Public Speaking

166 CHAPTER 13^ Presentation Aids

Planning Your Presentation Aids

After you have identified the concepts that need support, your next step is to plan which

aids to use, taking into account your topic and purpose, the occasion, your audience,

and the availability of presentation technology. The key is to choose the best support,

not just the easiest to create. This section will discuss three basic types of aids: three-

dimensional visuals, two-dimensional visuals, and audio or video resources that you can

use separately or integrate into multimedia packages.

Three-Dimensional Visuals

Three-dimensional visuals in the form of objects, models, or people are helpful when

listeners need to experience a subject or see it demonstrated.

Objects

What coach would even try to convey the finer points of shooting free throws without

using a basketball? What camp counselor would explain a craft without using actual

materials? For some subjects, three-dimensional objects are essential, especially in

informative speeches that demonstrate a process.

Your topic and the setting determine whether or not an object is realistic.

For example, what object could you use for a speech about mortgages? Pandemic

preparedness? Grief counseling on campus? However, a little creative thinking applied

to many topics can come up with objects that add touch, smell, or taste to a speech.

Here are a few examples:

•   An old Beatles album for a speech about that famous band

•   Samples of sushi offered at the end of a speech explaining that food

•   A small rug for the topic of Navajo weaving

•   A small quadcopter to illustrate how tiny some unmanned aerial vehicles (AEVs, or

drones) can be

Models are good visuals
when actual objects are
unavailable.

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