations with starting sentences + slides to illustrate this option:

Alternatively, you can work your way to this point using different questions:

• Ask the audience about their “Why.” Why are they attending this event, or why do they find this topic relevant?
• Use “How” as your question hook if you plan to introduce a potential solution to a problem.
• If your presentation has a persuasion factor associated, use “When” as a question to trigger the interest of the audience on, for example, when they are planning to take action regarding the topic being presented (if we talk about an inspirational presentation).

5. Use the Word “Imagine”

“Imagine,” “Picture This,” and “Think of” are better word choices for when you plan to begin your presentation with a quick story.

Our brain loves interacting with stories. In fact, a captivating story makes us more collaborative. Scientists have discovered that stories with tension during narrative make us:

• Pay more attention,
• Share emotions with the characters and even mimic the feelings and behaviors of those characters afterward.

That’s why good action movies often feel empowering and make us want to change the world too. By incorporating a good, persuasive story with a relatable hero, you can also create that “bond” with your audience and make them more perceptive to your pitch – donate money to support the cause; explore the solution you are offering, and so on.

6. Leverage The Curiosity Gap

The curiosity gap is another psychological trick frequently used by marketers to solicit more clicks, reads, and other interactions from the audience. In essence, it’s the trick you see behind all those clickbait, Buzzfeed-style headlines:

Not everyone is a fan of such titles. But the truth is – they do the trick and instantly capture attention. The curiosity gap sparks our desire to dig deeper into the matter. We are explicitly told that we don’t know something important, and now we crave to change that. Curiosity is an incredibly strong driving force for action – think Eve, think Pandora’s Box.

So consider incorporating these attention grabbers for your presentation speech to shock the audience. You can open with one, or strategically weave them in the middle of your presentation when you feel like your audience is getting tired and may lose their focus.

Here’s how you can use the curiosity gap during your presentation:

• Start telling a story, pause in the middle, and delay the conclusion of it.
• Withhold the key information (e.g., the best solution to the problem you have described) for a bit – but not for too long, as this can reduce the initial curiosity.
• Introduce an idea or concept and link it with an unexpected outcome or subject – this is the best opening for a presentation tip.

7. The Power of Silence

What would you do if you attended a presentation in which the speaker remains silent for 30 seconds after the presentation starts? Just the presenter, standing in front of the audience, in absolute silence.

Most likely, your mind starts racing with thoughts, expecting something of vital importance to be disclosed. The surprise factor with this effect is for us to acknowledge things we tend to take for granted.

It is a powerful resource to introduce a product or to start an inspirational presentation if followed by a fact.

8. Facts as Weapons of Communication

In some niches, using statistics as the icebreaker is the best method to retain the audience’s interest.

Say your presentation is about climate change. Why not introduce a not-so-common fact, such as the amount of wool that can be produced out of oceanic plastic waste per month? And since you have to base your introduction on facts, research manufacturers that work with Oceanic fabrics from recycled plastic bottles .

Using facts helps to build a better narrative, and also gives leverage to your presentation as you are speaking not just from emotional elements but from actually recorded data backed up by research.

9. Fact vs. Myths

Related to our previous point, we make quite an interesting speech if we contrast a fact vs. a myth in a non-conventional way: using a myth to question a well-accepted fact, then introducing a new point of view or theory, backed on sufficient research, that proves the fact wrong. This technique, when used in niches related to academia, can significantly increase the audience’s interest, and it will highlight your presentation as innovative.

Another approach is to debunk a myth using a fact. This contrast immediately piques interest because it promises to overturn commonly held beliefs, and people naturally find it compelling when their existing knowledge is put to the test. An example of this is when a nutritionist wishes to speak about how to lose weight via diet, and debunks the myth that all carbohydrates are “bad”.

10. The Power of Music

Think about a presentation that discusses the benefits of using alternative therapies to treat anxiety, reducing the need to rely on benzodiazepines. Rather than going technical and introducing facts, the presenter can play a soothing tune and invite the audience to follow an exercise that teaches how to practice breathing meditation . Perhaps, in less than 2 minutes, the presenter can accomplish the goal of exposing the advantages of this practice with a live case study fueled by the proper ambiance (due to the music played in the beginning).

11. Physical Activity

Let’s picture ourselves in an in-company presentation about workspace wellness. For this company, the sedentary lifestyle their employees engage in is a worrying factor, so they brought a personal trainer to coach the employees on a basic flexibility routine they can practice in 5 minutes after a couple of hours of desk time.

“Before we dive in, let’s all stand up for a moment.” This simple instruction breaks the ice and creates a moment of shared experience among the attendees. You could then lead them through a brief stretching routine, saying something like, “Let’s reach up high, and stretch out those muscles that get so tight sitting at our desks all day.” With this action, you’re not just talking about workplace wellness, you’re giving them a direct, personal experience of it.

This approach has several advantages. Firstly, it infuses energy into the room and increases the oxygen flow to the brain, potentially boosting the audience’s concentration and retention. Secondly, it sets a precedent that your presentation is not going to be a standard lecture, but rather an interactive experience. This can raise the level of anticipation for what’s to come, and make the presentation a topic for future conversation between coworkers.

12. Acknowledging a Person

How many times have you heard the phrase: “Before we begin, I’d like to dedicate a few words to …” . The speaker could be referring to a mentor figure, a prominent person in the local community, or a group of people who performed charity work or obtained a prize for their hard work and dedication. Whichever is the reason behind this, acknowledgment is a powerful force to use as a method of starting a presentation. It builds a connection with the audience, it speaks about your values and who you admire, and it can transmit what the conversation is going to be about based on who the acknowledged person is.

Closing Thoughts

Now you know how to start your presentation – you have the opening lines, you have the slides to use, and you can browse even more attractive PowerPoint presentation slides and templates on our website. Also, we recommend you visit our article on how to make a PowerPoint Presentation to get familiarized with the best tactics for professional presentation design and delivery, or if you need to save time preparing your presentation, we highly recommend you check our AI Presentation Maker to pair these concepts with cutting-edge slide design powered by AI.

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Curiosity Gap, Opening, Public Speaking, Rhetorical Triangle, Speech, What If Filed under Presentation Ideas

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5 Responses to “How to Start a Presentation: 5 Strong Opening Slides and 12 Tricks To Test”

I love to follow the ideas, it’s good for a freshman

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Software Design: Tidy First?

Start presentations on the second slide, aka "in media res".

First published March 2013. It’s the single most effective technique I know to grab an audience’s attention. Also it’s easy to execute—write what you want to write, them switch the first two slides/paragraphs/chapters.

[Edit: Jinghao Yan pointed out my hypocrisy. Fixed.]

Technical presos need background but background's not engaging. What's a geeky presenter to do? I've been coaching technical presenters lately, and a couple of concepts come up with almost all of them. I figured I'd write them down so I don't necessarily have to explain them all the time. One is to use specifics and data. I'll write that later. This post explains why to start your presentation on the second slide. I stole this technique from Lawrence Block's outstanding Telling Lies for Fun and Profit, a book about writing fiction. He suggests drafting a story the "natural" way, with the first chapter introducing the hero and the second getting the action going, then swapping the two chapters. Now the first chapter starts with a gun pointed at the hero's head. By the end, he is teetering on a cliff about to jump into a crocodile-infested river. Just when the tension reaches a peak, we're introduced to the character but we have reason to want to get to know him. Technical presentations need to set some context and then present the problem to be solved. When presenters follow this order, though, the resulting presentation starts with information some listeners already know and other listeners don't have any motivation to try to understand. It's like our adventure story where we're not interested in the color of the hero's hair, at least not until he's about to become a croc-snack. For example, consider a presentation on optimizing a virtual machine based on just-in-time compilation (hi @kma). The background information introduces JITing, the basics of performance tuning (Pareto), and the architecture of current machines. Shockingly, applying this information in the usual way, by squeezing hot spots, often results in slower overall performance, while seemingly-benign changes can offer significant improvement. Applying the chapter swap technique, slide 1 would show a performance profile with a hotspot, a code change that would seem to offer improvement, and data demonstrating that not only didn't the optimization work, it made the system slower. Now we can have slides about jitting, optimization, and architecture. Listeners who already know the background are willing to sit through it to get to the solution to the mystery. Listeners who haven't covered the background are intrigued enough to concentrate. Programmers have a pavlovian engineering response. Pose them a problem and they'll start trying to solve it. Give them a chance to co-engineer along with your presentation by making sure the first bite gets their saliva flowing. Then you can explain the rest of the problem and your brilliant solution knowing that they are there along with you.

