Public Speaking: Chapter 14 Presentation Aids Steven A. Beebe & Susan J. Beebe

“The soul never thinks without a picture.” - Aristotle

Top Ten Fun with Visual Aids Suggestions 3 10 Procrastinate, so you can prepare your aids in the 2:00am quiet of your home. 8 Distribute handouts so the audience will have paper for doodling and spitball ammunition during your speech. 9 Your speech will be much more entertaining if you don’t practice with your aid. That way there’s no telling what might happen!

Top Ten Fun with Visual Aids Suggestions 4 7 Don’t allow your buddy to throw you when you demonstrate the wrestling hold that made you the state champ! 5 In a boring round of speeches, the suspense of waiting for a poster to fall off the easel can stimulate the audience. 4 Pie graphs are available at your local bakery. 6 A photo circulating around the room may be more fun for the audience than your speech is.

Top Ten Fun with Visual Aids Suggestions 5 3 Darken the room for videos and slide shows so your classmates can take a much-needed nap. 1 2 With a chart, the more lines is better, if your audience is confused - then your credibility has to go up! Remember Murphy’s Law – “Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong!”

The Value of Presentation Aids Audience understands ideas better. Audience remembers ideas more. Listeners can organize ideas better. Gain and maintain audience attention more effectively.

The Value of Presentation Aids Display sequence of steps clearer. Help promote visual rhetoric: “process of using images as an integrated element in the total communication effort.”

Types of Presentation Aids Three-dimensional Models:good when actual objects are difficult or impossible. People: good when assistance is needed to illustrate a concept.

Types of Presentation Aids Two-dimensional Drawings Photographs Slides Maps, and

Types of Presentation Aids Two-dimensional Graphs.  Bar: for comparisons.  Pie: for distributions.  Line: for progressions.  Picture: for illustrations. Charts.

Types of Presentation Aids Tools Two-dimensional Flipcharts. Chalkboards & whiteboards. Overhead transparencies. Computer-generated aids.

Show & Tell Time

Types of Presentation Aids Tips for two-dimensional, computer- generated aids: Use limited text. Use bullets & parallel structure. Use headings to summarize theme. Control PowerPoint images. Repeat visual elements. Choose appropriate & easy-to-see typefaces & fonts. Use high-contrast colors.

Appropriate and Easy-to-see Typefaces & Fonts

Which are appropriate, easy-to-see?

Use Limited Text Maintain Consistency With size. With color. With bullets. With fonts.

Consistency in Size, color, bullets, fonts.

Consistency in Size, color, bullets, fonts.

Use High-Contrast Colors Some combinations have low–contrast. Others have high–contrast. Which color combination Is easier on your eyes?

Colors: Low –Contrast & High–contrast

Colors: Low –Contrast & High–contrast Colors: Low –Contrast & High–contrast

College Choices Flow Chart

Employment Status of Undergraduates

Online Users

Types of Presentation Aids Audiovisual Aids DVDs. CDs. Videotapes. iPods. Other MP3 players.

Types of Presentation Aids Tips for Using Audiovisual Aids Pick best excerpts. Rehearse with equipment. Don’t play long portions. Make volume reasonable.

Guidelines for Developing Presentation Aids Make easy to see. Keep simple. Select right ones. Avoid dangerous or illegal ones.

Guidelines for Using Presentation Aids Rehearse with your aid. Focus eye contact on audience, not the aid. Explain the aid. Do not distribute the aid. Use animals with caution.

Guidelines for Using Presentation Aids Manage handouts effectively.  Do not distribute during speech.  Tell listeners when to refer to handouts.  Number pages of handouts.  Prepare overheads to match.  Handouts can summarize key ideas for audience to remember.

Guidelines for Using Presentation Aids Time the presentation aid appropriately.  Remove when finished referring to it.  Position it ahead of time.  Consider asking others to help you with the viewing of the aid. Use technology effectively. Remember Murphy’s Law.