Rules of the Road:

How to Make a Good PowerPoint Presentation


Basic Steps to Begin:  Creating Your First PowerPoint

Other Tutorials:  PowerPoint Basics Tutorial Website or Simple How to PowerPoint

 

After researching, organizing information in a graphic organization (storyboard):

  1. Start PowerPoint and choose a Blank Presentation
  2. Choose a basic slide layout
  3. Choose a consistent and simple font as in the Guidelines
  4. On the Master Slide make any changes to style/font
  5. Enter the words on title page and any additional text for focus
  6. Read the Assignment Rubric to know what is important to include for the presentation and to show your knowledge
  7. Add graphic or image if necessary
  8. Insert new slides and repeat the steps above
  9. Create and apply background design
  10. Use the same color and design consistently throughout presentation
  11. Add transitions, special effects, animations and sound as needed but with caution.

Style and Design Guidelines

Text

Ÿ         Every bullet is followed by a capital letter

Ÿ         Use 6x6 Rule- each bullet has six words or less (think words not sentences)

Ÿ         Use 6x6 Rule- each slide has six or less lines of text per slide or 25% is text

Ÿ         Keep font style simple-Arial, Tahoma, Bookman, Garamond, Century Schoolbook or fonts without the serifs on the letters and don’t use calligraphy fonts

Ÿ         Keep font sizes consistent throughout by using the recommended sizes so use a minimum of 36 point font so audience can read it easily

Ÿ         No complete sentences

Ÿ         No periods or exclamation points. Use question marks when using a research question to show your research purpose

Ÿ         No ALL CAPS

Ÿ         Make title larger than body text (Titles 44-36, Text 38-28)

Ÿ         Use contrasting colors to background (black and white are best)

Background Guidelines

Ÿ         Use the same background for every slide

Ÿ         Use the same font color throughout slide

Ÿ         Choose a background that does not compete with topic or interfere with readability

Ÿ         For group presentations: apply a different background for each person’s slide.  Include author’s name on each page.  Choose complimentary backgrounds when possible.

Graphic, Transition, Timing Guideline

Ÿ         Use clipart that adds to the topic where appropriate, don’t overuse

Ÿ         Faces and images should face toward the middle of the slide, flip when possible

Ÿ         Use only one transition for all slides-keep it the same

Ÿ         Allow plenty of room around borders and graphics so don’t go to the edges

Effects and Animations

Ÿ         Use up to three difference effects on bulleted text

Ÿ         Avoid animation effects on graphics copied from Internet

Audio Background Sounds or Music

Ÿ         Use instrumental music as background music

Ÿ         Play throughout presentation or group to more than two slides

Ÿ         Use movie clips, cartoons, or television theme songs with purpose-theme, main idea, or symbolism support

Ÿ         Give credit on bibliography page

Proofreading

Ÿ         Check for spelling errors

Ÿ         Check for slide errors, overlapping text or graphic boxes, borders and spacing

Ÿ         Check links within and to Internet locations

Give credit for information, graphics and research

Ÿ         Use this site for creating easy bibliography  easybibliography

Ÿ         See a PowerPoint Presentation on how to make a bibliography page


PowerPoint Rules of the Road: What Are They Looking For?


Each presentation is graded on its:

 

Ÿ         Research and Planning … Does the author show a strong knowledge base and understanding of the task?  Is there evidence of planning, storyboarding, and decision making prior to beginning the slide show?

 

Ÿ         Information... Does the presentation effectively tell the audience your message causing them to consider your point of view?  Does every component of the presentation should add to the communication of the chosen audience?

 

Ÿ         Design... Does the presentation appeal to the audience?  Have the text, color, graphics, and background choices in style and design been wisely used?  Does the information on the slides outline your presentation?

 

Ÿ         Consistency ... Does the presentation have a similar style from slide-to-slide?  Have the guidelines for text, graphics, transitions and special effects been followed?  Does the presentation have few if any errors in writing and in design?

 

Ÿ         Teamwork … Do members work in harmony on the task?  When conflicts arise they are solved quickly to the satisfaction of all members?  Do all members end the project know the same information and same skills because all have been students and teachers?  Do all members work together without needing teacher intervention or reminders?

 

Ÿ         Presenting…Is your presentation the outline for what you teach your audience?  Do you use the words on the slides to remind you what to cover? Do you use the outline or note feature for your presentation? 


PowerPoint Presentation Rubric

 

 

Overall Grade:_________               Student’s name ______________________________ Block _____

 

 

4  Exceeds Standards

3  Meets Standard

2  Below Standard

1 Needs Work

0 Incomplete

Topic Covered &

Shows a Knowledge Base

 

 

Covers topic in depth. Text is accurate and original.  Uses important key points and highlighted ideas.  Clearly answers research question and includes new questions from research

Covers the topic.  Text is connected to topic and stays on the topic.  Uses key points.  Answer research question

Is about the topic but may not always focus on the answer to the question but gives information.  Too much information or too little in presentation

Information is too simplistic; main idea or purpose missing or misunderstood; too much information; facts just copied from resource

Line Limit and Text Feature Usage

Uses a text features (title page, headline, bib., etc. Follows 6x6 rule. Proper caps, and capital letters.