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Presentation Guru

Rethinking title slides.

The title slide is prime presentation real estate. You can either choose to invest in it or miss a great opportunity to grab you audience’s attention from the start. Here John Zimmer makes the case for rethinking the potential of the title slide and gives ideas on how to make the most impact when opening your next presentation.

The title slide

The gateway to your presentation.

The sign that tells your audience where they’re going and who’s going to take them on the journey.

Titles slides often contain such details as the date of the presentation, the name and location of the event, the logo of the speaker’s company, contact details and more. In fact, it is not unusual to see a title slide like the example below or some variation of it.

Now, there is nothing inherently wrong, per se , in having a title slide like this. It conveys important information about what is to come. But it is bland and all too common.

What’s worse, what often happens, is that this slide is projected on the screen before the speaker takes the stage. The speaker is then introduced and proceeds to say something along the lines of the following:

“Good morning / afternoon. My name is [name on the slide] . I am the [speaker’s title on the slide] at [company whose logo is on the slide] . I am very happy to be at [name of the event on the slide] . Today I am going to talk to you about [presentation title on the slide and perhaps some variation of the subtitle] .”

In other words, the speaker starts by telling the audience things that they already know because they have already read the title slide. Not a great way to begin. In fact, by beginning this way, many speakers waste one of the most important parts of their presentations, the opening.

Psychologists talk about the learning principles of primacy and recency. People tend to remember the first thing they hear and the last thing. So the openings (and closings) of your presentation are important. You don’t want to waste them.

This post is not about designing a good title slide – there’s plenty of information elsewhere about design principles ; rather, it’s about thinking differently about title slides and how to use them.

I’d like to share three ideas for you to consider with regard to title slides. These ideas might seem unconventional – and to the extent that most presenters don’t follow them, they are – but whenever I have seen them used, the results have always been positive.

Idea No. 1 – You don’t always need a title slide

There is no rule that you need a title slide for every presentation that you make. This is especially so if there is an agenda for the event that clearly states your name and the subject of your talk.

Instead, make your first slide black and have it showing before you are introduced. The audience won’t even know it’s a slide: they’ll just see a black screen.

When you are introduced, walk on stage and begin speaking while the screen is black. The audience will be 100% focused on you because there is nothing on the screen to distract them. At the appropriate point, transition to your first substantive slide and continue the talk.

When participants in my corporate trainings try this approach, the feedback from their peers is overwhelmingly positive. The audience feels more connected with the speaker and a solid foundation has been laid for the rest of the talk.

Notwithstanding the above, if you distribute copies of your slides after the presentation, I recommend that you do include a title slide so that people have the name of your presentation, your personal details, the date of the presentation, etc. There is no rule that says that the copies you distribute have to be exactly the same as what you showed on the screen.

Idea No. 2 – You can start talking and transition into the title slide

This idea is a variation on Idea No. 1.

As above, you begin your talk with a black slide. You open, for example, by telling an interesting fact or making a bold statement or telling a story . Of course, whatever you say, it should be related to your talk.

Once you have completed your opening comments and have grabbed your audience’s attention, you click into the title slide and tell them where you are going to take them.

This type of opening reminds me of the opening to a James Bond movie. If you have never seen a Bond movie, they usually open with a riveting scene involving high drama: a high speed car chase; skiing down a mountain; jumping out of a plane; or some other adrenalin-pumping activity. Once the scene is over, things calm down and we find out what the plotline of the film will be.

The good news is that you do not have to be James Bond on stage. (Though if you are, I for one will be pleased to buy a ticket.) But you can use the technique of a powerful opening and transition into the title slide to achieve a similar effect.

Idea No. 3 – Start with a substantive slide and click into the title slide

This idea is a variation on Idea No. 2. However, instead of a black slide, you begin your talk with a substantive slide on the screen and then transition to the title slide.

A few months ago, I was working with a young start-up company that has created an incredible device to help people who have been injured regain the use of their legs. Their device has been featured on CNN as part of an exposé examining the incredible technological breakthroughs that are being made in this field. I was helping them with their pitch.

They began with the usual, title slide and explained who they were and what they did. They then transitioned to their second slide, which was an amazing full screen image, and they told the amazing story behind it.

During the feedback discussion, I said, “Let’s try something. Let’s start with the image and put the title slide second.” I then reversed the two slides in the PowerPoint. “OK,” I told them, “go right into the story and then click to the title slide and tell me who you are and what you do.”

So they did, and they were almost jumping up and down with excitement over how much better it was. Now, they began with a compelling story that hooked you from the outset. After their story was completed, they clicked into the title slide and said, “ We are [Company X] and our passion is to help people like [the person in the above-mentioned story] . ”

And as I told them, I had not done much; just swapped two slides. But little changes can make a big impact.

So there you have it. Three ideas to consider when it comes to title slides; three ideas that can give the opening of your next presentation a shot in the arm.

If you liked this, you might also like:

Ideas for ending your presentation: Rethinking Final Slides

• Latest Posts

John Zimmer

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• More Lessons from Stand-up Comedy - 28th May 2019
• The Power of the Pause - 6th March 2019
• Five Resolutions to Make You a Better Speaker in 2019 - 21st December 2018

Harley G King

30th August 2017 at 9:32 pm

I love the flipping of the slides idea, John. Brilliant. I would also suggest not introducing yourself. Have someone else introduce you. Also, don’t reintroduce yourself as I have seen many speakers do.

1st September 2017 at 8:54 am

Thanks for the comment. I agree that it is always best to have someone introduce you whenever possible. And, in such cases, I tell people to write out a short introduction for them so that they say the most relevant things for that particular audience. When there is no one to introduce you, you should introduce yourself briefly. But it does not have to be the first thing you say.

Rashid N Kapadia

30th August 2017 at 9:39 pm

May I offer an alternate thought: 1st slide of deck = title slide. 2nd slide = black slide. 3rd slide = speakers opening slide/beginning of content. Last slide (closing / thank you) to contain main elements of 1st slide thereby acknowledging event and organizers.

Have the title slide displayed during the pre-talk period. (unless organizers have a auto slide deck playing. This is common) As soon as the introducer / organizer rises to introduce the speaker- switch to 2nd / black slide. The screen should be black before the introducer reaches the lectern. All attention is transferred to introducer. After speaker takes stage, grounds (connecting to yourself) and connects (receives audience attention) with audience (should take minimum 10 seconds), then switch to slide 3 and begin delivering content. Last slide to be left on for post-speech period. Unless organizer want to go to different auto play slide deck Just some thoughts. GOOD LUCK!

2nd September 2017 at 9:25 am

Thanks for the comment, Rashid. Your approach would work nicely. In such a case, if I were the speaker, I would be the one controlling the image on the screen at all times. It would ensure that I kept control over the slides and would avoid having a complicated procedure with other people. And, if there is a detailed programme that the audience members already have, you could dispense with the title slide or even go with a simple transition slide: “Next speaker: ***”.

One other point, given that you touched on it. For a final slide, I tell people never to write “Thank You!” For me it is a waste of premium space on an important slide. If you want to thank your audience, look at them and thank them sincerely. From the heart. Not from some slide that you typed out three days earlier.

Craig Hadden (@RemotePoss)

31st August 2017 at 2:12 am

I really like #3, and it sounds like your client loved it!

It ties in with a technique I call “start strong” , meaning to open with a scenario (“Imagine if…”), a startling statistic, or a story. (Grab people at the gut level, and they’ll listen for sure!)

For #1, here’s a tip for people who struggle a bit with PPT: An easy way to skip the title slide during the slideshow (yet still have it there for when you share your slides) is to choose Hide Slide from the Slide Show tab.

Thanks for thinking outside the box, John, and I hope to see more presenters following suit!

