To Create a Slide Show

1. Question the communication situation.
   • Subject: What is the topic of your slide show? What is the specific focus?
   • Purpose: Are you trying to inform, persuade, or narrate?
   • Audience: Who will see your slide show? Will it stand on its own, or will you present it in person?
2. Plan your slide show on a planning sheet. (See page 361.)
3. Research your topic and technical requirements.
   • Write research questions about your topic.
   • Conduct the necessary research, taking notes and tracking sources.
   • Gather pictures, images, or graphics related to your topic.
   • Organize the information in a reasonable way (see the informational structures on pages 408–412).
   • Review the features of various slide-show programs.
4. Create your slide show, using software such as the PowerPoint program.
   • Beginning: Provide an opening slide with the title of the presentation, your name, and an engaging visual. Use the next few slides to introduce the topic and offer a thesis.
   • Middle: Use your middle slides to support your thesis. Make use of numbered and bulleted lists. If possible, use visual aids to accompany your supporting evidence.
   • Ending: Sum up your topic on the final slide by leaving the reader with a strong closing point. If your slide show is meant to persuade, include a call to action.
5. Improve your slide show.
   • Evaluate your slide show against your goal and situation.

     Goal: Did you meet your goal?

     Situation: Did you thoroughly cover your subject? Did you fulfill your purpose? How will the audience respond?

   • Revise your slide show as necessary.

     Cut slides that do not move you toward your goal.

     Reorder slides for a better flow.

     Redo slides that are overcrowded or ineffective.

     Add slides to improve support.

   • Perfect your slide show, polishing and proofreading it.

     Check grammar, usage, punctuation, and spelling (see pages 191–196).

     Practice delivering your presentation.

6. Present your slide show in person or on the Web.