diff --git a/_examples/presentation/simple/main.go b/_examples/presentation/simple/main.go
index 93d4fe7ab0..47ed53312a 100644
--- a/_examples/presentation/simple/main.go
+++ b/_examples/presentation/simple/main.go
@@ -2,13 +2,40 @@
 package main
 
 import (
+	"log"
+
+	"baliance.com/gooxml/color"
+	"baliance.com/gooxml/measurement"
+	"baliance.com/gooxml/schema/soo/dml"
+
 	"baliance.com/gooxml/presentation"
 )
 
 func main() {
 	ppt := presentation.New()
-	slide := ppt.AddSlide()
-	_ = slide
+	for i := 0; i < 5; i++ {
+		slide := ppt.AddSlide()
+
+		tb := slide.AddTextBox()
+		tb.Properties().SetGeometry(dml.ST_ShapeTypeStar10)
+
+		tb.Properties().SetWidth(3 * measurement.Inch)
+		pos := measurement.Distance(i) * measurement.Inch
+		tb.Properties().SetPosition(pos, pos)
+
+		tb.Properties().SetSolidFill(color.AliceBlue)
+		tb.Properties().LineProperties().SetSolidFill(color.Blue)
+
+		p := tb.AddParagraph()
+		p.Properties().SetAlign(dml.ST_TextAlignTypeCtr)
+
+		r := p.AddRun()
+		r.SetText("gooxml")
+		r.Properties().SetSize(24 * measurement.Point)
 
+	}
+	if err := ppt.Validate(); err != nil {
+		log.Fatal(err)
+	}
 	ppt.SaveToFile("simple.pptx")
 }
diff --git a/_examples/presentation/simple/simple.pptx b/_examples/presentation/simple/simple.pptx
index f44837c323..3bebddc443 100644
Binary files a/_examples/presentation/simple/simple.pptx and b/_examples/presentation/simple/simple.pptx differ
diff --git a/drawing/paragraphproperties.go b/drawing/paragraphproperties.go
index d0d428603d..285ca94686 100644
--- a/drawing/paragraphproperties.go
+++ b/drawing/paragraphproperties.go
@@ -36,3 +36,8 @@ func (p ParagraphProperties) SetNumbered(scheme dml.ST_TextAutonumberScheme) {
 		p.x.BuAutoNum.TypeAttr = scheme
 	}
 }
+
+// SetAlign controls the paragraph alignment
+func (p ParagraphProperties) SetAlign(a dml.ST_TextAlignType) {
+	p.x.AlgnAttr = a
+}
diff --git a/drawing/shapeproperties.go b/drawing/shapeproperties.go
index 310330f664..9fbeee2a21 100644
--- a/drawing/shapeproperties.go
+++ b/drawing/shapeproperties.go
@@ -8,7 +8,9 @@
 package drawing
 
 import (
+	"baliance.com/gooxml"
 	"baliance.com/gooxml/color"
+	"baliance.com/gooxml/measurement"
 
