Build a Presentation in PowerPoint

1Overview

Where to click

1. PowerPoint
2. Blank presentation
3. Home
4. Copilot
5. your memo (or file 05A)

2Watch where to click Illustration - not the actual Copilot screen

A simplified, labeled diagram of the clicks. It is not the actual Copilot screen. The step list below the player is the text version.

3Do it: step by step

Check off each step as you go. Your progress saves in this browser.

Path B (Copilot Chat only)? These steps are for Path A. Use the Path B steps in the Files step instead.

1. Get the practice filesFiles already in your OneDrive (Step 0)? Pick them there when you attach; nothing to download. Otherwise: Path A: download file 05A (05A_Sample_Memo.docx) from the Files step and save it to your OneDrive so Copilot in PowerPoint can find it. If you did Lab 4, you can use your own memo instead. Path B: nothing to download. The Files step has the memo text to paste.
2. Watch where to clickPlay the demo, then open PowerPoint → Blank presentation → Home → Copilot → your memo (or file 05A).
3. Generate the slidesUnder Create prompt select Copy prompt, paste it into the Copilot pane, and select Send. Review the outline, then select Generate slides.
4. Make one changePaste the refinement prompt into the Copilot pane and select Send. Make only this one change.
5. Check every numberCompare every number on every slide with the memo.
6. Check the resultDid any slide gain a claim the memo never made?
7. Use the Five ChecksSource, Verification, Context, Resilience, Authorized Owner. Ask each one before you use the answer. The Toolkit page lists the five questions.
8. Pass the quizAnswer every quiz question correctly. This step checks itself off.

4Prompts: vague vs detailed

Follow the brackets. The detailed prompt is built from the four C.H.A.T. parts: [Context], [How come], [Assign task], and [Type of output]. Keep the labels when you paste it; Copilot reads them fine, and they help you check that each part is there.

Compare a vague prompt with a detailed, source-checkable prompt. The activity below separates the request from the Guardrails you need before use.

Make a presentation from this.

[Context] I am presenting the project memo to department directors.
[How come] Every claim and number on the slides must also appear in the memo.
[Assign task] Create a five-slide presentation or outline from the memo I shared (file 05A or my own memo) for department directors. Use only information in the memo.
[Type of output] Five slides: the problem, the evidence, the options, the recommendation, and next steps. For each slide, give a title and up to five bullets.

Fix the slides.

[Context] Same presentation or outline as the Create prompt.
[How come] I am making one change at a time so I can see exactly what changed.
[Assign task] Reduce the text on the evidence slide. Change nothing else.
[Type of output] Cut it down to three short bullets.

5Quiz

6Path B Text Pack and downloads

Download the practice files (Path A)

Path A (full access): these downloads are for you. Save them where Copilot can reach them (OneDrive for the Office app labs). Path B: nothing to download; the files are below as text, ready to paste. Path C: nothing to download; read the text below when you check sources.

Path B (Chat only): short steps

[Context] I am presenting the project memo to department directors.
[How come] Every claim and number on the slides must also appear in the memo.
[Assign task] Create a five-slide presentation or outline from the memo I shared (file 05A or my own memo) for department directors. Use only information in the memo.
[Type of output] Five slides: the problem, the evidence, the options, the recommendation, and next steps. For each slide, give a title and up to five bullets.

[Context] Same presentation or outline as the Create prompt.
[How come] I am making one change at a time so I can see exactly what changed.
[Assign task] Reduce the text on the evidence slide. Change nothing else.
[Type of output] Cut it down to three short bullets.

FICTIONAL TRAINING FILE - The City of Fernhollow, its staff, residents and data are invented for the CPS HR Microsoft 365 Copilot workshop. Do not use real work data.

MEMORANDUM
==========
TO: Department Directors · FROM: Jordan Ekwueme, Senior Analyst · DATE: October 9, 2026 · SUBJECT: Service Request Improvement Project - Phase 1 Findings and Proposed Next Steps


Purpose
-------
This memo shares what we learned about the growing service-request backlog and the options we propose to test. It is for information; no decision is requested today.

What we found
-------------
  1. The backlog doubled between January and May 2026, from 135 to 270 open requests at month end.
  2. Average days to resolve rose from 6.1 days in January to 8.4 days in June.
  3. About 31 percent of sampled requests (300 requests, April-May) were first sent to the wrong unit.

Options we considered
---------------------
  - Keep the current process and add overtime (short-term relief only).
  - Add a single intake triage step (recommended).
  - Add Saturday intake hours (proposed by the Intake Lead; requires confirmation of staffing and cost).

Recommendation
--------------
Pilot a single intake triage step, publish a weekly backlog report, and send plain-language status updates to residents.

Risks
-----
Four of 22 positions are vacant; August data are incomplete; residents who do not use the portal may benefit less from portal updates.

Next steps
----------
Complete design in October; pilot November 2026 to January 2027 if the Department Director approves; review results in February 2027. Exact pilot start date: requires confirmation.