Using Visual Aids In Public Speaking

ADVANTAGES OF VISUAL AIDS

• The speakers message becomes more
interesting and easy to understand when
explained both verbally and visually.
• Visual aids can increase the persuasiveness of a
speech.
• Visual aids increase the preparedness and
credibility of an average speaker.
• Visual aids help combat stage fright.
• Visual aids heighten audience interest and shift
attention from the speaker giving them greater
confidence in presentation as a whole.
 KINDS OF VISUAL AIDS
 Objects
 Models
 Photographs
 Drawings
 Graphs
 Charts
 Transparencies
 Videos
 Multimedia presentations
 Speaker
OBJECTS-
•The use of objects as visual aids involves using actual objects
as live demonstrations or props for the audience.
•Should enhance rather than detract from
a presentation.
•Choosing the appropriate object for a
presentation depends on the speaker's
preference, as well as the content and
setting of the presentation.
• Using physical objects is often
necessary when demonstrating how
to do something so that the audience
 can fully understand the procedure
or process.
 Models
Objects, usually built to scale, that represent other
objects in detail.

Kinds of Models
•Full-scale model (non reduced size/prototype)
•Small-scale model of a large object (smaller than
the original size)
•Large-scale model of a small object
 full scale model of a fighter plane

small scale model of building

 large scale working model of a motorcar

chassis and engine
 Photographs
• Must be large enough to be seen easily
by all listeners
• Convert photographs to transparencies
and show them with an overhead
projector
• Show photographs with PowerPoint or
another multimedia program
 Drawings

• Can be a useful alternative to

photographs
• Must be large enough to be seen
easily by all listeners
DRAWING
 Graphs

Visual aids used to show statistical

trends and patterns.
 Line Graph
A graph that uses one or more lines
to show changes in statistics over
time or space.
 Pie Graph
A graph that highlights segments of
a circle to show simple distribution
patterns.
 Bar Graph
A graph that uses vertical or horizontal
bars to show comparisons among two
or more items.
 Chart
A visual aid that summarizes a large block
of information, usually in list form.
 Transparencies
Visual aids drawn, written, or printed
on sheets of clear acetate and shown
with an overhead projector.
 Video
• Keep short.
• Use video only when it is essential
to communicate your message.
• Edit video so it is smoothly integrated
into your speech.
• Make sure you can run the video
equipment properly.
• Avoid low-resolution.
 Multimedia Presentation
A speech that combines several kinds
of visual and/or audio aids in the same
talk.
 The Speaker as a Visual Aid
• The speaker’s body can be used as
a visual aid when demonstrating a
procedure.
• Doing a demonstration requires
special practice to coordinate the
speaker’s words and actions.
• Use strategically.
• Use to enhance specific points.
• Don’t overpower presentation.
• Don’t read from screen.
 GUIDELINES FOR PREPARING VISUAL AIDS

• Prepare visual aids in advance.

• Keep visual aids simple.
• Make sure visual aids are large
enough.
• Use fonts that are easy to read (or as
per specification, if any).
• Use a limited number of fonts.
• Use colour effectively.
Using Limited Text
 EFFECTIVE FONTS
• Clear, easy to read
• Normal case
• Two per slide
• Standardized across slides
• Properly sized titles, body text
Fonts
 EFFECTIVE COLORS
• High contrast
• Easy to see
• Limited number
• Consistent across slides
 STRATEGIC IMAGES
• Large enough
• High-resolution
• Clear, simple
• Title included
on slide
 Guidelines for Presenting Visual Aids

• Avoid using the chalkboard for visual

aids.
• Display visual aids where listeners
can see them.
• Avoid passing visual aids among the
audience.
 BODY LANGUAGE
Following affect the way listeners respond to
the speaker :
• Personal appearance
• Movement
• Gestures
• Eye contact

