Page 365 - Between One and Many The Art and Science of Public Speaking

332 Part 3 Putting Theory Into Practice

at our campus, although they had worked smoothly on their own equipment.
Also, remember Web sites can be down. Relying on an external source for
your video can be a problem. Thus, a backup plan is always a good idea for any
presentation that relies on computers, a topic we will discuss more fully in the
next section.

PowerPoint

The fi rst point we would like to make about PowerPoint is that we use it regu-
larly. In fact, many of our students have come to expect their professors to use it
for lectures and to post it on their Web sites as well. Properly used, Power Point is
not only an invaluable tool for speakers, it is actually fun to use. About 10 years
ago, when we began introducing an assignment into our classes that required
students to use PowerPoint, we spent most of our time on the mechanics of cre-
www.mhhe.com/brydon6 ating slides. Today, the vast majority of our students come to college already
knowing how to use the software to create visual presentations. What they often
For help in creating Power- lack, regrettably, is the knowledge and skill to use it effectively in their speeches.
Point presentations, go to
our Online Learning Center And students are not alone. Whenever we survey our classes about their ex-
Web site and click on the periences with teachers who use PowerPoint, more often than not, students re-
PowerPoint Tutor link.
port it is poorly used. For a discussion of what to avoid in using PowerPoint,
see the box “Speaking of . . . PowerPoint Poisoning.” Thus, our purpose here is
not to teach you mechanics, but rather principles you can use to enhance your
presentations.
PowerPoint is a tool, no different than a chalkboard, overhead, or posterboard.
It’s only as good as the speaker using it. With this in mind, we offer seven rules
of effective PowerPoint design: (1) select good templates, (2) use high- contrast
colors, (3) use sans serif fonts, (4) use effi cient text, (5) use wisely chosen im-
ages, (6) use appropriate “build” effects, sometimes known as animations, and
(7) seek visual balance. 1

Good Templates

One of the great features of PowerPoint is that it comes with many interesting
and attractive templates—basic designs that can make a presentation look profes-
sional. Unfortunately, many of the templates also suffer from too much clutter
or too many visual elements that are distracting. For example, compare the two
templates—blends and diagram—seen in Exhibits 12.7 and 12.8. As you can see,
the former lets you put the focus on your content, while the latter is likely to
distract from it.

High-Contrast Colors

It’s important that colors contrast so that the audience can clearly distinguish
background from foreground. Also, it’s important to be aware that some peo-
ple with certain types of colorblindness cannot distinguish red from green.
Exhibits 12.9 and 12.10 illustrate the difference. Also, consider the ambient
lighting in the room and the power of your projector. We have learned the hard
way that a dark background with light lettering that looks great on the com-
puter screen may be totally washed out on the projection screen, especially in a