APA 7th Edition PowerPoint Presentation: A Step-by-Step Guide

Updated at: 01/06/2025

Creating compelling and academically sound PowerPoint presentations can be challenging. This step-by-step guide simplifies the process, offering clear instructions on formatting your slides according to the APA 7th edition style. Learn how to correctly cite sources, structure your content, and design visually appealing slides that meet academic standards. Mastering APA in PowerPoint presentations has never been easier.

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Setup and Planning

    • Create a blank PowerPoint presentation.
    • Create a separate reference list document for your PowerPoint.
    • Outline your presentation by setting up the number of body slides needed, corresponding to sections in your paper.
    Outline your presentation by setting up the number of body slides needed, corresponding to sections in your paper. Outline your presentation by setting up the number of body slides needed, corresponding to sections in your paper. Outline your presentation by setting up the number of body slides needed, corresponding to sections in your paper.
    Setup and Planning

  2. Create Title Slide

    • Create the title slide using the same information as an APA title page (project name, your name, affiliation, course info, professor's name, due date).
    Create the title slide using the same information as an APA title page (project name, your name, affiliation, course info, professor's name, due date).
    Create Title Slide

  3. Develop Body Slides

    • Add rough content to each body slide using bullet points (sentence fragments) for main ideas; maintain consistency in capitalization (sentence case recommended).
    Add rough content to each body slide using bullet points (sentence fragments) for main ideas; maintain consistency in capitalization (sentence case recommended).
    Develop Body Slides

  4. Design and Layout

    • Set up the design using PowerPoint design templates or design ideas (recommended for more flexibility).
    Set up the design using PowerPoint design templates or design ideas (recommended for more flexibility).
    Design and Layout

  5. Add Visuals and Citations

    • Add extra elements (graphics, tables, figures) where needed, ensuring citations for external sources (create a full reference entry and a copyright attribution for figures).

  6. Add Presenter Notes

    • Add presenter notes to the notes section of each slide (full sentences, similar to paper formatting, single-spaced, with in-text citations).
    Add presenter notes to the notes section of each slide (full sentences, similar to paper formatting, single-spaced, with in-text citations).
    Add Presenter Notes

  7. Add In-Text Citations

    • place after the last bullet point for paraphrased content; use appropriate formatting for direct quotes.
    Add in-text citations to slides: place after the last bullet point for paraphrased content; use appropriate formatting for direct quotes.
    Add In-Text Citations

  8. Create Reference Slide

    • insert a new slide, delete header, expand body box, type 'References' (centered, bold), and paste formatted references from the reference list document (hanging indent, 1.0 line spacing).
    Create the reference slide: insert a new slide, delete header, expand body box, type 'References' (centered, bold), and paste formatted references from the reference list document (hanging indent, 1.0 line spacing).
    Create Reference Slide

  9. Finalize and Review

    • ensure consistency in titles, text size, and overall design.
    Finalize formatting: ensure consistency in titles, text size, and overall design.
    Finalize and Review
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Tips

  • Create a separate reference list for the PowerPoint.
  • Use sentence case for bullet points for easier formatting.
  • Use Design Ideas for more visually appealing results.
  • Place citations after the last bullet point on the slide.
  • Use the hanging indent feature for references on the reference slide.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Inconsistent Formatting

Reason: Failure to maintain consistent font sizes, spacing, and heading styles throughout the presentation leads to a disorganized and unprofessional appearance.
Solution: Use the APA 7th Edition template and style guide consistently to ensure uniformity.

2. Incorrect Citation of Sources

Reason: Misplacing or omitting information in in-text citations or the reference slide, such as author names, publication dates, or page numbers, can lead to plagiarism accusations.
Solution: Double-check all citations against the original sources and ensure they adhere to APA 7th Edition guidelines.

3. Overuse of Direct Quotes

Reason: Relying heavily on direct quotes instead of paraphrasing and summarizing information can make the presentation tedious and difficult to follow.
Solution: Paraphrase information using your own words while still properly citing the source.

FAQs

Do I need to include a title slide in my APA 7th edition PowerPoint presentation?
Yes, a title slide is essential. It should include the presentation title, your name, your affiliation (university/organization), and the date. Format these elements according to APA guidelines for headings and spacing.
How do I cite sources within my PowerPoint presentation if I don't have space for full citations on each slide?
Use in-text citations (author, year) on each slide where you use information from a source. Then, include a full reference list slide at the end of your presentation with complete APA 7th edition citations for all sources used.