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The Art of Public Speaking
Using Visual Aids
Advantages of visual aids
Another advantage of visual aids is interest. The interest generated by visual images is so strong that visual aids are now used routinely in many areas, not just speechmaking. Still another advantage of visual aids is retention. Visual images often stay with us longer than verbal ones. We've all heard that words can "go in one ear and out the other." Visual images tend to last. For all these reasons, you will find visual aids of great value in your speeches. Let us look first at the kinds of usual aids you are likely to use, then at guidelines for preparing visual aids, and finally at some tips for using visual aidseffectively.
Bring the object of your talk to class can be an excellent way to clarify your ideas and give them dramatic impact. In certain situations you might use living objects as visual aids. If the item you want to discuss is too large, too small, or unavailable, you may be able to work with a model.1 One kind is a small-scale model of a large object. A second kind of model is a large-scale representa-tion of a small object. In the absence of an object or a model, you may be able to use photographs. Lawyers often employ photographs in trials to show the crime scene or to dramatize evidence for the jury. Business speakers use them to illustrate new product lines; architects to show prospective clients other buildings the firm has designed. Diagrams, sketches, and other kinds of drawings are superb alternatives to photographs. They are inexpensive to make. Moreover, since they are drawn specifically for one speech, they can be designed to illustrate your points exactly. This more than compensates for what they may lack in realism. Graphs2 are a good way to simplify and clarify statistics. Audiences often have trouble grasping a complex series of numbers. You can ease their difficulty by using graphs to show statistical trends and patterns. The most common types are theline graph,3 pie graph4 and bar graph5. Charts6 are particularly useful for summarizing large blocks of information. By listing categories on a chart, the speaker can make it easier for listeners to keep the information straight. Gujdelines for preparing visual aids Whether you are creating visual aids by hand or designing them on a computer, there are three basic guidelines you should follow to make your aids clear and visually appealing. 1. No matter what visual aids you plan to use, prepare them well before the day your speech is due. It means you will have the time and resources to devise creative, attractive aids that will truly enhance your speech and you can use them while practicing the speech. 2. Visual aids should be simple, clear, and to the point. 3. When you design a visual aid, keep in mind the size of the room in which you will be speaking. Make sure the aid is big enough to be seen easily by everyone in the room.
In addition to selecting and preparing your visual
aids with care, visual aids need to be presented skillfully. Try to
avoid writing or drawing visual aids on the chalkboard. Nor should you
pass visual aids among the audience. Instead, display each aid only
while you are talking about it, and be sure to display it where everyone
can see it without straining. When presenting a visual aid, maintain
eye contact with your listeners. Talk to the audience, not to the aid,
and explain the aid clearly and concisely. |
Visual
aids offer several advantages. The primary advantage is clarity. If
you are discussing an object, you can make your message clearer by showing
the object or some representation of it. If you are citing statistics,
showing how something works, or demonstrating a technique, a visual
aid will make your information more vivid to your audience. After all,
we live in a visual age. Television and movies have conditioned us to
expect a visual image. By using visual aids in your speeches, you often
will make it easier for listeners to understand exactly what you are
trying to communicate.