the Art of Public Speaking Ch. 13

Visual aid: model

an object, usually built to scale, that represents another object in detail

Visual aid: photograph

normal sized are generally too small and can be distracting. Must be large enough to see without straining

Visual aid: graph

a visual aid used to show statistical trends and patterns

Pie graph

best for simple distribution patterns

Bar graph

best for comparison among two or more items

Line graph

uses one or more lines to show changes in statisitics over time or space

Bar graph

uses vertical or horizontal bars to show comparisons among two or more items

Charts

especially useful for summarizing large blocks of information OR showing the steps in a process: usually seen in a list form

Transparency

visual aid drawn, written or printed on a sheet of clear acetate and shown on an overhead projector

Multimedia presentation

speech that combines several kinds of visual and/or audio aids in the same talk

Speaker as visual aid

demonstrate an action by showing how it is completed

Guidelines for visual aids

1. prepare them in advance
2. keep them simple
3. make sure they are large enough for the entire audience to see easily
4. use fonts that are easy to read
5. use a limited number of fonts

More visual aid guidelines

1. use color effectively; don't use red and green together
2. contrast print and background colors
3. avoid using the chalkboard (time consuming and less neat)
4. display visual aids where they can be seen
5. avoid passing visual aids among the audience (

Final word on visual aids

1. talk to the audience, NOT the visual aid (keep eye contact)
2. explain visual aids clearly and concisely (the importance needs to be stated)
3. practice