How to Cite PowerPoint Presentations in APA & MLA Formats | How To

Whether you're a student or teacher, you rely on sources to do your
research. You probably already know that it's important to also cite your
sources. But you might not know how to cite certain types of sources, for
example, .

There are more types of resources available to students than ever before
and the proper way to cite those resources isn't always clear. For example,
with SlideShare (link to our tutorial) you've got access to hundreds of
PowerPoint presentations. 

how to cite a powerpoint presentation
If you're working on a research paper, you may need to cite an online presentation. (Image source: Envato Elements)

If you're wondering “how do you cite a PowerPoint” when
you use one of those presentations in a paper, this tutorial is for you. In
this tutorial, you'll learn how to cite a PowerPoint in APA format. We'll also
cover citing a PowerPoint in MLA format. Once you've discovered how to properly
cite presentations, we'll share some additional presentation resources in case
you've got to create your own presentation.

How to Cite a PowerPoint Presentation Properly 

When you're writing an academic paper, you
typically need to cite your sources at the end in a bibliography. You may also
need to cite a source in the body of your paper. Let's take a closer look at
how two of the most common style guides handle citing PowerPoint presentations.

NoteIf you're using the
PowerPoint presentation for an academic assignment, be sure to check your own
school's style guidelines to determine which format they require. You may also
find that your school has additional requirements for citations
.

How to Cite a Presentation in APA Format

APA
format provides guidelines for consistently writing in a clear format. It
includes standards for citing references in PowerPoint presentations as well as standards for citing images in PowerPoint, citing tables or figures, and citing many other types of information.  Although it was originally created for written
documents, the citation guidelines have been expanded to take into consideration
websites and other digital publications.

If
your lesson requires you to use APA format to cite your sources and you're
using a PowerPoint presentation as a source, you'll be expected to treat the
PowerPoint presentation very much like you would another source with a few
differences. Start with the author's last name and first initial. Add the
middle initial if given. This is followed by the year the presentation was
published and the title of the presentation.

The
two differences between citing a PowerPoint presentation in APA format and
another work is that you'll put the phrase “PowerPoint slides” in
brackets after the title of the presentations followed by the phrase
Retrieved from” and the URL where you found the presentation.

Here's an example of a properly formatted PowerPoint
citation for a bibliography in APA format (based on a fictitious source):

Perez,
J. (February 2018). How to Design
Graphics That Sell With Examples 
[PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved August 1, 2018, from

For
a citation in the body of the paper use the author's last name and the date the
speech was published:

(Perez, 2018)

If
you've got other types of sources you need to cite in APA Style or if you've got questions about APA style, you can find answers on the APA
Style site.

How to Cite a Presentation in MLA Format

Another
popular format required by many educational institutions is the MLA format. This
style guide is from the Modern Language Association, which is a scholarly
association that supports the study of languages and literature. MLA format is commonly used for assignments
in the Humanities or Liberal Arts academic areas.

If
you're required to use MLA format to cite your sources and one of those sources
is a PowerPoint presentation, the format is very similar to the APA format for
citing a PowerPoint source with a few important differences. Start with the
author's last name, first name and middle name (if given). That's followed by
the title of the presentation and the year it was published. If you've got the
tile of the where the presentation is published, list that. Next comes
the URL where you found the PowerPoint presentation. If you're referencing a
specific slide in the presentation list that slide number.

Here's
an example of a properly formatted PowerPoint citation in MLA format (based on
a fictitious source):

Perez,
Juan. “How to Design Graphics That Sell With Examples.” 
AnyTown Consulting Website,Jan. 2018,  . Slide 10.

If
you're citing a slideshow you attended in person as a source, provide the date
and location of the presentation. If the presentation is part of a course,
include the name of the course as well:

Perez,
Juan. “How to Design Graphics That Sell With Examples.” Web Design 101:
Introduction to Web Design, April 10, 2018, Anytown Community College. Slide
10.

If
you've got other types of sources you need to cite in APA Style or if you've got questions about MLA style, you can find answers on the MLA Style
site. You can learn more about the Modern Language Association their site.

Helpful Presentation Templates for Students and
Educators

Whether
you're a student, college
professor, or primary school teacher (or other type of educational professional)your job probably involves giving a lot of presentations. If you're looking
for a presentation PowerPoint template you should consider getting a premium
template. Premium templates can save you a lot of time because they come
prebuilt with professional design elements already in place. All you need to do
is paste your own images and information into the handy placeholders. And,
they're really easy to use.

Of course, you could create your own PowerPoint slide designs from
scratch. But that can be time-consuming—especially if you're not a professional graphic designer. You're much
better off using a premade template to get a head start on the way your
presentation looks. That way, you can spend the bulk of your project time on
research and writing.

If you're a professor, teacher, or even a student who creates a lot of PowerPoint
presentations, you'll want to consider investing in an Envato Elements subscription. For one low monthly price you'll get unlimited access to
our entire library of easy-to-use PowerPoint templates, WordPress themes, video
tutorials, and more. It's an investment you'll use again and again.