2nd September 2017 at 9:29 am

Thanks for the comment, Craig and thanks for sharing your post. You only get one shot at making a good first impression, so starting strong is fundamental. Those are good tips on your post. Thanks also for the handy reminder about hiding slides. I fully agree that if you distribute your slides, there should be a title slide with all of the relevant information (speaker, date, title, event, company logo, etc.)

Linda Kundell

7th November 2017 at 6:29 pm

Food for thought.

8th November 2017 at 10:09 am

Indeed, Linda. So often what we think of as a “rule” of public speaking is nothing more than a bad practice that has been repeated over and over again. This is not to say that title slides are inherently bad; rather, if we step back and think creatively, we see that there are different ways to use them.

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How to create or add a slide in Microsoft PowerPoint

In Microsoft PowerPoint , a presentation is made up of multiple slides. There are several ways to create or add a slide in a PowerPoint presentation. After adding slides, you can move the slides around to adjust the order or sequence, and delete slides.

For instructions on how to add, move, and delete slides in PowerPoint, click a link below and follow the steps.

• Insert new slide.
• Copy and paste existing slide.
• Insert slide from another presentation.
• Move a slide.
• Delete a slide.

Insert new slide

To insert a new, blank slide in a presentation, select your version of PowerPoint and follow the steps.

PowerPoint Online (web version)

Powerpoint desktop application.

In the slide preview pane on the left, click the slide immediately above where you want to insert a new slide. Then, right-click the highlighted slide and select New Slide in the pop-up menu. The new, blank slide is inserted into the presentation below the slide you clicked.

• In the slide preview pane on the left, click with your mouse in-between two slides where you want to insert a slide.

• In the PowerPoint Ribbon , on the Home or Insert tab, click the New Slide option.
• In the drop-down menu that opens, select the type of slide to insert from the slide layout . The new slide is inserted into the presentation where you clicked in step 1 above.

Copy and paste existing slide

To add a copy of an existing slide to a presentation, follow the steps below.

• In the slide preview pane on the left, find the existing slide you want to copy.
• Using your mouse, right-click that slide and select Copy in the pop-up menu .
• Determine where you want to add the copied slide. Right-click the slide above where you want to paste it.

Insert slide from another presentation

To add a slide from another presentation, follow the steps below.

Inserting a slide from another PowerPoint presentation is only possible in the Microsoft PowerPoint desktop application. PowerPoint Online does not support this capability.

• In the slide preview pane on the left, left-click with your mouse in-between two slides where you want to insert a slide.
• In the PowerPoint Ribbon, on the Home or Insert tab, click the New Slide option.
• In the drop-down menu that opens, click the Reuse Slides option at the bottom.

• In the Reuse Slides pane that opens on the right, click the Browse button.
• Find and select the PowerPoint presentation file with the slide you want to add to the currently open presentation, and click the Open button.
• A preview of the slides is displayed below the Browse option. Click the slide you want to insert into the currently-open presentation. A new slide is inserted, with text from the selected slide included in the new slide.
• To also apply the formatting of the selected slide to the newly-inserted slide, right-click the selected slide and select Apply Theme to Selected Slides .

Move a slide

To move a slide to another location in a PowerPoint presentation, follow the steps below.

• In the left preview pane, find the slide you want to move.
• Press and hold the left mouse button on the slide, then drag the slide up or down to where you want to move it.
• Release the left mouse button when you have dragged the slide to its new location.

Delete a slide

To delete a slide in a PowerPoint presentation, follow the steps below.

• Open the PowerPoint presentation.
• In the left preview pane, click the slide you want to delete.
• Press the Delete or Del key to delete the slide.

Related information

• How to change the background color of a slide in PowerPoint.
• How to insert a picture in Microsoft PowerPoint.
• How to add or remove slide transitions in Microsoft PowerPoint.
• How to add a video to a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation.
• How to insert a sound file into a PowerPoint presentation.
• How to start and stop a PowerPoint slide show.
• See our PowerPoint page for related links and information.
• Microsoft PowerPoint help and support.
• Computer software help and support.

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How to Give a Killer Presentation

• Chris Anderson

For more than 30 years, the TED conference series has presented enlightening talks that people enjoy watching. In this article, Anderson, TED’s curator, shares five keys to great presentations:

• Frame your story (figure out where to start and where to end).
• Plan your delivery (decide whether to memorize your speech word for word or develop bullet points and then rehearse it—over and over).
• Work on stage presence (but remember that your story matters more than how you stand or whether you’re visibly nervous).
• Plan the multimedia (whatever you do, don’t read from PowerPoint slides).
• Put it together (play to your strengths and be authentic).

According to Anderson, presentations rise or fall on the quality of the idea, the narrative, and the passion of the speaker. It’s about substance—not style. In fact, it’s fairly easy to “coach out” the problems in a talk, but there’s no way to “coach in” the basic story—the presenter has to have the raw material. So if your thinking is not there yet, he advises, decline that invitation to speak. Instead, keep working until you have an idea that’s worth sharing.

Lessons from TED

A little more than a year ago, on a trip to Nairobi, Kenya, some colleagues and I met a 12-year-old Masai boy named Richard Turere, who told us a fascinating story. His family raises livestock on the edge of a vast national park, and one of the biggest challenges is protecting the animals from lions—especially at night. Richard had noticed that placing lamps in a field didn’t deter lion attacks, but when he walked the field with a torch, the lions stayed away. From a young age, he’d been interested in electronics, teaching himself by, for example, taking apart his parents’ radio. He used that experience to devise a system of lights that would turn on and off in sequence—using solar panels, a car battery, and a motorcycle indicator box—and thereby create a sense of movement that he hoped would scare off the lions. He installed the lights, and the lions stopped attacking. Soon villages elsewhere in Kenya began installing Richard’s “lion lights.”

• CA Chris Anderson is the curator of TED.

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Present on multiple monitors (and view speaker notes privately)

You can present with two monitors: Using Presenter View is a great way to view your presentation with speaker notes on one monitor (your laptop, for example), while your audience views the notes-free presentation on a different monitor (like a larger screen you're projecting to).

Note:  Make sure the device you're using for your presentation supports the use of multiple monitors. Check with your manufacturer for up-to-date information about multiple monitor support.

To do this procedure and split the view between projectors in this way, you must be connected to the second screen.

Set up PowerPoint to use Presenter view with two monitors

On the Slide Show tab, in the Monitors group, select Use Presenter View .

Windows Display Settings should open.

In the Display Settings dialog box, on the Monitor tab, select the monitor icon that you want to use to view your speaker notes, and then select the This is my main monitor check box.

If the This is my main monitor check box is selected and unavailable, the monitor is already designated as the primary monitor.

Select the monitor icon for the second monitor—the one the audience will watch, and then select the Extend my Windows Desktop onto this monitor check box.

Notes:  If the Windows Display Settings don't open, do the following:

Windows 10: Click Start > Settings > System > Display . At the top, under Customize your display , is a diagram of the screens connected to your computer, with each screen numbered. If you are connected to a project, typically it will be represented in the diagram as screen 2. Select screen 1 in the diagram, then scroll downward. Ensure that the check box named Make this my main display is selected. Above that check box, in the Multiple displays list, select Extend these displays .

Windows 8: Right-click the Windows Start button, click Control Panel > Display > Adjust resolution . In the Multiple displays list, click Extend these displays . Select the monitor on which you want to view your speaker notes, and click Make this my main display .

You can use PowerPoint on your smartphone as a remote control to run your presentation and view your speaker notes. See Using a laser pointer on your smartphone when presenting in PowerPoint for more information, including a brief video.

Deliver your presentation on two monitors

On the Slide Show tab, in the Set Up group, click Set Up Slide Show .

In the Set Up Show dialog box, choose the options that you want, and then click OK . If you choose Automatic , PowerPoint will display speaker notes on the laptop monitor, if available. Otherwise, PowerPoint will display speaker notes on the main display identified in your Display settings ( Settings > Display ).

Extend vs. Duplicate: What happens after the slide show ends

PowerPoint does something behind the scenes to make the process of starting a slide show on a second monitor as smooth and quick as possible. When you enter Slide Show, PowerPoint automatically changes your display settings (also known as your display topology) to Extend .

