Visual Aids in Public Speaking Use and Design

People Remember...

Value of Visual Aids Enhance audience understanding Enhance audience retention Assist audience in organizing ideas Gain and maintain audience attention Can illustrate sequential events or steps

Considerations in Developing Visual Aids Use aids only to clarify Use to highlight presentation Avoid using chalk/white boards

Bar Charts

Organization Chart President Vice President

Pie Chart Rock Hill, SC: Homeowners by Age 20 – and older Source: York County Housing Authority, 2005.

Other Figures

Developing Visual Aids One idea for each KISS principle Include all details Use consistent design Large enough to be seen 3 yards away Bold colors and lines with good contrast Add meaningful pictures Easy to handle

Slides to Critique

Comm 100 (regular sections) Syllabus TR Schedule - check this often Ground Rules for Discussion Informative Speech eval form (READ THIS) Persuasive Speech eval form (READ this too) Persuasive Speech eval with explanations

Syllabus TR Schedule - check this often Groundrules for Discussion Informative Speech eval form (READ THIS) Persuasive Speech eval form (READ THIS) Persuasive Speech eval with explanations Comm 100 (regular sections)

Sender Message Receiver perception Channel perception attitudes Medium attitudes beliefs experiences communication ability Feedback Verbal, Nonverbal Communication Model

Audience Attitude: Favorable The audience agrees with your views The audience agrees with your views Strategy: Reinforce their perceptions

Oral Delivery Guidelines Use natural style Show enthusiasm Use vocal variety – Rate – Pitch – Volume

Oral Delivery Guidelines Use natural style Show enthusiasm Use vocal variety Rate Pitch Volume

During the Presentation

Presenting Visual Aids Be sure they are visible to everyone in audience Maintain eye contact Show one at a time Introduce Show Explain

Adapting to the Situation Be sensitive to audience mood Adjust to poor acoustics Watch audience non-verbals

Some Final Words

Test contrast on the projector

Choice of Font Counts  Some are too fussy,  while some are too artistic.  Some are just hard to read in general,  And some are just right.  Look fro typos to.

Maintain Consistent Design A sudden change will disrupt the flow for the audience. It’s like saying “Surprise!” for no reason.

Graphics must be clear PositionTotal (N)Male (N)Female (N)% Male%Female Faculty Admin Counselor Library Both size and labeling count.

And they should enter cleanly and quietly PositionTotal (N)Male (N)Female (N)% Male%Female Faculty Admin Counselor Library Campus Gender Discrimination

The same goes for bullets. KKeep it simple KKeep it professional  Consider what works best for the audience

Avoid the full paragraph  Just as you are reading this slide and not listening to what I say, your audience will do the same during your presentation. Never display and then simply read your slides. You want the audience to listen to you and look at your slides only as you refer to them.