Here are the Code examples of this chapter. You can compile them online right on this web page by pressing the Typeset / Compile button. You can also edit them for testing, and compile again.
For a better view with the online compiler, I sometimes use \documentclass[border=10pt]{standalone} instead of \documentclass{article}. Instead of having a big letter/A4 page, the standalone class crops the paper to see just the visible text without an empty rest of a page.
Any question about a code example? Post it on LaTeX.org, I will answer. As forum admin I read every single question there. (profile link).
\documentclass{beamer}
\usetheme{Warsaw}
\title{How to Give a Presentation}
\subtitle{And Keep Everyone Awake}
\author{Prof. Dr. Till Tantau}
% actually written by Stefan Kottwitz
% Just dedicated to Till Tantau as example
\institute{Universität zu Lübeck}
\date{April 1, 2026}
\begin{document}
\begin{frame}
\titlepage
\end{frame}
\begin{frame}
\frametitle{Overview}
\tableofcontents
\end{frame}
\section{Planning the talk}
\subsection{Things That Work}
\begin{frame}
\frametitle{Favor the main message over details}
\framesubtitle{Define the overall structure early}
\begin{itemize}
\item Plan around the available time
\item Favor the main message over details
\item Keep section titles self-explanatory
\item Follow a clear logical flow
\item Start by stating the topic and goal
\item End with a short, clear summary
\end{itemize}
\end{frame}
\subsection{Things That Don't}
\begin{frame}
\frametitle{What to Avoid}
\framesubtitle{How to not mess it up}
\begin{itemize}
\item Don't read slide text out loud
\item Don't talk too fast
\item Never overload slides with content
\item Avoid subsubsections
\item Don't speak to the slides, talk to the audience
\item Cut details, put them into the appendix
\end{itemize}
\end{frame}
\section{Structuring the Presentation}
\section{Building the Presentation}
\begin{frame}
\begin{itemize}
\item Keep one clear idea per slide
\pause
\item Use short phrases, not full sentences
\pause
\item Use large, readable fonts
\end{itemize}
\end{frame}
\begin{frame}
\begin{itemize}
\item<1-> Use a consistent color scheme throughout the slides
\item<2-> Ensure sufficient contrast for readability
\item<3-> Keep visual elements balanced on the slide
\end{itemize}
\end{frame}
\end{document}
\documentclass[12pt]{beamer}
\usetheme{Warsaw}
\title{\LaTeX\ Beginner's Slides}
\author{Stefan Kottwitz}
\institute{Packt Publishing}
\date{April 1, 2026}
\begin{document}
\section{Understanding Overlays}
\begin{frame}
\begin{itemize}
\item Keep one clear idea per slide
\pause
\item Use short phrases, not full sentences
\pause
\item Use large, readable fonts
\end{itemize}
\end{frame}
\begin{frame}
\begin{itemize}
\item<1-> Use a consistent color scheme throughout the slides
\item<2-> Ensure sufficient contrast for readability
\item<3-> Keep visual elements balanced on the slide
\end{itemize}
\end{frame}
\section{Arranging columns}
\begin{frame}
\begin{columns}
\begin{column}{0.55\textwidth}
What I don't want to say:
\begin{itemize}
\item This slide looked better yesterday
\item Just believe this
\item I'll skip this quickly
\item Time is running out
\end{itemize}
\end{column}
\begin{column}{0.4\textwidth}
\includegraphics[width=4cm]{ctanlion.pdf}
\end{column}
\end{columns}
\end{frame}
\section{Using blocks}
\begin{frame}
\begin{block}{Using blocks}
You give the block a title and place the content inside it.
\end{block}
\begin{exampleblock}{You see}
That's how a block looks in a positive way.
\end{exampleblock}
\begin{alertblock}{Warning}
Use blocks sparingly and intentionally. Not like on this slide.
\end{alertblock}
\end{frame}
\end{document}
This code is available on Github. It is licensed under the MIT License, a short and simple permissive license with conditions only requiring preservation of copyright and license notices.
Go to next chapter.