Creating and Using Presentational Aids

Presentational Aids: Visual, audio, or audiovisual aids that help you express ideas in your speech.

Why Use Presentational Aids The main reason to use such aids is that they

make verbal messages more concrete. Presentational aids also:

Adds variety to your speech Reduces your public speaking anxiety Increases listener retention Enhances the persuasive appeal of your speech Reaches listeners by addressing different learning

styles

Types of Presentational Aids Actual Objects Models Photographs Drawings Diagrams Maps Graphs Charts Audiovisual Materials Audio materials

Example Diagram

Example Map

Using Graphs Graphs: Representations intended to

make statistics, statistical trends, and statistical relationships clearer to the listeners. Bar graphs: Useful for comparing items. Line Graphs: Useful for representing

trends over time. Pie Graphs: Useful for representing

percentages of a whole.

Example Bar Graph

Example Line Graph

Example Pie Graph

Ways to Display Presentational Aids

Chalkboard / Whiteboard Poster board / Display board / Flipchart Handouts Overhead Projectors / Document Cameras Audio and video players Computerized slide shows (powerpoint) and

LCD’s

Constructing Presentational Aids

The aid should enhance verbal message. The aid should communicate ideas clearly.

Size – Make it large! Simplicity – Keep it simple! Use simple font. Color – The use of color can help you communicate

ideas and make your presentation clear. Limit the information on your aid. (Your slide show

should enhance your presentation, not repeat it – avoid having too much on the slide.)

Use upper and lower case letters.

The Importance of Font

Times New Roman

Avoid Cursive fontsHelvetica

Avoid Gaudy or italicized fonts

Geneva

Avoid Very thin fontsArial

Bad ChoicesGood Choices

Using Presentational Aids Practice with your presentational aid. Position your presentational aid before you

begin your speech. Explain and integrate your presentational aid. Talk to your audience, not to the

presentational aid. Disclose and conceal your presentational aid

when appropriate.

Explaining and Integrating Your Presentational Aids Reveal the aid by disclosing it to the

group. Explain what the aid is by describing

its purpose. Refer to the aid by pointing to it and to

the images and details you are talking about.

Explaining and Integrating Presentational Aids Integrate the aid by showing its

connection to the point you are making in the speech.

Remove the aid by concealing it to the group.