An Introduction to Graphics and Graphs in Presentations

Overview Types of Graphics –Illustration –Background –Accent Charts and graphs –Types –When to use

Graphs and Graphics Types of Graphics

Illustration Drawings or photographs Reinforce the message Can distract Should be best quality Next slide is an example

Lens Effects NormalWide angle

Backgrounds Help set mood Add drama Can distract Include –Gradients –Textures –Pictures

Accents Cue audience Add humor “Personal touch” Clip art and drawings

Graphs and Graphics Charts and Graphs

General Information Make numeric info easier to grasp Detail reflects speech May mislead Sometimes used for entertainment

Basic Types Bar and column graphs Line and area graphs Pie charts

Bar/Column Graphs Discrete information Compare values at a point in time Compare one value over time

Line/Area Graphs Continuous information Show trends Suggest interpolation

Pie Charts Show parts of the whole Percentages

Recommendations First decide your purpose Choose type accordingly Keep it simple Make it clear

Common Errors Wrong type of graph Misleading labels Use of 3-D effects –(especially bad for line & pie charts) Improper scale “Chart junk”

City Population (1000s)

Student Spending

Summary Graphics can enhance a presentation –Reinforcing the message –Adding interest –Clarifying information They can also distract or mislead the audience Use them carefully