What can be confusing is what happens after your slide show concludes:

In newer versions of PowerPoint , when your slide show ends,, PowerPoint reverts to your default setting, returning to Duplicate , if that's what you have chosen.

Video: Use Presenter view

View your speaker notes as you deliver your slide show

Video: Rehearse timings for a slide show

Zoom in to part of a slide in Slide Show view

Print your PowerPoint slides, handouts, and notes

Create a self-running presentation

Start the presentation and see your notes in Presenter view

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Blog > 10 creative Ideas for your Title- and End-Slides in Presentations

10 creative Ideas for your Title- and End-Slides in Presentations

11.13.19   •  #powerpointtips #presentation.

Of all the slides in a PowerPoint presentation, the ones that are without a doubt the most important ones are the first and the last one. It makes perfect sense – the title slide sets the general tone. Make it boring and you’ll loose your audience’s attention within the first few minutes. If you’re making it exciting and innovative on the other hand, you’re taking a big step towards giving an amazing presentation and having an engaged audience. It is very similar with the final slide. It will be the one that people are going to remember most, the one that is supposed to make people leave the room thinking ‘Wow! What a great presentation!’ A bad ending could even mess up what would otherwise be a good performance overall (just think of a good TV show with a bad ending…).

The most common mistakes for title and final slides

If you asked 100 people what belongs on your PowerPoint’s title slide, the majority would answer ‘The title, maybe a subtitle, the presenter’s name and company, the date’. That kind of title slide is alright, but you usually say all of these things in the beginning of a presentation anyway. Also, it is very likely that most of your attendees know these things – they usually signed up for it after all. So what’s the point in listing all of that information on your title slide, when you could also use it for making a stunning first impression? Not only the title slide is commonly designed in an uncreative and conventional way. Too often, you can see PowerPoint presentations ending with the ‘Any Questions?’ or even worse – the ‘Thank you for your attention’ slide. ‘Thank you for your attention’ is a set phrase that has been said so many times it can’t possibly be delivered in an authentic way anymore. Therefore, it’s better to think of something else for your grand final. Finding an unconventional ending that suits your presentation style makes you seem much more charismatic and authentic than using an empty phrase.

1. An inspiring quote

An inspiring quote on your slide is a perfect way to both start and finish your presentation. Well, it does not have to be inspiring. It could be any quote that is somehow connected to your presented topic. Just have fun looking through books and the internet to find interesting quotes that you want your audience to hear. Good pages to look at for inspiration are goodreads and brainyquotes.com .

2. A blank slide

This might seem strange to some people, but a blank slide can be really powerful if you want to have your audience’s full attention. You can use the advantage of blank slides by incorporating them at the beginning, in the end or even in between your regular slides. You can either use a blank slide of your regular template (so there will still be some design elements on it) or go all in and make the slide completely black (or white).

3. A call to action

If the goal of your presentation is to really make your audience act in some kind of way, there is no better way to start – or better yet end your presentation than with a call to action. This can be literally anything from little trivial things like “Drink enough water during the presentation so your brain stays intact!” – which will lighten up the mood – to more serious calls like “Help reducing waste by recycling whenever possible!”.

4. A question

Usually, it is the audience that asks questions after a presentation. However, you can also turn that around and ask your attendees instead. However, it’s important to ask a question that can be answered easily and individually – the best questions involve previous experiences and personal opinions (asking about facts or questions that are hard to understand can often lead to silence and no one wanting to answer).

5. An interactive poll

Nothing engages the audience like a live poll. Conduct one right at the beginning to get everybody envolved, and/or wait until the end to get your audience’s opinion on something. Icebreaker polls are the perfect way to start, as they lighten the mood. You can easily create polls for free with interactive software tools such as SlideLizard .

6. A funny picture, meme, or quote

I’m pretty sure that every student nowadays has that teacher that just tries a little too hard to be cool by throwing in a meme on literally every single slide. That may be a bit too much. But just a little comedy at the beginning or in the end can make you seem very charismatic and entertaining and catch the attention of your listeners. Open (or close) with a joke, a funny picture or a quote – whichever you feel comfortable with. It is usually best if it has something to do with the topic you’re presenting.

7. An interesting fact

Catch the audience’s attention by putting an interesting fact concerning the topic on one of your slides – ideally at the beginning, but maybe also in the end (to keep up the audience’s interest even after the presentation is done).

8. The title, but with a twist

If you feel like you need to put the presentations name/topic on the front slide, but still want that little creative twist, just change the title slightly. According to what I’m proposing, rather dull presentation titles like e.g. “Marine Biology – An Introduction to Organisms in the sea” can be transformed to “Marine Biology – Diving Deep” (or something less cheesy if you prefer). Make it either funny or over-the-top spectacular and catch the audience’s attention!

9. A bold statement, opinion, or piece of information

This is probably the best way to capture your audience from the beginning on. Start with a radical, crazy opinion or statement and then get your attendees hooked by telling them that during the presentation, they will learn why you’re right. It could be anything, really, as long as it goes well with your presented topic – from the statement “Everybody has the time to read 5 books a month” to “Going to college is a waste of time” or “The human species is not the most intelligent on earth” – Take whatever crazy, unpopular theory or opinion you have, throw it out there and (very important!) explain why you’re right. You’ll have your audience’s attention for sure and might even change some of their opinions about certain things.

10. No title and end slide at all

Yes, that’s a possibility as well. If you absolutely can’t think of any creative or otherwise good way to start and end your presentation – even after reading the tips mentioned above – then simply don’t. That’s right - no title and end slide at all. You can pull that of by simply introducing yourself in the beginning, then getting right into the topic (which makes a good impression, long introductions are usually rather tedious) and when you’re at your last slide just saying a simple ‘Goodbye, thank you and feel free to ask questions’.

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About the author.

Pia Lehner-Mittermaier

Pia works in Marketing as a graphic designer and writer at SlideLizard. She uses her vivid imagination and creativity to produce good content.

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The big SlideLizard presentation glossary

Visual communication.

If there are used images or videos for communication, it is visual communication. Visual Communication is almost used everywhere like on television, posts on social media (Instagram, Facebook), advertisement.

.ppt file extension

A .ppt file is a presentation which was made with PowerPoint, that includes different slides with texts, images and transition effects.

Virtual Event

Virtual events take place entirely online. They are very convenient as anyone may join from wherever they are via a smartphone or computer.

Recall Questions

With recall questions, you have to remember something or something has to be recalled. Example: A teacher asks his students a question so that they remember the material from the last lesson.

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• Google Slides Tutorials

How to Use the Presenter View in Google Slides

Google Slides, like PowerPoint, has different presentation modes that can come in handy when you’re presenting and you want your slideshow to look smooth. Whether you’re looking for slides only, speaker notes or the Q&A feature, in this new Google Slides tutorial, you’ll learn about these and their respective settings. Ready? Then let’s explore the presenter view! 

Types of presentation modes in Google Slides

Presenter view, start from beginning, present on another screen.

There are three presentation modes in Google Slides. 

If you click the “Slideshow” button or press Ctrl/Cmd + F5, your presentation will start directly without any speaker notes. This is the most widely used and the simplest option.

Next to the “Slideshow” button, there’s a drop-down arrow. Click on it to see the different presentation modes:

In this mode, you’ll be able to see the speaker notes, check the timer and adjust other settings, such as questions from the audience. For more information about the speaker notes, please refer to this  Google Slides tutorial .

To view the different tools, after clicking “Presenter View”, move your mouse to the lower left-hand corner of the screen. You’ll see the slide number, previous and next slide arrows and three dots. Click on the dots and here are your options:

Open speaker notes

This enables the speaker notes and makes them visible. If you click this button, you might exit fullscreen mode. To go back to fullscreen, press Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + F or click the “Fullscreen” button. For more information, please refer to this  Google Slides tutorial .

Turn on the laser pointer

You’ll see a red dot on the screen, which you can move around to point out any element from your presentation.

Full screen

Click this button (or press Ctrl+Shift+F) to enter or exit fullscreen mode.

Click this button to finish the presentation or just press Esc.

