Designing Your Presentation: Recommend You Focus On The Mess

Designing Your Presentationi Recommend You Focus On The Message First

Designing Your Presentation: I recommend you focus on the message first, then the content. Let me explain why. Your reports run approximately 50 – 100 pages in length. There is absolutely no way that you are going to cram all that detail into a presentation within the timeframes mentioned above. DON’T EVEN TRY!

What do you want the audience to know about your topic and why was it so important that you gave up four months of your life to work on it (this includes OEL690 and OEL695)? Ask yourself, how can I connect with the audience (the thousands in attendance and the millions in the television audience; well this may be a slight exaggeration; let’s go with one in the audience and no one watching on television) and what is the information I need to make this connection happen. Don’t look at this as a report presentation, rather, you are telling a story or narrative. A story or narrative promotes flow, flow promotes passion, and passion generates audience interest. In my Week 6 Instructor lecture, I gave you an outline you can follow to promote a story or narrative yet still customize the presentation specifically to your study.

I can state unequivocally that this will work as this is how we presented our dissertations at our dissertation defense when I was pursuing my doctoral degree. The information contained in the dissertation was substantially longer; more detailed, and contained vastly more technical information than what was included in your papers. It allowed us to present our studies in the “English language” versus “techno-speak”. It allowed us to flush out the most important information and leave the rest to the side; only to be raised if the audience asked questions. You do not need or want slides filled with hundreds of numbers.

There may be a few that are critical to your study, if at all. Here were the main components listed in my Week 6 announcement: Interest in this research topic occurred because/when/after . . . The project objective research question(s) was (were) . . . The research method(s) was (were) . . . The sample or participants consisted of . . . The instrument(s) was (were) . . . The data collection process(s) was (were) . . . The response rate (if applicable) was . . . The data analysis process was . . . The major findings were . . . Based on these findings, these conclusions were reached . . . Recommendations are . . . In closing . . . (Provide a brief summative statement about the project).

Just as an additional thought when creating and delivering presentations, I find that if you follow Covey’s advice, “Begin with the End in Mind”, it may make the process of creating the presentations easier. Creating the PowerPoint: You have already seen the lectures in the Course Content Folder and the videos so I will not repeat those mechanics to you again.

Do pay particular attention to my Instructor Lecture and PowerPoint about creating presentations as it clearly defines the formatting guidelines you must employ. The key here is to make sure that the content you include in each slide effectively communicates your message in a clear, direct, and straightforward manner and to do it in such a way that the key concepts are remembered by the audience. Each slide should focus on one key theme at most. You have a lot of flexibility in accomplishing this goal from the use of bullet points, to a picture that elicits multiple senses or emotions in an individual. Less is more in many instances.

You do not need fancy designs or utilize the most advanced features in PowerPoint. Keep the slide design simple and clean. Be consistent in your formatting of each slide. All slide formatting should be the consistent (think cookie-cutter format) throughout the entire presentation. Other considerations: Your Agenda slide should only have 4-5 bullets at most.

You are trying to “hook the audience” not give your entire presentation. You can combine items in these bullets. The video links from Week 6 indicated using pictures, images, etc. While this is very good advice, it may not be appropriate for your study given the topic and time constraints you are working under. Don’t insert pictures just for the sake of decorating your slides.

Any pictures used must provide a value-add to the slide’s message. You may decide to incorporate graphs or tables in your presentation. Don’t just copy a table from your report as it may contain too much information for one slide. Create a table appropriate for the key information you want to emphasize. Again, you do not need speaker notes and you do not need to incorporate voice-overs in your PowerPoint.

You must include all References from your Capstone Report in your PowerPoint. This will obviously take multiple slides. The critical formatting difference on these slides is that you will use a size 12 font for all your references instead of the minimum size 20 font stated earlier. The title on these slides should be the standard font size 36-40. You can also include as many references on a slide as is reasonable, staying within the borders of the slide design you use.

