Visual Aids

Advantages of Using Visuals

1. gain audience's attention

2. help the audience remember your key points

3. help the audience better understand the flow of your talk

4. can also replace your (the speaker's) notes

5. help to ensure that the entire audience receives your (the speaker's) message in a uniform way (the way you want them to understand it)

Disadvantages of Using Visuals

1. can distract or overwhelm the audience

2. speaker talks to the visuals (and not to the audience)

3. equipment worries (always have a backup plan)

What types of visuals are there?

charts graphs slides overheads flipcharts video

audio multimedia handouts props computers

You must make the decision as to which type of visual you'll need for your speeches. Think about what will work best for your information and the setting of your speech.

1. You can make your own visuals.

2. You can use visuals from your resources (but you must cite them).

· As most of you are aware of, English-speaking countries place a lot of importance on mentioning the resources that you used in speeches or reports.

· When you use visuals from books, journals, magazines, or newspapers please write a short and simple form of the citation - the author (if available), the title, and the date.

· When you use visuals from the Internet - write the website address.

Example: A classmate's topic is about anthrax. She wants to show the symptoms of the disease. She got her information from a Website. She shows this overhead and cites the information as shown:

Symptoms of Anthrax

· a reddish brown sore that breaks open and forms a scab

· fever

· chills

· general discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling (malaise)

· headache

· nausea & vomiting

· shortness of breath

· cough

· congestion of the nose and throat

· pneumonia

· chest pain

· joint stiffness

· joint pain

Website address: http://health.yahoo.com/health/Diseases_and_Conditions/

Disease_Feed_Data/Anthrax/

Remember: When speaking, you should mention that a particular study found the evidence, recommended a new treatment, etc.

* This lesson was based on Public speaking for Dummies by Malcolm Kushner

* Prepared by Ms. Dyanne Lynne