Workshop Content: Using PowerPoint Effectively-Checklist for Assertion-Evidence Slides

Checklist for Assertion-Evidence Slides

Pdf Summary

The Assertion-Evidence slide structure, based on Alley’s "The Craft of Scientific Presentations" (2013), provides guidelines for creating effective scientific presentation slides, particularly within the College of Engineering at Penn State. The approach emphasizes clarity and audience engagement through structured slide design.<br /><br />Style: Each body slide should open with a concise, left-justified sentence-assertion headline limited to two lines. This headline is supported visually by evidence such as photographs, drawings, graphs, or equations arranged to communicate visually rather than through bullet points. Slides should minimize text, aiming for the audience to read no more than 20 words per minute.<br /><br />Typography: Use bold sans serif fonts like Calibri. Headlines should be set at 28-point type, body text between 18-24 points, and references sized between 12-14 points but not bolded. Text should avoid all caps, italics, or underlining to maintain readability and professionalism.<br /><br />Layout: Text blocks, mainly headlines, should not exceed two lines. Lists should be kept short—two to four items—to prevent clutter. Margins on slide sides should be small to maximize white space; for example, at least half an inch of white space should be left below the headline to improve readability.<br /><br />Additionally, a PowerPoint template is available online (http://writing.engr.psu.edu/AE_template_PSU.ppt) to assist users in implementing these design principles effectively.<br /><br />Overall, the Assertion-Evidence slide model focuses on presenting a clear claim supported visually, with minimal text, bold readable typography, and organized layout to enhance communication and audience understanding in scientific presentations.

Keywords

Assertion-Evidence slide structure

The Craft of Scientific Presentations

Alley 2013

scientific presentation guidelines

College of Engineering Penn State

slide design clarity

concise headline

visual evidence support

bold sans serif fonts

PowerPoint template