Entry #2 Advice on Academic Writing

Metacognitive analysis # 2

This week, I have found myself using the Google Slides app for the first time in my life, being a complete inerudite to this or  any other slideshow tool. As expected, the debut did not lack a serious amount of agitation and clumsiness. Nevertheless, I managed to find the nerve to get down to work, and the result is before your very eyes. 

I must admit that I am very pleased to have become aquainted with this tool. However, I will draw a distinction: the slideshow is, in my opinion, more suitable for an oral presentation than for online consultation. Some people even use it to study, after searching for a specific topic in the net, but it does not seem to be very helpful, since the slides usually include a very brief summary of points. Thus, I believe that the natural environment for a slideshow is an oral presentation. Moreover, it is an optimum guide to follow as you speak in front of an audience, while it offers the convenient chance to include images, bar charts, symbols, animation, a variety of colors, fonts and effects that make the presentation more appealing. Precisely, the use of bright colors in contrast with black or white text fonts is a resource that can be seen along my presentation, as well as images matching the message that is (hopefully) being conveyed. I am aware that I may have overused bright colors, images and icons, but -in my defense- I claim that the length of the file (21 slides) demanded an adorned layout, given that it is supposed to be addressed to young adults who are starting their University life. 

I tried to keep the text concise, although 2 or 3 slides are perhaps too loaded.  In an attempt to cover the whole original text, I had to arrange a hierarchy, and give more relevance to some contents over the others. I dared to experience a few simple animations,  images that appear on the slide a few seconds after the slide becomes visible. It provides a sense of movement that balances the effect of the fixed text, presumably.

As for the material that we have worked with, I consider it extremely valuable. Still, I would have prefered to treat it with more patience and attention, for it consists of a marvelous piece of information for anyone who has the need to write academic works. It is indeed a very complete compendium of guidelines. Most certainly, I will return to it oftentimes.