e what you're going to say, 2) say it, 3) tell me what you said. This is a simple matter of voicing your intent so that I know what to look for as you go through your material to make your point. Then, at the end, you will restate your intent (which should be your conclusion or analysis).
Don't just present a bunch of "Trivial Pursuit"- type facts and information. Analyze your information and draw conclusions. At the end of your presentation, I should not be able to say: "And your point is . . . ?" A good place to begin is by asking a question that interests you and your conclusion should answer it.
Almost all topics should include audio music clips (see how to insert them below). If you think your topic is an exception, make sure you clear it with me first. Failure to include audio music clips in your presentation will lower your grade one letter. If you use videos, you should integrate them so that you do not have to leave the slide show to view them. Be sure to test that!
Use graphics and photos on your slides and not just text. This is a presentation, not a research paper on slides. Do your research, but don't get wordy. Make your points and back them up with visuals and audio. However, DO NOT use video to explain your points. In other words, the videos should be used as examples only, not interviews, etc. to deliver content. You can watch those videos to learn from them, but your point must be made via your own original content.
Be sparing with text. The idea of a presentation is to draw in your audience, not to write a research paper. You should not use paragraphs or bullets with many lines of text. Definitely do your research, so that you know your subject well, but then choose carefully what information to highlight. This is the reason I required audio examples. The music should tell part of the story. In other words, do not reduce your subject to textbook information on a slide.
Fan-based sites (those posted by fan clubs, blogs, etc.)
Your sources for video or graphics such as YouTube or Google images. As instructed above, do not include those as sources.
Example of a past project
If you copy and paste your slide text from some other source, that is plagiarism. The penalty for plagiarism is an F in the course. Don't do it!
Note: Even if you cite the source in your bibliography, copying that material for one of your slides is not allowed. Only in the case of a direct quotation is it acceptable to use someone else's words. Do your own work. Don't try to take shortcuts.
Most Common Errors
Not including the mp3s in the folder with the PowerPoint before zipping.
Apostrophes!!! "it's" means "it is" - "music and its effect" (for example) should not use an apostrophe. Also, the word "artist" is NOT plural. If you are referring to more than one, the word is "artists."
Putting too much text on each slide. Split up the slides - use more graphics - don't be so wordy. This is not a report. It is a presentation.
Using Wikipiedia as one of your reliable sources (or your only source of information) Also, YouTube does not count as a source.
General PowerPoint Tips
Don't pick a background that fights your content. In other words, text should be plain and readable. Be careful that text does not "bleed over" into graphics as that is hard to read. Put the text in a text box to control the space. Avoid using bright red backgrounds or text, which is difficult to read. On the other hand, don't use a plain white background. This is a presentation and should be attractive.
Make sure the photos, graphics you choose are not fuzzy or "pixelly" when sized to your choice. Note: one of my pet peeves is to see pictures that have been stretched to fit a space, causing them to be disproportionate (people look much thinner or fatter than they really are). Enlarge or crop the picture, do not stretch it or smash it.
Don't use a lot of animation - words and pictures flying in and out. A little of that goes a long way. A lot is distracting and annoying. Seriously, DO NOT have words bouncing onto the slides. I will count off for that and I will know yo