 	"baliance.com/gooxml/schema/soo/dml"
 )
@@ -53,3 +55,50 @@ func (s ShapeProperties) LineProperties() LineProperties {
 	}
 	return LineProperties{s.x.Ln}
 }
+
+func (s ShapeProperties) ensureXfrm() {
+	if s.x.Xfrm == nil {
+		s.x.Xfrm = dml.NewCT_Transform2D()
+	}
+}
+
+// SetWidth sets the width of the shape.
+func (s ShapeProperties) SetWidth(w measurement.Distance) {
+	s.ensureXfrm()
+	if s.x.Xfrm.Ext == nil {
+		s.x.Xfrm.Ext = dml.NewCT_PositiveSize2D()
+	}
+	s.x.Xfrm.Ext.CxAttr = int64(w / measurement.EMU)
+}
+
+// SetHeight sets the height of the shape.
+func (s ShapeProperties) SetHeight(h measurement.Distance) {
+	s.ensureXfrm()
+	if s.x.Xfrm.Ext == nil {
+		s.x.Xfrm.Ext = dml.NewCT_PositiveSize2D()
+	}
+	s.x.Xfrm.Ext.CyAttr = int64(h / measurement.EMU)
+}
+
+// SetSize sets the width and height of the shape.
+func (s ShapeProperties) SetSize(w, h measurement.Distance) {
+	s.SetWidth(w)
+	s.SetHeight(h)
+}
+
+// SetPosition sets the position of the shape.
+func (s ShapeProperties) SetPosition(x, y measurement.Distance) {
+	if s.x.Xfrm.Off == nil {
+		s.x.Xfrm.Off = dml.NewCT_Point2D()
+	}
+	s.x.Xfrm.Off.XAttr.ST_CoordinateUnqualified = gooxml.Int64(int64(x / measurement.EMU))
+	s.x.Xfrm.Off.YAttr.ST_CoordinateUnqualified = gooxml.Int64(int64(y / measurement.EMU))
+}
+
+// SetGeometry sets the shape type of the shape
+func (s ShapeProperties) SetGeometry(g dml.ST_ShapeType) {
+	if s.x.PrstGeom == nil {
+		s.x.PrstGeom = dml.NewCT_PresetGeometry2D()
+	}
+	s.x.PrstGeom.PrstAttr = g
+}
diff --git a/presentation/presentation.go b/presentation/presentation.go
index f7836312f3..22e856bf15 100644
--- a/presentation/presentation.go
+++ b/presentation/presentation.go
@@ -232,10 +232,20 @@ func (p *Presentation) X() *pml.Presentation {
 	return p.x
 }
 
+func (p *Presentation) nextSlideID() uint32 {
+	id := uint32(256)
+	for _, s := range p.x.SldIdLst.SldId {
+		if s.IdAttr >= id {
+			id = s.IdAttr + 1
+		}
+	}
+	return id
+}
+
 // AddSlide adds a new slide to the presentation.
 func (p *Presentation) AddSlide() Slide {
 	sd := pml.NewCT_SlideIdListEntry()
-	sd.IdAttr = 256
+	sd.IdAttr = p.nextSlideID()
 	p.x.SldIdLst.SldId = append(p.x.SldIdLst.SldId, sd)
 
 	slide := pml.NewSld()
@@ -250,24 +260,6 @@ func (p *Presentation) AddSlide() Slide {
 	slide.CSld.SpTree.GrpSpPr.Xfrm.ChOff = slide.CSld.SpTree.GrpSpPr.Xfrm.Off
 	slide.CSld.SpTree.GrpSpPr.Xfrm.ChExt = slide.CSld.SpTree.GrpSpPr.Xfrm.Ext
 
-	/*
-		c := pml.NewCT_GroupShapeChoice()
-		slide.CSld.SpTree.Choice = append(slide.CSld.SpTree.Choice, c)
-		sp := pml.NewCT_Shape()
-		c.Sp = append(c.Sp, sp)
-
-		sp.NvSpPr.NvPr.Ph = pml.NewCT_Placeholder()
-		sp.NvSpPr.NvPr.Ph.TypeAttr = pml.ST_PlaceholderTypeCtrTitle
-
-		sp.TxBody = dml.NewCT_TextBody()
-		para := dml.NewCT_TextParagraph()
-		sp.TxBody.P = append(sp.TxBody.P, para)
-
-		run := dml.NewEG_TextRun()
-		para.EG_TextRun = append(para.EG_TextRun, run)
-		run.R = dml.NewCT_RegularTextRun()
-		run.R.T = "testing 123"
-	*/
 	p.slides = append(p.slides, slide)
 	srelID := p.prels.AddAutoRelationship(gooxml.DocTypePresentation, gooxml.OfficeDocumentType,
 		len(p.slides), gooxml.SlideType)
@@ -478,11 +470,12 @@ func (p *Presentation) Validate() error {
 	if err := p.x.Validate(); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	for i, s := range p.slides {
+	for i, s := range p.Slides() {
 		if err := s.ValidateWithPath(fmt.Sprintf("Slide[%d]", i)); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 	}
+
 	for i, sm := range p.masters {
 		if err := sm.ValidateWithPath(fmt.Sprintf("SlideMaster[%d]", i)); err != nil {
 			return err
diff --git a/presentation/slide.go b/presentation/slide.go
index b6a06df55e..516f0cd79f 100644
--- a/presentation/slide.go
+++ b/presentation/slide.go
@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@ package presentation
 import (
 	"errors"
 
