Generating Marp Slides

Workflow

Generate slides in two stages. Complete Stage 1 before Stage 2.

Stage 1: Outline

Given source material, produce a numbered slide outline — not full content.

Rules:

• Target 8–12 slides (adjust based on content density)
• Write each title as an assertion — a complete statement, not a topic label
• Good: "Revenue grew 34% YoY"
• Bad: "Revenue Overview"
• First slide: title slide. Last slide: summary or call-to-action
• Format: slide number, assertion title, one-sentence content description

Present the outline for approval before proceeding.

Stage 2: Full Marp Markdown

Convert the approved outline into a complete Marp Markdown file:

---
marp: true
theme: default
paginate: true
---

# Assertion Title

- Bullet (max 12 words)
- Another bullet
- Supporting evidence

<!-- Speaker notes for the presenter -->

---

# Next Slide Assertion Title

Rules:

• YAML frontmatter: marp: true, theme: default, paginate: true
• Separate slides with --- on its own line
• # for slide titles (assertion titles from the outline)
• Maximum 4 bullets per slide, each under 12 words
• **bold** for key terms only
• <!-- Speaker notes --> on every slide
• Where a visual would help: <!-- IMAGE: description -->
• Never invent data not in the source material

Self-review

After drafting, verify before delivering:

• [ ] Every number, name, and claim matches the source material
• [ ] Each slide makes exactly one point
• [ ] No bullet exceeds ~12 words
• [ ] Titles read in sequence tell a coherent story
• [ ] Every slide has speaker notes

Fix all issues inline.

Design rules

1. One message per slide. If the point needs more than one sentence to state, split into two slides.
2. Assertion-evidence structure. Title = complete sentence asserting the key point. Body = evidence supporting it.
3. Less text, more signal. Fragments that convey key data, not full sentences.
4. Progressive narrative. Sequence: context → evidence → implications → action.

Marp image syntax

Export

marp slides.md --pdf                      # PDF (best for sharing)
marp slides.md --pptx                     # PowerPoint
marp slides.md --html                     # HTML
marp slides.md --pdf --allow-local-files  # PDF with local images

Edge cases

• Very short source material (3–4 sentences): Reduce to 4–5 slides. Skip the outline stage — draft directly.
• Very long source material (>2000 words): Summarize first, then generate slides from the summary.
• User needs executable code or LaTeX in slides: Use Quarto + Reveal.js instead of Marp (see references/03-quality-export-example.md).
• User needs native PowerPoint without Marp: Use SlideDeck AI (see references/03-quality-export-example.md).

Reference material

• Toolchain, detailed workflow, content generation principles: references/01-workflow-and-content-generation.md
• Design principles, theming, visual enrichment: references/02-design-theming-visuals.md
• Export options, worked example, alternative formats: references/03-quality-export-example.md