Dissertation Defense: Preparing a PowerPoint Presentation

During a dissertation defense, you may be forced to give a verbal presentation defending your ideas. There are many ways to do this, but in most cases, it is simpler to simply go ahead and use a PowerPoint presentation. These great visual aids keep you on topic, make sure that you hit all the key points, and distill the most valuable information to your audience. When preparing for a PowerPoint presentation, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, a PowerPoint is a great aide, but not your entire presentation. Secondly, there are unique tendencies of power point design to keep in mind.

The first thing to understand is that there is not inherently value in putting all your information on the PowerPoint itself. If you do this, you may as well have written out some notes on paper and just handed them to your review board, followed by you saying nothing. A PowerPoint is there to provide you with a resource and structure to your dissertation defense, as well as provide supporting charts, graphs, and tables, but there is a need for you to bring to the table the actual definite. A PowerPoint is a tool, not a presentation.

There are some methods and standards of designs for PowerPoint’s in the academic and professional worlds that you would do well to keep in mind. First, realize that there is an inherent value to minimalism, crowding up your slides with too many facts, figures, or data makes them hard to read and undermines what you are trying to accomplish. Try to keep your slides crisp and clean. You will want a consistent background for each slide, it turns out getting too creative, and using too many elements such as Word Art will come off as unprofessional and childish.

Once your PowerPoint is complete, it is very important that you practice using it. You cannot expect to write a PowerPoint presentation, and merely read it to your audience they can read it themselves. Instead, use it as a tool to enhance your presentation, and practice every day until you have it down right. Has a written speech, or at least a speech outline, and therefore you can talk about things in a clear, wise manner. Tie things in with your PowerPoint and do not be afraid to reference it directly. This will point you down the road to dissertation success.