Touchstone 2.2: Create a Slide Deck (Presentation)

Overview

What You Will Learn: You will demonstrate your ability to create and format a professional presentation using PowerPoint. This includes organizing data in an embedded table, applying slide design and layouts, formatting text and visual elements, incorporating charts, using speaker notes and transitions, and preparing to share your presentation.

Why It Matters: Well-designed slide decks—supported by accurate spreadsheets—communicate ideas effectively, support data-driven decisions, and engage audiences. Organizing data and presenting them clearly are essential skills in today’s workplace. These skills are critical for business meetings, project updates, training sessions, and other professional communication.

What You Will Hand In: A Microsoft PowerPoint presentation (.ppt or .pptx)

Keys to Success:
  • Focus on formatting only. All content is provided for you.
  • Use PowerPoint’s design themes and slide layouts consistently.
  • Use PowerPoint's native spreadsheet and graphing tool to present visual information.
  • Apply proper text hierarchy and visual formatting.
  • Insert and format a chart using the spreadsheet data and add a relevant image.
  • Add slide transitions, basic entrance animations, and speaker notes where prompted.
  • Use the Proofing and Formatting Checklist.
Helpful Links:

A. Instructions

Step 1: Download the Unformatted Content
Download the following file. It contains all the content you need for this assignment.

download

Touchstone 2.2_Unformatted Content.docx

IMPORTANT:

  • Spreadsheet content is included in Section 1 of this file, and presentation content is included in Section 2.
  • Do not write new content or change the provided text.
  • Your job is to transfer the content into a spreadsheet and then create a slide deck, apply formatting, and use design techniques only.
  • All data, text, speaker notes, and placeholders are provided for you.
Step 2: Apply Slide Design, Layout, and Accessibility
  • Use the provided content document to build your slide deck. Do not create new content.
  • Apply a consistent design theme using the design menu.
  • Use appropriate slide layouts for different content types (title slides, content slides, comparison slides, etc.).
  • Ensure consistent fonts, colors, and spacing throughout the presentation.
  • Apply proper text hierarchy using title and content placeholders.
  • Incorporate accessibility best practices such as high‑contrast colors, readable fonts, and a logical slide order for screen readers.
Step 3: Format Text and Content
  • Apply emphasis formatting (bold or italics) as you think is appropriate.
  • Use bullet points and numbering consistently.
  • Adjust font sizes for readability and visual hierarchy.
  • Align text and content elements properly on slides.
Step 4: Insert and Format Visual Elements
  • Add an appropriate stock image where the placeholder indicates, using insert Image > Stock Image.
  • Using the table provided, insert a chart into your presentation using PowerPoint’s chart tool. This chart should visualize the table data.
  • Format the visuals with appropriate sizing and positioning.
  • Ensure that the visuals support the presentation’s message.
Step 5: Add Interactive Elements
  • Apply slide transitions between slides (choose one consistent transition).
  • Add basic entrance animations to key content elements (bullets, images, or charts). Include speaker notes in the notes section where indicated.
  • Ensure that the timing and flow enhance the presentation experience.
Step 6: Finalize and Submit

  • Use the checklist below to make sure you have met all of the requirements of the assignment.
  • Save the presentation as a PowerPoint (.ppt or .pptx) file. We recommend naming the file as FirstnameLastname_Touchstone2.2.pptx.
  • Submit only the PowerPoint (.ppt or .pptx) file.

Through this assignment, you are building practical skills that help you create compelling, professional presentations that engage audiences and communicate ideas effectively.

Proofing and Formatting Checklist 
Requirement Details Done (Y/N)
Data organization The data provided organized into a table without changes  [ ]
Design consistency Consistent themes, fonts, colors, and layouts applied throughout the presentation  [ ]
Slide layouts Slide layouts for different content types appropriately used  [ ]
Text formatting Text hierarchy, emphasis (bold/italics), and bullet formatting properly used  [ ]
Visual elements Image inserted with appropriate sizing, positioning, and formatting  [ ]
Chart creation Spreadsheet data converted to a professional chart with proper formatting and labels  [ ]
Slide transitions Consistent slide transitions applied throughout the presentation  [ ]
Animations Basic entrance animations applied to enhance content delivery [ ]
Speaker notes Relevant speaker notes added where indicated in the content [ ]
Accessibility High-contrast colors, readable fonts, and logical slide order used for screen readers [ ]
Proofing Consistent formatting, proper alignment, and professional appearance ensured (reviewed as a slideshow) [ ]

B. Rubric

 Advanced (100%)Proficient (85%)Acceptable (75%)Needs Improvement (50%)Non-Performance (0%)

Applying Slide Design, Layouts, and Accessibility (Step 2)

Use consistent design themes, layouts, and placeholders to structure slides, ensuring accessibility through high-contrast colors, readable fonts, and logical slide order. (25%) 		A design theme is applied across all slides; slide layouts match the content’s purpose; consistent font, alignment, and spacing are applied; and placeholders are used correctly. High-contrast colors, readable fonts, and logical slide order are used to support accessibility. A theme and layouts are applied across 80%–90% of the slides; one or two slides show layout or spacing inconsistencies; most accessibility practices (contrast, font choice, slide order) are followed. A design is applied to at least 60% of the slides; there are slide layout or hierarchy issues on multiple slides; some accessibility considerations are missing. Inconsistent or incomplete design is present across the deck; placeholder elements are misused; accessibility issues affect readability or navigation. No design theme, consistent layout, or formatting is applied; no accessibility considerations are made.

Formatting Text and Content (Step 3)

Format the text for clarity, emphasis, and structure. (25%) 		All text uses consistent hierarchy and formatting (titles, bullets, emphasis); alignment and spacing are precise and professional. Text formatting is consistent with minor spacing or emphasis issues (one or two slides). Hierarchy or emphasis is used inconsistently on three or more slides; text alignment errors are present. Major formatting issues that affect readability are present on most slides. No formatting or visual structure is applied.

Inserting and Formatting Visual Elements (Step 4)

Insert and format the image and chart to support presentation clarity and engagement. (25%) 		An image is inserted and sized appropriately; an appropriate data graphic is generated from the spreadsheet with correct labels, readable axes, and consistent formatting. Both an image and a data graphic are present, with one minor formatting or size error. The data graphic may not be the best option for the data. One of the two visual elements is missing or formatted incorrectly (e.g., unclear chart labels). The data graphic may not be the best option for the data. Visuals are inserted but poorly formatted or unclear. No visual elements are included or the image/chart is irrelevant or unformatted.

Adding Interactive Elements (Step 5)

Apply transitions, animations, and speaker notes to enhance presentation delivery and engagement. (25%) 		Slide transitions are applied to all slides using one transition type; entrance animations are used effectively; and speaker notes are included on every slide where indicated. All elements are applied correctly with one minor issue (e.g., a missing animation or a slide without speaker notes). Only two of the three required elements are included; one or more are misapplied. One interactive element is applied but ineffectively; multiple slides lack notes or transitions.No transitions, animations, or speaker notes are included.

C. Requirements

The following requirements must be met for your submission to be graded:

  • File Type: .ppt or .pptx only
  • Slide Count: Six slides