Preparing Effective Slide
Presentations
The following slide preparation tips are provided to help speakers prepare effective and
readable presentations.
Avoid slides that look like this!
Each slide should be designed to be concise, uncluttered, and readable from a distance.
Include only key words and phrases for visual reinforcement.
Common Presentation Issues
Suggested Fix
Too much text
Can it be said instead of written? Is there a visual that
can convey the same information? Use no more than six
lines per slide, with each line containing no more than
six words.
Too much information per
slide
Each slide should convey one main idea. The audience
should be able to take in the visual in 20 seconds or
less. Information relevant to
another idea should be
moved to another slide.
Irrelevant details should be
excluded altogether.
Small text
No text should be smaller than 24 point, including text in
an imported figure. If the figure text is not important, edit
it out.
White or bright backgrounds
Use light (not white) text on a dark background to
minimize visual fatigue.
Inconsistent
fonts/colors/backgrounds
Use consistent fonts/colors/backgrounds to keep the
focus on your science.
Absent labeling of graphical
representations
Make sure each figure includes sufficient labeling for
the audience to make sense of it, including axis labels
for graphs.
Too many slides
Present only the ideas and science necessary to tell your
story, not every experiment you have ever done. A 15
-
min presentation should have 10-12 slides.
Unnecessary animation
Animation should only be used to focus your audience’s
attention. Revealing one lane of a gel at a time as you
discuss an experiment is appropriate. Swirling in every
figure is not.
Red/green heatmaps or other
visuals
Remember that those who are red/green colorblind
cannot interpret figures that rely on distinguishing red
and green. Use blue and yellow instead.
Using whole multi-panel
figures on one slide
Multi-paneled figures should be split up for readability
and to minimize distraction. Also see “Too much
information per slide”.
No storyline or narrative
Throwing experiments and data at an audience with no
overarching narrative is a sure way to put people to
sleep. Give your audience a story arc they can hold on to
even if they miss the point of one of your experiments.
Presenting experiments
strictly chronologically
Think about how to structure your talk so that an
audience unfamiliar with your science will best grasp the
ideas you are trying to convey. Chronological order may
not be ideal.
Omitting the larger motivation
for your work
Remember to state explicitly why your science is
important and how it fits into a bigger picture.
Presenting unnecessary detail
Include only the details crucial to understanding your
data. If someone is curious about your cell culture
conditions, they will ask.
Turning away from the
microphone
Face the audience and your microphone at all times
when speaking.
Reading slides
There should not be enough text on your slides for you
to read your presentation (see “Too much text”). Use the
notes section of PowerPoint or bring notecards if you
are afraid you will forget to say something important.
Flipping through slides too
fast
This is usually tied to having too many slides, but also
occurs when a speaker is nervous. Make a conscious
effort to pause after advancing to your next slide.
Failing to orient the audience
to a figure
You will lose the audience if you jump right into your
data.
Explain axes and any other relevant information
about the figure before discussing the data it shows.
Running over into Q&A
Carefully time your presentation and cut slides if
necessary.
Speaking unclearly (too fast,
too low, mumbling)
Practice enunciating and remember to breathe while you
are speaking.
Figure Guidelines
• Figures should be simple, with large lettering and clearly marked axes, etc.
• For figures created in charting programs and exported to a slide presentation
program, be sure that the output fonts and line widths are legible once the image
is scaled.
• If you have a complicated chart, it’s a good idea to add statistics directly onto the
chart and to provide the details of the graph orally.
For more detailed guidance,
visit http://www.ibiology.org/ibioseminars/techniques/susan-mcconnell-part-1.html.
Note this video is approximately 45 minutes long.
