Real Communication An Introduction

422 Part 4  Public Speaking

The Function of Presentation Aids

Although presentation aids can be a valuable asset to a speech, heightening an

audience’s interest and helping you convey technical information, these aids

should supplement your speech, not substitute for it. Sure, you may have a mov-

ing video or shocking image to share with the audience. But if you don’t connect

it to a thoroughly researched topic, as part of a well-organized speaking outline

and effective delivery, then it will fall flat. To be truly useful, presentation aids

must enhance your speech, accomplishing three goals:

c Help listeners process and retain information. Effective presentation aids can

increase an audience’s ability to retain information by highlighting key

points in addition to helping the audience see relationships among concepts,

variables, or items. Always make a point, refer to the presentation aid, direct

the listeners’ attention to where you want them to focus, and then restate,

reiterate, or rephrase what you have said.

c Promote interest and motivation. Properly used presentation aids can engage

your audience members or at least get their attention. If you show terms,

photographs, statistics, tables, and other items that truly reinforce your

spoken message, the audience will be more likely to go along with you.

c Convey information clearly and concisely. Effective presentation aids can help

simplify complex material. There is no comparison between the amount of

time it would take you to read a series of figures versus showing them on a

table, graph, or chart. A good visual can present a lot of information in a

clear, concise, and simple matter, saving the speaker’s time for interpretation

and elaboration.

Types of Presentation Aids

Students often ask, “What type of visual aid should I use for my speech?” The

answer to that question is never entirely straightforward because it depends on

your topic, the needs of your individual speech, the constraints of your speaking

time and location, the demands of an in-person versus an online presentation,

and a myriad of additional factors. What we can share, however, is a look at the

dominant types of presentation aids and their general purposes for speakers. We

begin by considering props and models before moving on to media clips and

images, graphs and charts, posters and transparencies, flip charts and marker

boards, and presentation slideware.

Props and Models

Some things, people, places, or processes are difficult to describe with only words

and gestures. An object, or prop, removes the burden from the audience of hav-

ing to imagine what something looks like as you speak. For instance, if you are

giving an informative speech on the way to tune a guitar, you might find it dif-

ficult to explain the process without demonstrating the procedure on an actual

guitar. Adjusting a tuning key to show how it affects the pitch of a given string

would be an effective visual (and audio) aid.

Think back on a variety of

different public presenta-

tions you’ve witnessed—

speeches by fellow

students, presentations

by instructors, political

debates, and so on. What

is the most effective use of

a visual aid that you have

encountered? What is the

least effective? Why?

AND YOU?