What’s Wrong with these Power Point Slides? Answer Key

aka: What NOT to do on your slides!

It’s Time to Play...

Once upon a time, in 1337, the English had control of parts of France (Atchley http://www.french-at-a-touch.com/French_History/hundred_years_war_1337-1453.htm). The French did not like this and wanted them out! Thus, the Hundred Years’ War began.

The Hundred Years’ War was a series of wars between the French and English kings.

Since there were numerous truces and treaties over the years, it was called the Hundred Years’ War, even though it really lasted a total of 116 years (Atchley http://www.french-at-a-touch.com/French_History/hundred_years_war_1337-1453.htm).

When Jehanne d'Arc (pronounced “Jan/Jun dark”) was 13, she began to hear the voices of angels, telling her she must save France (Kennedy http://www.maidofheaven.com).

She went to see Charles VII and was tested by him and the church for several weeks. After proving herself, he gave her command of an army. On May 23, 1430 she was captured by French soldiers who were traitors and sold her to the English (Greenblatt & Lemmo 417).

She attempted to escape by jumping from a 60 foot tower, but was recaptured (Kennedy http://www.maidofheaven.com).

What’s wrong?DON’T put too much text on a slide! If you have too

much information, add another slide so it’s not too crowded.

DO:• put 50% info on your slide, save 50% to verbalize • have a 1-2 smaller paragraphs per slide• use a larger font size (28-32 pt works well)• add a picture

Since there were numerous truces and treaties over the years, it was called the Hundred Years’ War, even though it really lasted a total of 116 years (Atchley http://www.french-at-a-touch.com/French_History/hundred_years_war_1337-1453.htm).

When Jehanne d'Arc (pronounced “Jan/Jun dark”) was 13, she began to hear the voices of angels, telling her she must save France (Kennedy http://www.maidofheaven.com).

What’s wrong?

DON’T:• make bad color choices...the purple is very

difficult to see on the red background• graphic has no citation

DO:• select colors that make the text easy to read• make sure every image has a citation

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Since there were numerous truces and treaties over the years, it was called the Hundred Years’ War, even though it really lasted a total of 116 years (John Atchley p. 59).

What’s wrong?DON’T:• use too many pictures! They distract the audience

from the information• pictures don’t really match well with the text• use an author’s 1st name or ‘p’/’page’ in an in-text

citation

DO:• use one or two pictures/graphics per slide at most• match image with text• ensure all your in-text citations are correctly

formatted

The Hundred Years’ War

Once upon a time, in 1337, the English had control of parts of France (Atchley http://www.french-at-a-touch.com/French_History/hundred_years_war_1337-1453.htm).

The French did not like this and wanted them out! Thus, the Hundred Years’ War began.

Since there were numerous truces and treaties over the years, it was called the Hundred Years’ War, even though it really lasted a total of 116 years (Atchley http://www.french-at-a-touch.com/French_History/hundred_years_war_1337-1453.htm).

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What’s wrong?

DON’T:• use too much animation!

DO:• Limit it to one animation per slide (at most)

Joan of ArcOnce upon a time, in 1337, the English

had control of parts of France (Atchley http://www.french-at-a-touch.com/French_History/hundred_years_war_1337-1453.htm). The French did not like this and wanted them out! Thus, the Hundred Years’ War began.

Since there were numerous truces and treaties over the years, it was called the Hundred Years’ War, even though it really lasted a total of 116 years (Atchley http://www.french-at-a-touch.com/French_History/hundred_years_war_1337-1453.htm).

What’s wrong?(honestly, what’s NOT wrong with that slide!?! Ugh! It’ll make

your audience want to flee!)

DON’T:• make your slide “busy”– busy, rainbow background– bad font choice (pick one that’s easy to read)– rainbow font colors

DO:• choose fonts that are easy to read• match your title with the information on the slide• choose backgrounds that are solid or subtle

Presentation Tips• Be prepared! Practice your presentation and slide show in advance until it is smooth.

• Double check spelling/grammarand sentence structure

• Always have your presentation saved in multiple places, just in case (usb, email it to me, save it in your personal drive at CMS, shared student drive in “McGann” folder, etc.)

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Presentation Tips• talk to the audience, not

the slides

• maintain eye contact

• project your voice

• have good posture, stand still

• be prepared to answer questions

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