How to Cite a Professor's PowerPoint
Professors sometimes use a PowerPoint presentation to accompany lectures. In academic writing, you will likely use such resources to support your claim. Use citation and style guidelines to cite and reference the presentation to acknowledge your sources. Check with your professor to determine which writing style you should use.
PowerPoint Lecture
PowerPoint presentations can be cited as a lecture or a personal communication in American Psychological Association style. When using in-text citations for a lecture, cite the source using the professor’s last name and date.
On your References page, include the professor’s name and date, and put the presentation title in italics, noting the PowerPoint in brackets after the title.
For example: Henry, J. (2014). Romeo and Juliet [PowerPoint presentation]. Richmond, VA.
A personal communication is cited in-text but not on your source page, for example:
(J. Henry, personal communication, February 14, 2014).
For Modern Language Association style, your Works Cited includes the venue for the lecture, and the presentation title is in quotations, for example:
Henry, John. “Romeo and Juliet.” PowerPoint presentation. XYZ University. Richmond, VA. 14 February 2014. Keynote address.
Online PowerPoint
For online PowerPoint presentations, reference American Psychological Association as previously discussed, but include the URL. For example:
Henry, J. (2014). Romeo and Juliet [PowerPoint Slides]. Retrieved from http://themakingoftragiclovestory.ppt.
List Modern Language Association as follows:
Henry, John. “Romeo and Juliet.” 14 February 2014. PowerPoint Presentation.
References
Writer Bio
Based in Virginia, Susan Harlow is an adjunct English professor and writing resource coordinator. She specializes in education and technical communication. She holds a Master of Arts in English with a concentration in literacy, technology and professional writing from Northern Arizona University.
