Preparing visual aids for an oral presentation

The first question that many students ask is how many slides to show. Some experts recommend one slide per minute, but this is probably a little slow. Speakers should certainly allow at least one minute for some slides – especially the graphs of data, which need to be talked about at length – but other slides might go much faster. You might plan on about 15 slides for a 7-minute talk.

The first question that many students ask is how many slides to show. Some experts recommend one slide per minute, but this is probably a little slow. Speakers should certainly allow at least one minute for some slides – especially the graphs of data, which need to be talked about at length – but other slides might go much faster. You might plan on about 15 slides for a 7-minute talk.

Text slides can be used effectively in a variety of ways. For example, you might start your talk with a title slide, which includes your name, your affiliation (e.g., your graduate program) and of course the title of your talk. Text slides can also provide visual support as you present your introductory material. For example, one slide might show " bullet points " of your central research objectives. Another might list your specific hypotheses. Text slides can be a good way to outline your research protocol, specific methods of data collection that your audience needs to know and etc... However, the key to doing text slides right is to remember "less is more" and "bigger is better." If your slides aren't visible and legible, then you might as well leave them at home.

(1) Use very few words. We recommend no more than six lines of type per slide, with at most seven words per line. Try translating statements into bullet statements or an outline. Keep the wording tight; use simple language, minimal jargon terminology, and short, uncomplicated sentences. Remember that you will also be speaking to your audience. These slides are visual support of what you are saying, not a substitute for your oral presentation.

(2) Choose the right font. Use a typeface that is easy to read, such as Times New Roman, Arial or Courier. Studies show that text written in all large letters is hard to follow; it is better to use bold print. Use the same typeface throughout your presentation. We recommend using 1.5 spacing so that the lines are easier to follow. Then use a font that is about as large as the slide will accommodate, for example title lines size 44, major text 32, and minor text 24.

(3) Choose the right color(s). We recommend using contrasting colors, light type on a dark background or vice versa, like white on cobalt blue, or dark green on a pale yellow. Avoid red type - it looks good on your computer but is virtually impossible to read off of the slide screen. And at all costs avoid bright yellow as a background, it is blinding for everyone.

(4) Graphic images can be helpful in your Introduction in the form of flow charts. If you are trying to summarize how several variables interact, then a good flow chart might be just the thing. The same might be true for your Methods section. Schematic diagrams might help to show a piece of equipment or the physiognomy of a forest. Tables are really tricky. So many talks include a table full of tiny words and numbers that are impossible to read. This situation is hardly helped by the speaker's noting, "I know this is hard to read..." or "I don't expect you to read all of this..." Then why show it? If you must provide a table, keep it to no more than four columns and three lines - that is about as much as your audience is likely to digest. Graphics are most important in the Results section. Effective graphs will clarify your findings at a glance. Poor graphs will leave your audience irretrievably confused. Our recommendation is that you limit the amount of information that you put into each graph. You might be tempted to compile all of your data into one megahistogram, but please take pity on your audience. Try to keep it simple. Let each graph make one specific point, and plan to put just one graph on each slide.

Task 3