If you click on “Auto-play,” more options will appear: Click “Play” and the slides will advance automatically (by default, every two seconds, but there are other options available. You can also choose to play the slideshow on a loop).

Captions preferences

If you have a mic set up, you can enable captions. Click the drop-down arrow to adjust the size of the text and its position on the screen.

If you click on “more”, you can enable the Audience Q&A panel by clicking on the first option that appears. For more information, please refer to this  Google Slides tutorial .

More: Downloads, printing, info and options

Under the “More” tab, you can also choose different download formats for your slideshow or print it out. This tab also contains a handy list of keyboard shortcuts (if you prefer handling keys to using your mouse) and the possibility to report problems. 

Your presentation will begin from the first slide (Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + F5).

Your presentation will be shown on a different screen via a media display device, such as Chromecast. This option will be available only if there’s another screen available. 

Now you’ve mastered the presenter view in Google Slides, which, with a bit of practice, will be a game-changer! Not only will it make you look like a presentation pro, but it will also streamline the process of nailing those crucial talking points. So go out there and strut your stuff – with presenter view on your side, you are unstoppable!  And if you’ve found this tutorial helpful, check out more of them on   our blog !

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What is a Pecha Kucha Presentation?

Imagine this: You're in a presentation, listening minute after minute to someone reading directly from a PowerPoint . Their voice is monotonous, and without realizing it, you start disconnecting from what they are saying within a few minutes. After half an hour, you're already bored, and after an hour, you can't wait for it to end.

Sounds familiar? We've all experienced the infamous "death by PowerPoint" at some point. The good news: there is a solution. If you want your presentations to tell a story and keep the audience engaged, there is a presentation style you should know about: Pecha Kucha. Today, we will tell you everything you need to know about it.

We’ll go over the following topics:

What is Pecha Kucha Presentation?

What are the origins of pechakucha presentations, how do you do a pecha kucha presentation let’s go step-by-step.

• What do experts say? Best practices for creating pecha kucha style presentation

Ready to create your own? Check out some Pecha Kucha Presentation Examples

Pechakucha frequently asked questions, what is the difference between a powerpoint presentation and a pecha kucha, what is a pecha kucha night, what are good topics for pecha kucha presentation.

Pecha Kucha, chit-chat in Japanese, is a unique presentation style . These presentations are known for telling stories through images rather than text and are typically brief. They use the 20x20 rule, where each presentation consists of 20 slides, and each slide is displayed for only 20 seconds, automatically progressing to the next one. This results in a total presentation time of 6 minutes and 40 seconds.

This might be a novel format and one that challenges the speaker more than regular presentations, but it undoubtedly has its benefits. The main one is the huge improvement in the audience’s experience. Why?

• It keeps presentations concise and dynamic , making them feel fast, light, and engaging. 
• It minimizes distractions and maximizes engagement. 
• Since there is no text to read from,  presenters have to be more prepared and make the effort to craft a coherent story , resulting in a seamless narrative. 
• It helps speakers stay on-topic , preventing them from going off track and adding unnecessary details to their talks.

Pecha Kucha presentations help you develop valuable skills that are beneficial in many settings . One of them is definitely the corporate world, where time constraints are common and concise communication is essential. Another one is in educational settings like classrooms, where these type of presentations can improve student’s public speaking abilities. Research strongly supports these benefits:

“One of the greatest advantages of PK is that it is often very appealing, engaging, and enjoyable to the audience (...). According to A. M. Beyer (2011) , the creative use of PowerPoint software has the potential to result in high student engagement on the side of both the presenter and the audience.”

Pecha Kucha presentations were created in Tokyo in 2003 by architects Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham . They introduced it as a platform for young designers to come together, showcase their work, and exchange ideas through brief presentations. The core principle behind Pecha Kucha was to "talk less, show more,"

Since then, its popularity has gone beyond the design field, becoming a worldwide phenomenon . These presentations are now used in many different settings ranging from academic conferences to business meetings and even informal gatherings. There is a whole community dedicated to Pecha Kucha, who get together and organize “Pecha Kucha Nights.”

Are you ready to create your own Pecha Kucha presentation? Let’s take a look at how to do them in PowerPoint.

In the Home Tab, go to Slides and click New Slides until you get the 20 slides you need. You can also click Ctrl + M.

Now, you need to remove any placeholders they have. To do this, go to the View Tab, and in Presentation Views , choose Slide Sorter . Select all of your slides. 

Then, go to the Home Tab, select Layout , and choose Blank .

The next step is to set the slides to advance automatically. To achieve this, go to the Transitions Tab. In timing, go to Advance Slides , deselect On Mouse Click , and check After . Now, set the timer for 20 seconds .

Finally, you can add a Transition effect. It’s best to choose a simple one, such as Fade , and select a short Duration for it (such as 00.50).

And that’s all! Now, you can begin inserting your images and practicing your presentation.

What do experts say? Best practices for creating Pecha Kucha style presentation

Understanding what Pecha Kucha is about is pretty straightforward, but actually doing this type of presentation can be much more difficult than people think. But we are here to help! We have come up with the best tips and tricks from our presentation experts . Let’s take a look at what they say:

1.Before you begin…take a step back!

All experts agree on one thing: take time to prepare your presentation . Before you even open PowerPoint, you should be able to answer:

• What story will you be talking about? Why?
• What is your goal? To inform? Inspire? Convince?
• What is the impression you want to give?
• What feeling do you want your audience to stay with?

After you have all your answers, it’s time to plan. Take out your pen and paper and start drafting what you want to say. In this first draft, just let your ideas flow without trying to filter or organize them, and include everything you would like to share. 

The next step is to organize all of your ideas. To do so, group them by sections and then define the content slide by slide. Consider the following structure:

• Introduction: This is the first impression you’ll give your audience. Think about how you’ll engage with them, get their attention and connect emotionally.
• Middle: In this section, remember to keep the flow of the story, so make sure each slide is connected with the one that comes before and after.
• Closing: Consider what you want your audience to stay with. It could be an emotion, idea, or desire to do something. This is one of the parts your audience will remember the most.

Remember that achieving your perfect structure and content is not easy and definitely not something you get on your first try. It might take many attempts before you get the version you’ll be presenting , but don’t worry! It’s all part of the process.

2. Select the best visuals

Once you have defined your content per slide, it’s time to choose the images you’ll show. This is a really important step because it is the only thing your audience will see. Since these images will be the primary focus for your audience, consider the following tips:

• Choose high-quality images: Choose the highest-quality visuals, especially if they will be displayed in fullscreen. Clear and captivating images can significantly enhance the overall impression of your presentation.
• Align images with your message: Reflect on the content of each slide and ask yourself: "What story am I telling, and what type of image complements that narrative?" Make sure that the chosen images really align and reinforce your intended message.
• Maintain coherence: Establish visual coherence throughout your presentation. If you have established a theme, only choose images that seamlessly integrate with that theme. 
• Establish emotional connections: Consider the emotional impact your chosen pictures may have on your audience. A well-selected image can evoke emotions, making your presentation more memorable and engaging.

3. Practice, practice, practice

One might think delivering a short presentation is much easier than giving an extended talk, but evidence suggests the opposite. Actually, being clear and concise is a challenge most people underestimate . It is not easy to synthesize information and stay on topic, not to mention being able to tell a story and connect in under 7 minutes!

This is why practice is so important, especially in this type of presentations, so make sure you follow these practice tips:

• Practice to adjust your presentation: The first few times you run through your whole presentation, time yourself and see if you need to make any adjustments to your content to get the exact 20 seconds per slide. You may need to leave some details out or adjust your information so the content in all your slides is balanced.
• Practice to perfect your presentation: Once your content is adjusted and ready, shift your focus to memorizing the presentation. Pay attention to the flow of your presentation, ensuring a seamless connection between points. Additionally, practice your oratory skills—intonation, vocal tone, strategic pauses, breath control, body language, and eye contact. Every detail matters.

Bonus tip: You can record yourself or practice in front of a mirror. This might be uncomfortable, but it will do wonders for your presentation skills.

Are you preparing a Pecha Kucha presentation? Then don't miss these examples!

