Public Speaking

Apply Proven Design Principles (^175)

Apply Proven Design Principles

Because of the prevalence of presentation aids, researchers are studying the effects of

specific design features on audiences. Not surprisingly, they have found that certain fonts

and background color combinations can distract audiences; in addition, sound effects and

small letters interfere with audience comprehension.^27 To avoid negative effects on your

listeners, pay attention to design, fonts, and colors as you prepare your visuals.

Design Your Slides

Many books and online resources describe ways to create professional looking, aestheti-

cally pleasing visuals. Excellent guidance on designing and using presentation aids is

accessible on your online resources. These four principles are common:

1. Simplicity:^28 Professionals such as Garr Reynolds of Presentation Zen put simplicity
   at the top of their list. Limit yourself to one idea per visual and eliminate every-
   thing that does not contribute to the message. Minimize bullet points and text.
   Use plain transitions and animation.

ethiCs in

praCtiCe Can a visual Be Unethical?

S

peakers have an ethical responsibility to do their listeners no harm. This includes any

behavior that could place listeners at risk for physical or psychological injury or harm.

Read the following true examples from classroom speeches and then discuss with your

classmates some ethical questions they raise:

•    One student killed, skinned, and cleaned a live fish in front of her stunned classmates.^26

•    Another opened his speech on terrorism creatively and dramatically with a role-play

scenario. He arranged with a couple of his friends to dress in fatigues, carry realistic but

fake automatic weapons, burst into the classroom, and order everyone to hit the floor.

He didn’t anticipate the reactions: Students screamed and cried. One person, an immi-

grant from a country where terrorist incidents were common, hyperventilated. Someone

called 9-1-1, and she ended up in the emergency room. Class ended immediately.

•    Students have displayed visuals of aborted fetuses.

•    One student showed pornographic photographs to illustrate her speech about

pornography.

Questions

1. Does any example fail to meet the standard of doing no harm, whether physically or
   psychologically? If so, which one(s)? Why?


2. Try to think from the speakers’ point of view. Why might each speaker have chosen that
   particular aid?


3. What presentation aids could each speaker have substituted?


4. How persuasive do you find shocking or offensive visual aids that stir negative
   emotions?
   If you have questions about the appropriateness or safety of any material you intend
   to use, consult your instructor in advance of your speech.

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