Text is the outline for the oral presentation

Follows 6 by 6 rule or makes it neat in appearance.  May a misuse few text or line features.  Mostly an outline

No line limit. Too many words per line.

May use capital letters or too much font expression. Speaker reads slides, not used as an outline

Too many words;

Too much flash and distraction

PowerPoint Font Sizes

Follows Font Guidelines;

Sans serif font only.  No more than two fonts.

Heading: 44-36 Body Text: 32-28

Sub Heading: 28-24

Uses most guidelines; font choice may be too creative

Does not follow many guidelines; too creative

Lacks consistency; too much variation in font and size

Organization

Slide presentation has strong purposeful flow; order builds from simple to complex and leads to main generalization, idea or conclusion; has a effective title slide, an introduction slide or question, body slides, and a conclusion slide.

Appearance is neat and draws in viewer

Slide presentation has flow; order builds from simple to complex and leads to an understanding; has a title slide, an introduction slide or question, body slides, and a conclusion slide.

Appearance is neat and draws in viewer.  Attractive but begins to be busy

Slide presentation has a beginning, middle, end and a point.  Shows the author has a knowledge base.  May leave the reader wondering about main idea

Slide presentation has a beginning but the rest is too minimal or missing; does not wrap-up; leaves the reader wondering about main idea or purpose

Point of View

Shows the author’s point of view strongly agreeing or disagreeing with the topic. Uses strong, authentic support that could persuade audiences and considers audience in support and word choice.  Arguments are strong and SCOPE elements are used

Shows the author’s point of view. Uses support that could cause audiences to reconsider a point of view; SCOPE elements present; considers audience

May show a point of view or not.  Support may be emotional or offend audience.  May be supported with emotional, weak, or general arguments

Shows own point of view without logical support; missing SCOPE elements

Style and Design

Follow design and style guidelines.  Not distracting.  Has a professional design

Follows most guidelines

Attempts a professional design

Design entertains author or kids…it’s too cool.  Ignores many guidelines

Too distracting and too much flash; entertained self


 

Conventions

In spelling, grammar, typing, and Guidelines

Error free or reader not distracted by errors in spelling, grammar, or Guidelines; careful use of PowerPoint elements

A few errors for a final draft

Too many errors for a final draft

Needs much revision and editing especially with placement of slide elements; spelling and typo errors

Citations or Bibliography

Gives credit to other authors or sources; Includes research sources; bibliography is accurate following Kulshan rules; collects while researching

Gives credit to other authors or sources; includes research sources; bibliography has format errors; collects while researching

May or not give credit; bibliography rules are not used or only general information is given; needs to follow rules and collect while researching

No citations; too general like:

Microsoft Clipart; needs to use rules; forgot to cite sources

Shows the Writing and Thinking Process

Shows research; Uses Internet productively and a variety of resources; completes a detailed storyboarding showing style and design notes

Shows research; Uses Internet; completes a storyboarding showing style and design choices; presentation looks like storyboard

Shows some research; mostly used Internet; completes a storyboarding showing basic style and design choices; presentation looks a little different from storyboard

Has information on the topic showing some research; mostly used Internet; no storyboard or incomplete or few details; presentation is where student made decisions

Teamwork

Worked equally well together; equally shared work effort, ideas, and thought; no fights or argument; all problems overcome to satisfaction; both ended with equal PowerPoint skills through teaching each other; would choose to  work together again because learning and doing was enjoyable; worked without teacher reminders

Word effectively with few if any disagreements; shared the workload; taught each other needed skills; both could probably make a successful PowerPoint by oneself; might choose to work together again but would work together a little better; worked without teacher reminders

One person did more than the other; one person hogged the computer; one person was bossy or insisted own ideas used; needs to cooperate and include everyone’s ideas; needs to teach other skills; needs to learn skills; does not sit back and let the other work; tries to solve problems but teacher needs to intervene; worked some teacher reminders

One persons did most of the work; One person feels to have carried the whole assignment; did not follow through with tasks; argued or fought; teacher needed to intervene; needed to be assigned to do project by self because of conflicts; too much reminding to complete the task; may have received discipline consequences for behavior

Presentation

Uses slides as an outline for sharing and uses other tools/notes when speaking; clearly practiced and knows information and facts; may add sound bits to teach

Uses slides for sharing; may use other tools; reads to audience rather than talks to them; may add recording to help teach

Mostly reads slides to readers; relies on slides to share information; might use notes when presenting

Reads slides to audience; boring

 

 

Adjust the points

On a 6 pt scale

6, 4, 2 for categories above

A - Exemplary: 40-44 points
B - Proficient: 36-39 points
Partially Proficient or Incomplete: Needs to be resubmitted - less than 36 points