Summary (^179)
Now that you have read the chapter, return to the introduction. From the informa-
tion provided, how effective do you think Edith Widder’s visuals were overall? Give a
reason for your answer.
Summary
As a speaker in a media-saturated culture, it is to your advantage to use visual and audio
support to illustrate your ideas, keep your audience’s focus, and make abstract ideas more
concrete. By dual coding, your listeners better comprehend and retain information.
Before you make a single visual, sit down with your outline and determine where sup-
port is essential, where it would be useful, where variety is needed, and where audio or
visual aids would accommodate for a variety of learning styles. If you can state the pur-
pose for every item of support you use, you will have a meaningful package.
Use three-dimensional objects, models, and people when they are legal, practical,
and accessible. Or use two-dimensional objects that can be displayed in a variety of
ways. These include lists, charts, graphs, photographs, drawings, diagrams, and maps.
Finally, don’t overlook the potential of audio or video recordings that will help your
listeners get your message. They are especially helpful for helping nonnative speakers of
English understand and be understood.
Choose a means of display that suits your topic and the room in which you will
speak. Various projectors—LCD or DLP, document cameras, and overhead projectors—
chalkboards or whiteboards, and interactive boards combine with poster boards, flip
charts, and handouts as high-tech and low-tech ways to present visual aids. All have
advantages and disadvantages, but have a Plan B in case the equipment fails somehow.
Emerging technologies have produced sophisticated presentation programs that
allow you to create professional-appearing visuals and multimedia presentations for
enhancing (not replacing) your speech. Use proven principles of design, including sim-
plicity, repetition, contrast, and spacing. Choose readable fonts and color that empha-
sizes ideas. And follow a few rules: Display visuals only when you are discussing them,
and talk to the audience, not to the visuals. Make sure your aids are visible and audible
to everyone. Rehearse your presentation in advance of your speech.
Remember that competent use of visual materials enhances your credibility.
Professional-looking resources create more positive impressions than those that appear
to be scribbled out just minutes before your presentation. Further, a disastrous inci-
dent of equipment failure may actually increase your credibility if your listeners see you
handle the stressful situation with composure. And you can demonstrate good sense and
ethical awareness by selecting and presenting only visual support that does not violate
your listeners’ expectations.Study and Review
Public Speaking: Concepts and Skills for a Diverse Society offers a broad range of
resources that will help you better understand the material in this chapter, complete
assignments, and succeed on tests. Your MindTap resources feature the following:
• Speech videos with critical viewing questions, speech outlines, and transcripts
• Interactive versions of this chapter’s Stop and Check activities, as well as Critical
Thinking Exercises and Application Exercises
• Speech Builder Express
• Weblinks related to chapter content
• Study and review tools such as self-quizzes and an interactive glossaryReflect on what you’ve
learned.Copyright 2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.