make-presentation-slide

Good presentations change how the audience thinks.

Start by finding the single thesis of the talk. Everything should support that thesis.

Organize the presentation as one logical chain. Each slide should answer the question naturally created by the previous slide. If a slide can move without changing the story, the structure is probably weak.

Each slide should contain one idea only.

Use this structure:

• Title — a complete assertion (not a topic).
• Evidence — the minimum needed to support that assertion:
  • one picture,
  • one diagram,
  • one table,
  • or a few bullets.
• Transcript — bridges the logical gap to the next slide. Put explanations here instead of on the slide.

Prefer deleting over adding. Most slides improve when they contain less.

Examples, stories, workflows, and demos are evidence—not the main message. Ask whether each one proves the slide's claim. Remove anything that does not.

Images should make the claim understandable within a few seconds. Avoid decorative artwork. If a table or diagram already communicates the idea, another hero image is usually unnecessary.

Every section should answer the question naturally created by the previous section.

When reviewing a deck, focus on:

1. Is there one clear thesis?
2. Does every slide advance the argument?
3. Does each title make exactly one claim?
4. Does the evidence actually prove the title?
5. Are explanations kept in the transcript instead of the slide?
6. Could two adjacent slides be merged?
7. Does the ending return to the thesis rather than introduce a new idea?

A presentation is successful when the audience can reconstruct the entire argument from the slide titles alone.