USING VISUAL AIDS


ADVANTAGES

* A picture is worth a thousand words
* your speaking time is limited
        -- visual aids allow summary or compression of complex information
* your audience is visually literate and visually oriented
        --we are accustomed to receiving two channels: verbal/visual
* visual aids add strong interest to your speech
* visual aids can aid retention
* visual aids can enhance every aspect of your speech

 

TYPES OF VISUAL AIDS


demonstrations

* show us the steps of a process when you can

models

* great for informative speeches
* make sure it is large enough
* if too big, perhaps a drawing would be more suitable

 

photos

* size consideration: photos are usually too small
* solutions:

        -- enlargement on a color copier
        -- enlargement onto transparencies
        -- scan and upload to the internet

* internet example

drawings

* be clear if not aesthetic; you needn't be an artist, but:
        -- be legible
        -- keep it simple
        -- keep it large enough to see from a distance
        -- highlight most important information with color

graphs

* great for statistics
* great for a series of related numbers (which could be tedious to listen to)
* great way to show percentages of a whole
* great way to indicate trends over time

some examples:

 

 

 

DISTRIBUTION GRAPH

  • Changes over time
  • Trends
  • Forecasts

 

 

 

PIE CHART

  • Simple distributions
  • Parts of the whole
  • Percentages

 

 

 

BAR CHART

  • Comparisons
  • Amounts by time

 

Other kinds of charts

* summarizing large blocks of information
        -- previewing your main points
        --
Example using the Internet

* showing the steps of a process during a process speeches

overhead transparencies

* Easy and cheap
* effective
* Kinko's or laser printer

 

other mediums

* audio recorder
        -- testimony from interview
        -- music that illustrates speech topic

* instruments
        -- several students have successfully integrated live music into speech
        -- some have not:
                -- don't play it for too long
                -- it should support topic, not use up time

* video
        -- several students have successfully integrated video into speech
        -- some have not:
                -- don't play video for too long
                -- it should support topic, not use up time
                -- the more technical your aids, the more things
can go wrong

* internet
        -- there is a portability advantage:
                -- you upload your cross-platform files to web
                -- you can access your visual aids from any browser

* computer mediated
        -- presentation packages create dynamic visual aids
        -- make sure application is cross-platform: pc or mac
        -- caution:
                -- the more technical your aids, the more things
can go wrong

TIPS FOR USING VISUAL AIDS

* avoid using chalkboard
        -- you have to turn away to write
        -- not a good idea!
        -- writing message a distraction
* visual aids must be visible and legible
        -- check the room for sight-lines
        -- check any electronic equipment
                -- make sure you know how to use it
                -- technical snafus can rattle you during your speech
* prepare in advance
* integrate visual aids into speech
* rehearse using them
* rehearse maintaining speech flow as you explain visual aids
* maintain eye contact
* don't pass out items to the audience during speech
         -- (afterwards, perhaps)
* reveal visual aids only as needed
         -- having them out too soon can be a distraction
* use them! don't just display them!
        --talk them through
        --describe their features
        --interpret statistics and percentages

 

 

 


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