To create a slate:

Open Final Cut.

Under the menu item Window, click on Viewer.

In the lower right corner of the Viewer, click on the icon  
                                                                                      

Choose Text

Choose Outline Text for your Personal Information Slate (36 pt font max.)
        (You'll then see a checkered screen with Sample Text in the middle)

Click on Controls at top of the Viewer.

Click on Sample Text and type your:
Name
Permanent Address
Permanent Phone Number
E-mail Address

 Choose Lower Third for your Descriptive Slate (29 pt font)

Click on Controls at top of the Viewer

Click on Sample Text 1 and type your
Slug (spell it out)

Click on Sample Text 2 and type your
Type of video (PKG, VO, PSA, etc)-Your role (Photographer/Editor)

You may choose the Font and change the Font size as needed to fit the words on the screen.  Size 36 pt. is probably the maximum for Personal Information Slates. Size 29 pt. is recommended for Descriptive Slates.

When finished, click on Video to see how it looks on the screen. Make sure your slate has 10-15% extra space on the left and right of the screen to avoid the text from being cropped out of the frame.

Do NOT use any special effects with the slate (No motion, for example).

Drag your text from the Viewer to the Browser and then drag the file to the Timeline.