Presentation slides:

• Put your name (so the audience knows who you are) under the title on the first slide.


• If you are presenting the work of someone else, put the name the author(s) (so we know who to blame) and where the paper was published on the bottom of the first page.


• Include as many figures as possible. Ideally, try not to use any words, just figures. Remember the Chinese saying: "An image is worth a thousand words."


• Use colors sparingly, both in your slides and in your figures. Every color, every shape (e.g., circle, square), and every arrow must map to a unique concept/object, and the meaning must carry throughout the document.


• Repetition: To import xfig files into a powerpoint file, first export the xfig file as a cgm file, then import it into your powerpoint file. (The fist time you go through the procedure, You may have to use the CD ROM of Office 2000 to allow powerpoint to read to cgm file.)


• Use non more than 8 lines per slide, exceptionally 9 lines.


• Use animation sparingly. Use it only to make a point. It can get quite distractive and annoying. Plus, you lose precious presentation time every time you have to click the return button during your presentation.


• Avoid using a cluttered background. A white background (with black foreground and blue titles) is often your best bet. The style file of the lab is available for your convenience.


• If you are using PowerPoint, set up the style in the main-page template, and do the changes only on the template. Do not do changes locally in every slide.