Common presentation design issues: Slide designs where the title is placed halfway down the slide, resulting in a large title and minimal content. Focus on a simple slide design. There are no “interior designer” evaluation components in the PowerPoint rubric. Be consistent in your formatting across all slides, including bullets, fonts, and font sizes. The slide title font size should be 36–40; the minimum font size for all content, including tables and figures, is 20. Ensure the words are legible against the background with appropriate contrast. Keep slides to 4–5 bullets, short and to the point, avoiding paragraph-like narratives. Do not write “(continued)” in slide titles repeatedly.

Delivering the presentation: Be authentic, confident, and prepared. Respect the audience’s time by being concise and sticking to the allotted time. Practice delivering aloud; your PowerPoint is your key reference. Do not read from a script or speech; conversational delivery is preferred. The presentation is designed as a relaxed discussion rather than a high-stakes event.

You will have the opportunity for questions and feedback. Use your PowerPoint to guide your discussion; backup materials are available if needed. No special technology is required for remote delivery; ensure your final PowerPoint is uploaded or emailed beforehand.

Paper For Above instruction

Effective presentation design begins with a clear understanding that the primary goal is to communicate your message effectively to your audience. Rather than overwhelming viewers with extensive technical details or numerous slides filled with data, the focus should be on crafting a compelling narrative that resonates emotionally and intellectually. In this context, storytelling techniques are invaluable, helping presenters to connect with their audience and maintain engagement throughout the presentation.

To develop an impactful presentation, start by identifying the core message you want your audience to remember. This involves asking yourself why your research or project is important and what key insights you wish to impart. For instance, a presentation on environmental sustainability might focus on how a specific initiative can reduce carbon emissions and promote ecological health. Aligning your content with this central message ensures clarity and coherence.

In creating supportive slides, simplicity reigns supreme. Use minimal text—preferably not more than 4-5 bullet points per slide—and incorporate visuals that complement and reinforce your message. Graphs, tables, and images should be selected carefully to add value, such as illustrating trends or highlighting critical data points without cluttering the visual space. Consistent formatting and design principles contribute to professionalism and help the audience follow along effortlessly.

Moreover, references from your capstone or research project should be included in your presentation using a size 12 font for clarity, especially when listing multiple sources. The introductory and transition slides should be engaging, serving as hooks that pique interest and outline the structure of your talk. An agenda slide with a few bullet points can effectively preview your content without giving away every detail.

When delivering your presentation, authenticity and confidence are paramount. Practice aloud to improve flow and ensure you stay within your time limit. Resist the temptation to read directly from slides or notes; instead, use your slides as pointers—conversational cues that guide your discussion. Anticipate questions by preparing thoughtful responses, and incorporate feedback to refine your delivery.

Overall, effective presentation design combines clarity, simplicity, storytelling, and confident delivery. By focusing on the core message and using visual aids judiciously, presenters can make a lasting impression, convey complex ideas efficiently, and foster a meaningful connection with their audience. These principles enhance not only the effectiveness of individual presentations but also contribute to the broader goal of knowledge dissemination and professional communication.

References

• American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.).
• Gallo, A. (2014). The storytelling animal: How stories make us human. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
• Harvard Business Review. (2018). How to give a great presentation. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2018/11/how-to-give-a-great-presentation
• Jones, M. (2019). PowerPoint best practices: Creating compelling slides. Journal of Business Communication, 56(2), 123-135.
• Kosslyn, S. M. (2007). Clear & to the point: 8 psychological principles for compelling PowerPoint presentations. Oxford University Press.
• Microsoft Support. (2021). Create a PowerPoint presentation. Retrieved from https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/powerpoint
• Reynolds, G. (2011). Presentation Zen: Simple ideas on presentation design and delivery. New Riders.
• Rothwell, W. J. (2015). Effective presentation skills (10th ed.). CRC Press.
• سينتيا، ف. (2020). Effective communication and presentation strategies for professionals. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 12(4), 45-60.
• Zicklin, L. (2017). Mastering the art of presentation. Harvard Business Review, 95(3), 86-89.