Pecha Kucha Presentation Example #1: Let’s Promote Wellness in Patients  

In this example, Mark Holder talks about using positive psychology to promote health care. What makes this presentation stand out is its ability to capture the viewer's attention, maintain interest , and communicate effectively. Images are used as visual support, and the presentation flows interestingly and engagingly.

Pecha Kucha Presentation Example #2: Our Words Can Create Sustained Change

In this example, Manisha Willms reflects on what it means to be healthy. She does this by showing us drawings of 4-year-olds about what the word "healthy" means to them. 

As for the presentation, her use of images is different, as her slides are only focused on the children's drawings , which complement her talk instead of guiding it. Nevertheless, they achieve the purpose of connecting with the audience by generating emotions such as tenderness and laughter; and totally complement the message she gives.

Pecha Kucha Presentation Example #3: Let's Put More Joy into Our Lives and Work

This example is a more personal one. In this talk, Eyoälha Baker talks about her life experiences and challenging moments, and how these helped her connect with the importance of sharing joy through her work.

This presentation shows us a great example of connecting with an audience through vulnerability and transparency. Eyoälha is not afraid of being open, showing emotion, and telling personal stories, and the audience warmly receives and embraces them.

The main difference between traditional PowerPoint presentations and Pecha Kucha presentations is their style and format. While PowerPoint presentations allow for flexibility in terms of duration and how content is presented,  Pecha Kucha presentations adhere to a specific format.

Pecha Kucha presentations exclusively utilize images without any accompanying text. They follow the 20x20 rule, where each presentation consists of 20 slides , each shown for only 20 seconds before automatically progressing to the next one. This structured approach results in a total presentation time of 6 minutes and 40 seconds.

Inspired by the success of Pecha Kucha among designers, thousands of cities worldwide began hosting their own Pecha Kucha Nights. These events consist of people getting together to present their own Pecha Kucha . The topics of the presentations can vary widely, from holiday photos to political messages, as long as presenters adhere to the 20x20 format.

If you'd like to know more about Pecha Kucha Nights or see more examples, check out this page about Pecha Kucha Nights in Dundee to get an idea about the community and atmosphere of such events.

Good topics for a Pecha Kucha presentation are those that fit well with the short format and can be represented by exclusively using images . Some of the most common topics are:

• Personal projects or initiatives
• Travel adventures
• Reflections or ideas
• Personal stories

These subjects work effectively within the 20x20 format, allowing presenters to communicate meaningful insights without overwhelming the audience .

On the other hand, Pecha Kucha may not be the best choice for some presentations, such as presentations with a lot of data , details or ones with controversial topics. Because of the time limit, presentations that require a lot of detail, explanation or discussion with the audience are not the best idea for this format.

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• How to Deliver the Perfect Online Presentation
• 7 Essential Storytelling Techniques for Your Business Presentation
• 7 Presentation Styles to Make Your Presentation Shine
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We really hope you enjoyed: “7 Slides you should have in your PowerPoint Presentation”. This list is by no means exhaustive but if more presenters added just some of these techniques to their presentations the world would be a lot less cluttered with death-by-PowerPoint and we’d have more alive audiences. Now that’s an idea worth spreading!

Along the way we have discovered and developed strategies to give our client’s presentations the WOW FACTOR . This page has been made so we can share some of what we have learnt with you, to help you with your presentations. This is by no means an exhaustive tips list but it is a good start to get you on your way with designing.

We are sure you will be impressed so to hire us please contact us as we are always happy to help your company with our amazing presentation design skills!

1. Logo Animation

Your logo or brand is a critical part of your communication. So why put it in the corner of your slides? Your logo or brand should be displayed front and centre at the start of your presentation and well animated to convey the essence of your brand. Your logo style and colors should then be reflected in the presentation template you are using.

Take a look at these examples:

2. Problem & Solution

From the outset you want to engage the audience by asking them a question. The question should stimulate the audience into thinking – yes why is that so – why does that happen – how can we solve that? Once the issue is defined – offer your solution.

Here’s a great example of this:

This client posed several of these types of questions at the start of the presentation and then revealed the answer – thus defining the need for their service!

3. Timeline

How long have you been doing what you’re doing? What services do you offer & over what period have you been doing this? Audiences love to see a visual representation of the time you’ve invested in your solution. Timeline slides can be animated or interactive – touch a year on the timeline ribbon to go to that year.

Here’s a few examples:

4. Interaction

Presentations are getting shorter. Have you heard of the 10, 20 ,30 rule of presenting? Average pitch decks are now just 10-15 slides so how can you get more interaction with your audience in the same time? Interactivity that’s how! Your presentation should have a buttons which link to different sections of your presentations.

Below is an example of one presentation which has over 1800 slides! The client never presents them all just uses interaction as a way of presenting. And with the increase usage of touchscreen laptops this will make for a very interactive sales meeting.

5. Multi-Lingual

If you are communicating to a multilingual audience then please consider getting some of your text translated into the relevant language. There’s nothing that an audience loves more than if you’ve considered them in your pitch. The onscreen text should be in both languages so that you can refer to the subject while they read the highlights.

Here’s some creative Arabic examples which work well:

6. Infographics

Still using bullet points? Come on – be bulletproof! There’s enough bullets in the world and nothing says amateur than reading a screen full of bullets. We recommend replacing the bullets with infographics and if possible animating the.

Here’s some recent examples:

7. Amazing Factoids

Take something normal about your offering and make it amazing with an onscreen amazing factoid animation.

Checkout these examples:

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Different Types of Slides for Your Presentations

Table of Contents

Presentations are a great way to share information and ideas. Whether you’re selling a product, teaching a class, or showing off your work, the slides you use can make a big difference.

There are many different kinds of slides you can add to your presentations, each with its own purpose and advantages. By knowing the different types of slides and how to use them well, you can create interesting and informative presentations that will stick with your audience.

Different Types of Slides

There are many different types of slides that you can use in your presentations. Some of the most common types include:

Opening Slides

1. title slide.

The title slide is your chance to make a strong first impression and set the tone for your presentation. It should clearly convey the topic, your identity, and relevant details. A good title is both practical and creative.

The main title is the focal point and should be concise yet descriptive. Use a large font size that’s easy to read from a distance. If needed, add a subtitle for more context. Clearly state your name, job title, and affiliation. Include the date and venue for reference.

Design your slide to reflect your brand or personal style using logos, colors, and fonts. Keep it clean and uncluttered for a professional look. Remember, less is more. Use high contrast for readability and avoid distracting background images. Consider adding subtle effects like fade-in or morph for visual interest.

2. Agenda Slide

Agenda slides serve as a valuable tool for guiding your audience through the structure of your presentation. By outlining the main topics and their expected duration, you can help them anticipate the flow of information and manage their expectations.

This is especially beneficial for lengthy presentations or academic talks where a clear roadmap can enhance understanding and engagement.

When creating an agenda slide, consider including the following elements:

• Clear Topic List: Present a concise and well-organized list of the main topics to be covered.
• Optional Timings: Indicate the estimated duration of each section to provide a sense of pacing.
• Visual Progress Indicator: Use checkmarks, arrows, or other visual cues to highlight the current topic and show what’s ahead.
• Distinctive Headings: Use clear and concise headings to visually separate different sections.
• Hyperlink Integration: If using PowerPoint, consider adding hyperlinks to specific slides to ensure smooth navigation and avoid abrupt jumps.

Learn more on How to Create Agenda Slides in Powerpoint .

Transitional Slides

Transitional slides act like bridges that connect different parts of your presentation. They help your audience smoothly move from one topic to the next. These slides are important because they:

• Clearly Signal a Change: Let your audience know that you’re moving on to something new.
• Keep the Audience Engaged: Prevent sudden jumps between topics, helping them stay focused.
• Make Your Presentation More Visually Interesting: Add variety and visual appeal.

Here are some examples of transitional slides:

3. Quote Slide

Quote slides incorporate wisdom, authority, or inspiration from renowned sources into your presentations. They can provide strong support for your arguments or motivate your audience.

These slides are perfect for emphasizing a point, sparking thought, or introducing a new direction in your presentation. Use them to highlight the importance of an idea.