Even if you just have an occasional need for a PowerPoint presentation template,
you can still access a library of professionally designed templates through GraphicRiver
for a one-time fee.

Let's take a look at some
of the best PowerPoint presentation templates for educators and students from Envato Elements and GraphicRiver:

1. Creativa Education PowerPoint

Creativa Education PowerPoint

The Creativa Education PowerPoint template works well for any
educational purpose. This attractive theme includes templates for 30 unique
slides. Plus, there are three premade color themes. Both widescreen and
standard format templates are included. If you're a university student, you may
want to take a closer look at this one.

2. Fresh Creative Chalkboard Presentation 

Fresh Creative Chalkboard

This
fun PowerPoint template is perfect for teachers and other educators. Simulate a
chalkboard with either the classic green or a stylish gray background. Great
for the classroom or even a learning-themed presentation. The template includes
the Scratch kit font. There's also a PSD file with a smart object layer.


Education Science PowerPoint template

Here's the perfect theme with
great editable infographics! This colorful science-themed template is full of
education-friendly features:

  • Colorful
  • 20 slides
  • Easy-to-edit
  • Documentation
  • And more!

If you're a science teacher, be sure to explore this kid-friendly PowerPoint
template.

4. Campuz- University PowerPoint Template

Campuz University template

Whether
you're a teacher, a professor, or a student—you'll
love the Campuz – University PowerPoint Template. It's chock full of useful
features. For example, it 25 map slides that would be just perfect for a
geography or history lesson. It also includes 24/7 support.

5. Puzzle- Education PowerPoint Template

Puzzle Education PowerPoint template

Make learning fun with this puzzle-themed template. And who doesn't love
a good puzzle? This great template includes 30 unique slides (including an infographic). Plus, there are three different premade color themes. And there are
templates for both wide screen and standard formats. Just replace the image
placeholders with your own pictures and add your own text.

6. Education PowerPoint Presentation Template

Education PowerPoint Presentation Template

This popular education template provides plenty of options. And it comes
with free support. Here's just some of what it includes:

  • 54 unique slides
  • 90 color themes
  • 3 aspect rations
  • Light and dark backgrounds
  •  And more!

Don't overlook this one!

7. Solar
System Education Presentation

Solar System Education Presentation

Whether you're a student with a science presentation or an someone who
teaches science you'll love this unique presentation template on the solar
system. And it comes with 34 custom slides. It's based on free fonts. This
would be especially good for teachers of the primary grades.

8. Open University

Open University

The Open University template works well for
both educational and business presentations. With 90 unique slides and 111
color schemes, this is a very flexible template. It includes some animated
slides. Plus the templates work for two aspect ratios. Documentation is
included and updates are free.

9. Armeni:
PowerPoint Presentation

Armeni PowerPoint Presentation

Here's
a great business PowerPoint presentation template that can be used for
professional presentations as well as educational presentations. This
attractive minimalist design will help your slideshow to capture your
audience's attention. Choose from 54 different unique slides. It's built with
the PowerPoint slide master tool so your presentation stays consistent.

10. Kids Presentation Template

Kids Presentation Template

The
Kids Presentation Template features bright, cheerful designs and primary
colors. This would be great for a primary school teacher or even a principal!
There are more than 30 unique slides. Choose between 17 color schemes. And it
works with three different aspect rations (16:9, 4:3, and A4). Plus it's easy
to customize by adding your own images and text.

Learn Even More About Using PowerPoint

In
this tutorial, you learned how to cite PowerPoint presentations using two
popular style guides: APA format and MLA format. Whether you're a teacher or a
student, citing your references properly is important for academic projects.

If
you want to learn all about how to use PowerPoint, study
one of our PowerPoint
learning guides. Here
are some of our most popular PowerPoint tutorials to get you started:

If you'd like to explore more great premium PowerPoint
templates to get a head start on your next presentation slideshow, this article
features some great templates for inspiration:

For more details on how to use a PowerPoint presentation, study this
tutorial:

  • Presentations

    15+ Education PowerPoint Templates – For Great School Presentations

    Sean Hodge

Get This New eBook on Making Great Presentations (Free Download)

We have just the right complement to an educational PowerPoint template, that'll help you learn the complete process of how to write, design, and deliver great presentations.

Download The Complete Guide to Making Great Presentations now for FREE with a subscription to the Tuts+ Business Newsletter. Get your ideas formed into a powerful presentation that will move your audience.

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Use the Proper Style to Cite Presentations for
Your Next Academic Project

Citing sources in PowerPoint for academic projects can be tricky. You just learned the
right way to cite a PowerPoint in APA format or MLA format. We've also explored
the benefits of using templates as a head start when you create your own
presentation. Plus, you've seen some of our best education-themed templates
from Envato
Elements and GraphicRiver.

Good luck on your next academic project!

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