You need to learn how to read journal articles - read the abstract, read the introcucion, read the discussion and conclusion, read the rest - don't feel bad about stopping if it turns out not to be of use. If it is of use then read the whole thing and make notes. I can easily cover 10 articles (c150-200 pages) in a few hours that way

Nearly 45. A recent graduate popped in today and made my day as she was shocked when I said I was more than twice her age - she thought I was in my 30s :-)
I got id'd a few months ago and was thrilled until I realised it was because the cashier was under 18 :$
Last time I got properly id'd I was 29 and was so incensed that I made my then boyfriend (now husband) go home and get some id! Guess that's not going to happen again.
I found 30 really traumatic (probably because I had had two miscarriages which though unplanned made me realise I did want children) and was v unhappy in my very well paid career. 40 was MUCH better - started second career (as an academic after 16 years in finance), children out of nappies and all that and off to school; settled in house etc :-)
Lots of my friends are really shocked at what their teenage/early twenties daughters wear and the daughters think I am cool because I am not shocked. I hate to point out to the girls that I'm only not shocked because I am surrounded by it with undergrads and so have seen it all before.

I think it is great if you can mention some of the limitations with your chosen theory because it shows you have thought it through (and also means that you won't get caught out by the smart ass who points out what is wrong with it)
You could highlight the key aspects (pros adn cons) of each theory and then conclude with something along the lines of despite the limitations of theory A, it best meets the needs because...

I'd echo the dislike of reading off the screen but I do appreciate that it is difficult for people presenting in a language that is not their first one.

I'd make sure that any pictures or animations are relevant and not just a distraction.

I don't mind the images moving in but I hate it when there is a different screen transition on every page (and I would go for one of the more "boring" ones rather than one of the psycadelic ones - oh and I'm sure you wouldn't do what my 9 year old daughter wants to do which is a wacky fonts in wacky colours)

Photos and original (not necessarily done by you but unusual) images are great - bog standard (microsoft clipart bloke with ? on his head for the any questions slide) bit naff and turn me off - I'd rather no images than those.

To be fair though I do have the advantage of observtion fieldwork in cool places in my research so for a research seminar I am doing in November I have over 2400 of photos taken on my recent research trip to include. I've tried to find images that illustrate the points I am making. I also have scanned archive stuff from the 1930s as well which I am pleased with. I'm also including an anotated map.

I learnt a difficult lesson on colour schemes recently. At PhD student day I had lovely slides in shades of pink which looked fab on my computer screen but were dreadful in a poorly lit (not dark enough) lecture theatre. :-( So now if in doubt I go for (boring but legible) black on white.

A lot depends on the subject area - many companies would be looking for relevant skills. So pharma companies will be looking for biomed type degrees rather than history or social sciences.

I can get it - pm me your e-mail address.

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Wow thank you soooooooooooooo much - I would never have thought to look at journals for ideas on publishing or to look at their guidance for authors. And asking our supervisors to look over papers befpre we submit them - well I would never have thought of that one.

I guess you must be a really experienced academic to be able to impart such wisdom to us mere PhD students?

Are you full time?
I agree about writing the introducion at then end - can you just write some headings (much of which you can get from a research methods / how to write a phd book)
I have 2 literature review chapters to write by end december and I am part time and have only written 2,000 (not very good) words which I did in July before I went on my research trip; since I got back I have presented at a conference, am rewriting a non-PhD paper (need to do that for research output police at work), am writing up my research notes fomr the summer and transcribing interviews and am working on a research seminar I have to give. So I am doing lots but I just can't get into writing the literature review :-(
And teaching starts in a couple of weeks so I am getting ready for new academic year.

Must be a relief for you(up)

I feel exactly the same - international conference bring it on ; supervisors (or headof department whereI work - jibbering wreck.

I recommend Bach Rescue Remedy. :-)

I'd echo what Bleebles said. I love footnotes and HATE endnotes (esp in books). Some journals and book publishers in some disciplines won't publish with them (I know becuase my Head of Dep has finished a book and is trying to find a publisher and won't approach a couple of the top ones in the field as they don't use footnotes and apparently the footnotes are essential to his work (social science)

A lot depends on whether you are part time or full time, what your subejct is etc. I live about 40 minutes from my uni and rarely go in (maybe once a month - more in vacatiosn as I am not teaching at teh uni I work at). But I am part-time and in the Social Sciences. If you are full time (esp if funded) and / or need lab work (sciences, psychology etc) then you would probably have to go in more frequently. I really only go in to pick up library books (and few of those as journals are electronic), meet with supervisors and show my face around the place.