+	"baliance.com/gooxml/measurement"
+	"baliance.com/gooxml/schema/soo/dml"
+
 	"baliance.com/gooxml/schema/soo/pml"
 )
 
@@ -68,3 +71,47 @@ func (s Slide) GetPlaceholderByIndex(idx uint32) (PlaceHolder, error) {
 	}
 	return PlaceHolder{}, errors.New("unable to find placeholder")
 }
+
+// ValidateWithPath validates the slide passing path informaton for a better
+// error message
+func (s Slide) ValidateWithPath(path string) error {
+	// schema checks
+	if err := s.x.ValidateWithPath(path); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	// stuff we've figured out
+	for _, c := range s.x.CSld.SpTree.Choice {
+		for _, sp := range c.Sp {
+			if sp.TxBody != nil {
+				if len(sp.TxBody.P) == 0 {
+					return errors.New(path + " : slide shape with a txbody must contain paragraphs")
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// AddTextBox adds an empty textbox to a slide.
+func (s Slide) AddTextBox() TextBox {
+	c := pml.NewCT_GroupShapeChoice()
+	s.x.CSld.SpTree.Choice = append(s.x.CSld.SpTree.Choice, c)
+
+	sp := pml.NewCT_Shape()
+	c.Sp = append(c.Sp, sp)
+	sp.SpPr = dml.NewCT_ShapeProperties()
+	sp.SpPr.Xfrm = dml.NewCT_Transform2D()
+	sp.SpPr.PrstGeom = dml.NewCT_PresetGeometry2D()
+	sp.SpPr.PrstGeom.PrstAttr = dml.ST_ShapeTypeRect
+	sp.TxBody = dml.NewCT_TextBody()
+	sp.TxBody.BodyPr = dml.NewCT_TextBodyProperties()
+	sp.TxBody.BodyPr.WrapAttr = dml.ST_TextWrappingTypeSquare
+	sp.TxBody.BodyPr.SpAutoFit = dml.NewCT_TextShapeAutofit()
+
+	tb := TextBox{sp}
+	tb.Properties().SetWidth(3 * measurement.Inch)
+	tb.Properties().SetHeight(1 * measurement.Inch)
+	tb.Properties().SetPosition(0, 0)
+	return tb
+}
diff --git a/presentation/textbox.go b/presentation/textbox.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..585951b8fc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/presentation/textbox.go
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+// Copyright 2017 Baliance. All rights reserved.
+//
+// Use of this source code is governed by the terms of the Affero GNU General
+// Public License version 3.0 as published by the Free Software Foundation and
+// appearing in the file LICENSE included in the packaging of this file. A
+// commercial license can be purchased by contacting sales@baliance.com.
+
+package presentation
+
+import (
+	"baliance.com/gooxml/drawing"
+	"baliance.com/gooxml/schema/soo/dml"
+	"baliance.com/gooxml/schema/soo/pml"
+)
+
+// TextBox is a text box within a slide.
+type TextBox struct {
+	x *pml.CT_Shape
+}
+
+// AddParagraph adds a paragraph to the text box
+func (t TextBox) AddParagraph() drawing.Paragraph {
+	p := dml.NewCT_TextParagraph()
+	t.x.TxBody.P = append(t.x.TxBody.P, p)
+	return drawing.MakeParagraph(p)
+}
+
+// Properties returns the properties of the TextBox.
+func (t TextBox) Properties() drawing.ShapeProperties {
+	if t.x.SpPr == nil {
+		t.x.SpPr = dml.NewCT_ShapeProperties()
+	}
+	return drawing.MakeShapeProperties(t.x.SpPr)
+}