Kinesics: The study of body motions as a systematic

mode of communication.
 Personal Appearance:
Listeners always see you before they hear you, so a speaker
should dress and groom appropriately to evoke a favorable
lasting impression

 Movement:
A speaker’s posture gives the audience a good idea of his state
of mind. Slouching and slumping makes you seem weak and
ineffectual, and will cause the audience to lose interest in what
you have to say. When facing an audience, remember to stand
with your back straight and your chest out. The easy way to do
this is to pull your stomach in. This will automatically push your
chest out and pull your shoulders back.
Your stance is also an important part of posture. The key is to
stay balanced and relaxed at all times. Ideally you should stand
with your feet apart, at about the length of your shoulders. For
added balance, you may also stand with one foot slightly
forward. Do not stand with your feet too wide apart or too close
together. This will weaken your balance and make you
thoroughly uncomfortable.
Eye contact

• Looking your audience in the eye is essential for making effective presentations. Eye contact helps bring
about a connection to your audience and makes it difficult for them to focus on anything else but you.
Eye contact connotes confidence, sincerity and openness, while the lack of it connotes fear, guilt, and
dishonesty.

• Hand Gestures
Gesturing with your hands can be a useful emphatic tool, provided it’s done right. You can occasionally
gesture with your hands in order to underscore a point or direct your audience’s attention towards
something interesting. The operative word here is occasionally. You are not conducting an orchestra.
Gesturing too much can distract the audience from what you’re trying to say, and may even make you
look nervous.
If you are not sure what to do with your hands, it’s perfectly alright not to gesture at all. You may keep
your hands at your sides, on the podium, or holding a microphone. Instead of gesturing, you can
underscore your points by effective pauses, facial expressions, or a change in speaking tone or
inflection.
 AUDIENCE ANALYSIS
• What is Audience Analysis?
• Audience analysis is the process of examining information
about your listeners. Analysis helps you to adapt your
message so that your listeners will respond as you wish.
• The more you know and understand about the background of
your audience and their needs, the better you can prepare
your speech.

• When we analyze our audience, there are three ways to do

this; demographic analysis, attitudinal analysis,
and environmental analysis.
 Demographic Analysis 
• This involves age, gender, culture, ethnicity, race, religion,  and 
educational level. 
•  Gender is another characteristic. It is important to find out the ratio of men to
women in the class. Also, make sure that you do not use any sexist language,
stereotypes or make jokes about gender.
• Culture is the shared knowledge, behaviour, attitudes, beliefs, values, and norms of a
group. It is very important to be sensitive to students of other culture's feelings. You
may do or say something that may offend them.
•  Ethnicity is a person's national or religious heritage.
• A person's race is a person's biological heritage. It is important to learn as much as
possible about these students before your speech, so you are sure not to offend
them or anger them.
• Another touchy subject is religion. Be very careful when you speak about different
religions because people feel very strongly about their beliefs.
• Finally, the education background of your listeners can help your choice of
vocabulary, language style, and your use of examples. This can help you select and
narrow your topic.
 Attitudinal Analysis
•  This addresses the audience's attitudes, beliefs, and values. 
• An attitude defines what a person likes or dislikes. When you choose a
topic, it is important to find out your audience's attitudes toward the
subject.
• A belief is what you believe to be true or false. You may believe that social
media is destroying the minds of young teenagers. 
• A value is "a person's beliefs or standards." You may value the future and
the young minds that will be running the future.

• If you know these three things, it will be much easier to bring your
audience to the responses that you want.  
 Environmental Analysis 
• Is finding out things like the seating arrangement, the number of people
likely to attend, and the room lighting.  
• The way the seats are arranged will affect the audience's response.
• It is also important to know how many people will be there for the
speech.
• The way the room is lighted will affect the way the audience responds. If
it is dark and the speaker is showing overheads, there will not be
conversation. But if the room is light and open, the audience may feel
more free to talk.
• The seating arrangement, the number of people and the room lighting are
all factors that will affect the speech.
•