Here are the elements of a quote slide:

• The Quote: Clearly presented and attributed to the speaker or writer. The text should be easy to read and emphasized to stand out.
• Author’s Name and Credentials: Provide context by including the author’s name and, if relevant, their qualifications or why they are an expert on the topic.
• Related Imagery or Background: An image or design that matches the theme of the quote can make it more impactful.

Consider using a quote presentation template with a professional layout. You can find something directly on SlidesAI . For readability, ensure there is a good contrast between the text and the background. Text boxes with backgrounds are often used. If you use an image, choose one that enhances the text, not competes with it.

4. Image Slides

Image slides can significantly make your presentations better by gaining attention with their visual appeal and transitions. For a smooth flow, use a full-screen image with a fade effect. To create a more dynamic experience, experiment with the Morph transition between slides featuring overlapping images.

You can also build anticipation with a thematic image series that subtly connects your topics. Remember to keep these transitions concise and impactful to maintain your audience’s attention.

Closing Slides

5. q&a slide.

Q&A slides are often used in presentations for various reasons. For instance, some presenters like to ask questions to the audience after their presentation and answer any questions they may have.

Other presentations might encourage the audience or panel members to ask questions throughout the presentation. If you’re planning to incorporate Q&A into your presentation, consider using some well-designed templates to make a positive impression.

6. CTA Slides

A call-to-action slide, or CTA slide for short, serves to encourage viewers to take a specific step after your presentation. This could range from initiating a conversation to purchasing a product or service, or even engaging in a project.

Typically placed at the end, following the concluding remarks and thank you slide, the CTA aims to spark immediate action. Here’s what makes a strong CTA slide:

•  A Clear Direction: The heart of the CTA itself should be direct and persuasive. Think of something like “Register Now,” “Join Our Team,” or “Visit Us Online.”
• Reasons to Act: Briefly remind viewers of the benefits they reap by taking action. This strengthens the appeal and motivates them to follow through.
• Contact Information or Links: Make it easy for them to act! Include all necessary links or contact details so viewers know exactly where to go next.
• Visually Appealing Design: Grab their attention! Use a design that pops and features large, easy-to-read text. Opt for strong, action-oriented language to drive the message home.

7. Summary Slide

A summary slide is a great way to give your viewers an overview of the presentation once it ends. By recapping everything that was presented, summary slides make it easier to remember the most important takeaways.

A summary slide should include:

• Important Points: Clearly summarize the main points covered in your presentation.
• Visual Recap: Use simple visuals like graphics, charts, or callouts to visually represent significant data or conclusions.
• Concluding Remark: End with a sentence or two that encapsulates the overall message or conclusion of your presentation
• Maintain consistency in styling throughout your presentation for a cohesive look.
• Use color or size variations to emphasize the hierarchy of concepts summarized.

Closing Thoughts

Understanding the different types of slides and how to use them can significantly enhance your presentations. Feel free to mix and match slides based on your needs and presentation style. By choosing the right slides, you can create a more engaging presentation that leaves a lasting impression on your audience.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which are the important slides for any presentation.

The core slides include:

• Title Slide: Captures attention with your presentation title, your name, and affiliation (if applicable).
• Agenda Slide: Briefly outline the key points you’ll cover, setting expectations for your audience.
• Closing Slide: Summarize your main takeaways and leave a lasting impression.

I have a ton of data. Should I use a text-heavy slide or a chart?

Charts win every time! Bullet points and dense text overload audiences. Visualize your data with clear charts (bar graphs, pie charts) to make it easily digestible.

Can I use images and videos in my slides?

Absolutely! High-quality visuals like pictures, infographics, and short videos can boost engagement and illustrate complex concepts. Just ensure they’re relevant and add value.

How can I make my slides more visually appealing?

Maintain a consistent color scheme, use high-resolution images, and avoid clutter. Explore presentation software features like animations and transitions, but use them sparingly to avoid distraction.

How can I find high-quality visual templates for my slides? 

There are many resources available! Many presentation software programs like SlidesAI offer built-in image libraries. You can also find free stock photo websites or purchase royalty-free images from online marketplaces. Remember to check licensing requirements before using any visuals.

Are there any slide types I should avoid?

Slides overloaded with text are a major turn-off for audiences. Aim for visuals and concise points. Similarly, avoid excessive animations and transitions, which can be distracting.

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PowerPoint Slide or Lecture Note References

This page contains reference examples for PowerPoint slides or lecture notes, including the following:

• PowerPoint slides available online
• PowerPoint slides from a classroom website

Use these formats to cite information obtained directly from slides.

If the slides contain citations to information published elsewhere, and you want to cite that information as well, then it is best to find, read, and cite the original source yourself rather than citing the slides as a secondary source.

Writers creating PowerPoint presentations in APA Style should present information clearly and concisely. Many APA Style guidelines can be applied to presentations (e.g., the guidance for crediting sources, using bias-free language, and writing clearly and concisely).

However, decisions about font size, amount of text on a slide, color scheme, use of animations, and so on are up to writers; these details are not specified as part of APA Style.

1. PowerPoint slides available online

Jones, J. (2016, March 23). Guided reading: Making the most of it [PowerPoint slides]. SlideShare. https://www.slideshare.net/hellojenjones/guided-reading-making-the-most-of-it

• Parenthetical citation : (Jones, 2016)
• Narrative citation : Jones (2016)
• When the slides are available online to anyone, provide the site name on which they are hosted in the source element of the reference, followed by the URL of the slides.

2. PowerPoint slides from a classroom website

Mack, R., & Spake, G. (2018). Citing open source images and formatting references for presentations [PowerPoint slides]. Canvas@FNU. https://fnu.onelogin.com/login

• Parenthetical citation : (Mack & Spake, 2018)
• Narrative citation : Mack and Spake (2018)
• If the slides come from a classroom website, learning management system (e.g., Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle, Sakai), or company intranet and you are writing for an audience with access to that resource, provide the name of the site and its URL (use the login page URL for sites requiring login).
• If the audience for which are you writing does not have access to the slides, cite them as a personal communication .

PowerPoint slide references are covered in the seventh edition APA Style manuals in the Publication Manual Section 10.14 and the Concise Guide Section 10.12

