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Help with Graphics & Presentations

finding photographs / clip art

creating photographs / clip art

 using PowerPoint

speaking/presenting in public

Tornado Damage In Fort Worth
Feb. 2000 AP Wire Photo
 

finding
photographs / clip art
 
If you are looking for paintings, photographs, sculptures and other images with artistic interest...
The Library has hundreds of books containing high-quality reproductions of work by most major artists, architects and photographers. You can search the Library Catalog by the artist's name, do a keyword search (for example: "neon and signs"), or browse the shelves (architecture, painting and sculpture books are usually in the N stacks, many photography books are in the TR stacks). You can scan images from these books to use in your class papers or presentations using the multimedia work stations in the Information Commons. (Note that you usually cannot use images in work that you intend to publish without first getting the permission of the publisher of the book.) For more information on research involving art and design, you may want to look at the Library Art History Research Guide and Design, Merchandising & Textiles Research Guide.
If you are looking for paintings, photographs, sculptures and other images with historical interest...
  • The Library may have any number of books on your topic that contain photographs or other illustrations. Search the Library Catalog, and in the records for books that match your topic, look for the abbreviation "ill." (for "illustrations") next to the page numbering. You may need to pull the book off the shelf to see if it has illustrations you can use.
  • If you cannot find a book with illustrations you need, you may want to try a web search engine like Google. Google and some other search engines have an option to search just for images; if you don't find what you need that way, you may want to repeat your search and look for web pages, since the image search may leave out many web pages that actually do contain useful images.
If you need clip art (drawings) to illustrate general concepts like "party" or "confusion"...
  • The versions of Microsoft Word and Microsoft PowerPoint available on the TCU network (including all the computers in the Information Commons) contain a small collection of clip art that you get to by choosing "Insert/Picture/ClipArt" from the menu.
  • Instructional Services offers help finding graphics and advice on how to use them effectively. Call 257-6131 to set up an appointment.
If your topic concerns something that might have been in the news...
The AP Multimedia Archive contains hundreds of thousands of news photos from the Associated Press, as well as charts, maps and other graphics created by AP artists. You can use these images in class papers and presentations (you may not use the images in works you plan to publish without first getting permission from the AP.)
creating photographs / clip art  

  • The Information Commons has four computers equipped with scanners and software [map] that you can use to scan photographcs/drawings for use in word processing documents, PowerPoint presentations, e-mail, etc. Staff in the Information Commons can help you with how to use these. More information about using the multimedia computers.

  • Instructional Services offers some help with creating presentation graphics, and has equipment available for making digital photographs and videos -- call 257-6131 to set up an appointment.

using PowerPoint  

  • If you are having trouble getting PowerPoint to do a particular thing (import a graphic for example), then Information Commons staff can probably help you. Just ask at the desk [map], or call 257-7664. (If what you're trying to do is unusual, we may not have the answer right off the bat; in that case your problem will be referred to a specialist who will get back to you. Don't wait until the last minute to ask us!)

  • If you want stylistic advice on how to use PowerPoint effectively (your audience understands what you mean when you give your presentation), then Instructional Services offers help with this. Call 257-6131 to set up an appointment.
speaking/presenting in public  
Library Group Study Rooms are available to all students for reservation on a first come, first served basis. These can be used for practing presentations. Most of the rooms have white boards, and network connections that can be used with laptop computers checked out from the Information Commons Help desk, or with laptops set up for use in dorms. Keys for group study rooms are checked out at the Circulation Desk.
 
The Center for Instructional Services has projectors, screens, and other presentation equipment available for checkout and use on campus. Plan to reserve equipment well in advance of when you need to use it. To find out if what you need is available, call: (817) 257-7121.

If you are a Business student, the Center for Professional Communication in the Neeley School offers workshops, practice facilities, handouts, competency exams, and other resources designed to help you communicate effectively both orally and in writing. You must currently be enrolled in a business class, or be a business major or business graduate student to use the CPC.