Document Design

PowerPoint presentations have been very useful over the decade. It can be used everywhere, for instance, government agencies, universities or in schools (Marquez, 2010). The purpose of a PowerPoint presentation is to propose ideas and gain approvals from significant audiences.

Before presenting a PowerPoint presentation, presenter must first know very well about his material (Russell, 2010). While preparing the PowerPoint slides, there are a few tips in order to make a good PowerPoint presentation. Presenters should take note that the PowerPoint slides should be easy to read, along with clear title on each slide, and background should not be cluttered. Inserting graphics and charts can help presenter to explain better and get audiences’ attention (Marquez, 2010). According to Putnis (1996), good document design helps reader to read efficiently, emphasis on important content, and encourage reader to feel good about a communication. While presenting, presenter should stay focus in all time, speak clearly and allow audiences to ask questions (Marquez, 2010).

In my opinion, the most common mistakes presenters make in their presentations are the lacking of confidence, forgetting bits and pieces of important information, dull and boring looking slides. Presenters can always hold cue cards while presenting in order to avoid forgetting to present certain important information.

Despite the importance of a PowerPoint slide layout, good writing is also essential in presenting. According to Rothman (2005), good scientific and technical writing often involves relaying specific information directly and literally. Document should be written for a direct and specified purpose and should be remain unchanged. Message conveyed should not vary regardless who the audiences are.

Last but not least, many presenters often forget that they are the presentation that the audience came to see, not their PowerPoint presentation (Russell, 2010). Hence, a good presentation does not only need a good PowerPoint, most importantly, a good presenter.

References

Marquez, Z. (2010). How to Make a Good PowerPoint Presentation. Available: http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Make-a-Good-PowerPoint-Presentation&id=4313178. Last accessed 3rd September 2010.

Putnis, Peter & Petelin, Roslyn 1996, ‘Writing to communicate,’ in Professional communication.

Rothman, S. (2005). What Makes Good Scientific and Technical Writing?. Available: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/9447/error. Last accessed 3rd September 2010.

Russell, W. (2010). 10 Tips for Creating Successful Business Presentations. Available: http://presentationsoft.about.com/od/powerpointinbusiness/tp/bus_pres_tips.htm. Last accessed 3rd September 2010.

Russell, W. (2010). What is a PowerPoint Presentation?. Available: http://presentationsoft.about.com/od/pq/g/powerpoint-presentation.htm. Last accessed 3rd September 2010.