Creating Slides and Presentations

Presentations are about communicating with an audience. Before you begin preparing your slides, there are some basic questions you should try to answer.

1. Who is the audience?
   Ex. DSA members, elected officials, students, union members
2. What is the format?
   Ex. 1:1, workshop, lecture, discussion, public meeting
3. Where is this presentation happening?
   Ex. Zoom, conference room, outside
4. How much time is allotted for this presentation?

Slide Creation

There is one north star you should keep in mind when creating slides for a presentation.

More slides > dense slides

By dividing subjects across 3 or 4 slides, you’ll (1) create a more dynamic presentation while also (2) creating more accessible content for a diverse audience.

Slides should enhance your presentation. Dense slides with small text can be alienating for many audiences including those who read slowly and those with limited vision. 

• Limit the amount of text on each slides.
• Use images to complement key points.

Slide Example: Before and After

DSA Slide Template

This google drive folder includes a slide template and example slide deck. This template will help you create easy to read, low density slides that align with the DSA national style guidelines.