Bullets Versus Sentences
June 16, 2009 – 2:02 amIn the previous chapter, we saw that all text slides come in only two options: bullets and sentences. Each of these options is quite different, with separate forms and functions. Keep them distinct.
A bullet is used to express a core idea. It takes the form of a headline. Look at any newspaper and you’ll see that a headline is not a complete sentence. Basic English grammar tells us that a sentence must contain a subject and a verb. Many headlines don’t contain a subject and a verb. Generally, headlines don’t use all the parts of speech that complete sentences contain: articles (the, an, a), conjunctions (and, but, or), and prepositions (of, for, by, through).
Why are headlines written in this shorthand style? There are several good reasons. When fewer words have to be squeezed into an available space, the size of the letters can be increased, enhancing legibility. Furthermore, by providing the gist of the story in a few words, it’s possible for readers to scan a page full of stories in a few seconds and pick out the ones of interest.
The same benefits, legibility and speed, apply to bullets in presentation slides. When you create a text slide containing bullets, you are, in effect, presenting headlines only. Where does the body text appear? Not on any slide. As the presenter, it’s your job to put flesh on the bones of the headline bullets. The presenter provides the body text. The presenter is the focus of the presentation.
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The presenter is the focus of the presentation. |
Taken From : Presenting to Win: The Art of Telling Your Story