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Speaker 1: Hello, smart students, welcome to this week's short. This is a good one because I want to tackle a question I get all the time, every single day. Well, okay, maybe not every day, but I get it a few times a month, so I know it's important. And that question is, how in the world am I supposed to include citations and a reference list in a PowerPoint? First things first, the reason this question comes up so often is because, well, there are no official guidelines for an APA PowerPoint. So the way I like to describe APA PowerPoints is that it's APA formatting was some flex room for creativity. Now with that in mind, what's important is that if your professor gives you any specific guidelines that you follow those guidelines first and foremost, I'm just here to give you some guidance since I know guidance is a little hard to come by these days. So consider that as almost a disclaimer for this entire video, because I'm going to show you the best practices. But again, if your professor says anything that deviates from what I say, make sure to follow their instructions first. Now let's go ahead and talk about the actual citations on a PowerPoint slide. So you know when you're writing an academic paper and you need to include in-text citations in your writing so the reader knows that the paraphrase material or the directly quoted came from another author. It's the same thing in a PowerPoint slide, except with a PowerPoint slide, there are two places you're going to include that in-text citation one on the PowerPoint slide itself and two in the presenter notes. Now when it comes to the reference list, it's actually very similar to how you would include it in an academic paper in that it's going to be at the end of the paper as the last page and it's going to follow a double spaced hanging in-depth formatting. However, let's go ahead and jump into my computer and I'm going to walk you through examples of all of these so you're crystal clear. Okay, let's go. Well that didn't work. Okay, let's go. One more time. All righty. Let's go. All right. Hello, welcome to our PowerPoint. So there are no in-text citations on the slides yet because I want to cover the presenter notes first. So let's go ahead and expand this so we can see what we're working with. And basically what you need to remember about in-text citations in your presenter notes is that you're going to include them the exact same way you would your academic writing papers. So as you can see, we have one, two, and I believe there's a third one, three. Here we go. Three different in-text citations included in our presenter notes. What this means is that this material that we have on our PowerPoint slide right here is paraphrased from three different sources. So now let's go over the two different ways you can include the in-text citations on your actual PowerPoint. And boom. So here's method number one. If you'll notice, I've included the in-text citation that's associated with each bullet point directly after the bullet point. So as you can see, these first three bullet points are cited or paraphrased, pardon me, from this first source, while this fourth one is from the second source and these last two are from the third source. Something I'd like to point out is please note how there's no punctuation after any of these citations. This is because I'm not using a full sentence on the PowerPoint slide, therefore I'm not going to include a period after the second parenthesis. Now let me show you the second way you can include these in-text citations on this same slide. And that is like this. So if you'll notice, instead of including an in-text citation after each bullet point, I've used the principles of citing more than one study at a time and I've included all three on this last bullet point, signifying that the material on this page comes from these three sources. Now this is up to you which one you use, but do keep in mind some professors prefer one over the other. Now you might be wondering what if all these bullet points were from the same source? Which one of these methods is most appropriate? Well let me show you. Okay, so here we are with this slide and these four points all come from the same source. So you can use method one and add the in-text citation after each bullet point, but honestly that looks a little redundant. So what you can also do is only include one in-text citation after the last bullet point like you see it is here. Personally, for this situation, I think method number two is better, but I want to show you all the different scenarios because it really is up to you to pick and choose. Now what do you do if you have a direct quote on your PowerPoint slide? Hang on. And here we are. So if you'll notice, this slide has both a direct quote and three bullet points. For this situation, I've chosen to include the one in-text citation after the third bullet point since they all come from the same source. Now for the direct quote, if you'll notice, this looks exactly like how you would include the direct quote in a paper, minus there's no text before or after it. You don't necessarily need that on a PowerPoint since you want your PowerPoint slides to have concise material. I do want to point out that there is a period after the second parenthesis. The reason being is because this quotation is a full sentence, therefore it's appropriate to put the punctuation after the citation. Okay, so now let's talk about formatting the reference slide. What you want to do is go to the last slide in your PowerPoint. From here, you want to come up here to the home tab and insert a new blank slide. By default, this slide is going to have a header text box and a body text box. I recommend deleting the header text box and expanding the body text box, oops, pardon me, just like this, so that way you have one big blank text box to work with. Now the first thing you're going to do is center your text. We're going to remove that bullet point and type out the word references in bold font, just like you would as if this were a traditional reference slide. From here, go ahead and hit enter one time, align your text flush left. You want to make sure to remove the bold, and then what I suggest doing next is going to your reference list for this PowerPoint, and let's go ahead and copy and paste these into that slide. I'm going to come over here and hit paste. If you'll notice, it went ahead and added back in those bullet points. Now what we're going to do is reformat this to remove the bullet points, set the line spacing and the hanging indent. As you can see, I highlighted only the reference list entries. What I'm going to do is click this button up here to remove the bullet points. Great. Now let's set the hanging indent. My favorite way to do this is you see this icon on the ruler? You want to grab this second caret because this is the second line indent, and you're simply going to bring it in one half inch. If you'll notice, we have the hanging indent and that looks great, but I do have a rogue bullet point here, so I'm actually going to delete that, delete any additional spaces, and then let's go ahead and re-highlight. When it comes to your line spacing of the reference slide, you have some flexibility. It doesn't have to be double spaced at a certain font size and type. It just needs to look nice. So I'd actually argue that this almost looks nice as it is, but let's just see what a 1.5 line indent looks like, or not a line indent, line spacing looks like. Well, as you can see, that significantly minimized our text, so I might go ahead and leave it at single spaced just like that. Now the last thing I want to touch on is the scenario of what if you have a lot more reference list entries than this? In other words, let's say you have twice as many. Obviously, they're all not going to look great fitted on one reference slide. So basically, I just want to point out that it's okay if your reference list entries span more than one reference slide. What I recommend doing if that's the case is actually double clicking on this reference slide and go ahead and duplicate the slide. So as you can see, I now have a duplicate where I can erase these reference list entries, I can go back to my document, copy the new ones, and paste them in here like this. Now I would like to point out that it does not keep the formatting for the hanging indent, so you'll have to reset that. But it's nice to at least have references centered and bolded in the middle, and you don't have to go through the process of deleting and expanding these text boxes. All right, smart students, that's it for today's video. By the way, if you need help actually creating the PowerPoint, meaning you want the full tutorial, be sure to check out this video up here. It's a very in-depth video on how to create an APA formatted PowerPoint slide. But for the rest of you, if you're good on this knowledge, then you're good to get going. Thank you so much for watching this video. As always, be sure to give it a big thumbs up, share it with your friends, and of course, subscribe for more videos like this every week. I appreciate it. Thanks, guys.

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How To Add Superscript And Subscript In Google Slides: Detailed Instructions

Creating a professional and engaging presentation is crucial for effectively communicating your ideas. One way to enhance the readability and professionalism of your slides is by using superscript and subscript text. Whether you are preparing a scientific presentation, a mathematical equation, or simply need to adjust the appearance of your text, knowing how to add superscripts and subscripts in Google Slides can be incredibly useful. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the detailed steps to do this and suggest some additional tips to make your presentations stand out.

Understanding Superscript and Subscript

Before diving into the instructions, let’s briefly explain what superscripts and subscripts are:

• Superscript: Text that appears slightly above the regular line of text (e.g., x², where ² is the superscript).
• Subscript: Text that appears slightly below the regular line of text (e.g., H₂O, where ₂ is the subscript).

Why Use Superscript and Subscript?

Using superscripts and subscripts can enhance the clarity and visual appeal of your slides. These features are often used in:

• Scientific Formulas: Representing chemical compounds and mathematical equations.
• Footnotes and Citations: Adding references and detailed notes.
• Ordinal Numbers: Displaying dates and rankings (e.g., 1st, 2nd, 3rd).

Step-by-Step Guide to Add Superscript in Google Slides

Using the format menu.

• Open Your Presentation: Start by opening your Google Slides presentation.
• Select Text: Highlight the text you want to format as superscript.
• Format Menu: Go to the top menu and click on “Format.”
• Text: In the dropdown menu, select “Text.”
• Superscript: Click on “Superscript.” Your selected text will now appear as superscript.

Using Keyboard Shortcuts

• Windows: Press ‘Ctrl’ + ‘.’ (Control and the period key).
• Mac: Press ‘Cmd’ + ‘.’ (Command and the period key).

Step-by-Step Guide to Add Subscript in Google Slides

• Select Text: Highlight the text you want to format as subscript.
• Subscript: Click on “Subscript.” Your selected text will now appear as a subscript.
• Windows: Press ‘Ctrl’ + ‘,’ (Control and the comma key).
• Mac: Press ‘Cmd’ + ‘,’ (Command and the comma key).

Tips for Using Superscript and Subscript in Google Slides

• Consistency is Key: Ensure that your use of superscripts and subscripts is consistent throughout your presentation.
• Readability: Avoid overusing these features as they can make your slides harder to read.
• Test Your Presentation: Always preview your slides to ensure that the text is displayed correctly on different devices.

Learn More Presentation Hacks to Enhance Your Presentations

Using attractive themes can significantly improve the visual appeal of your presentation. There are many free Google Slides themes available online that you can easily download and use. These themes come with pre-designed slides that you can customize to fit your content, saving you time and effort.

For more tips and tricks on creating stunning presentations , check out our tips & tricks section. This section is packed with valuable insights to help you become a Google Slides pro.

Adding superscripts and subscripts in Google Slides is a simple yet powerful way to enhance your presentations. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily format your text to improve readability and professionalism. Don’t forget to explore the vast collection of free Google Slides themes available online to make your presentations even more engaging. Happy presenting!

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Arockia Mary Amutha

Arockia Mary Amutha is a seasoned senior content writer at SlideEgg, bringing over four years of dedicated experience to the field. Her expertise in presentation tools like PowerPoint, Google Slides, and Canva shines through in her clear, concise, and professional writing style. With a passion for crafting engaging and insightful content, she specializes in creating detailed how-to guides, tutorials, and tips on presentation design that resonate with and empower readers.

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