Presentational Aids

Presentational aids include audio/visual materials, lighting effects, pictures, drawings, photos, maps, graphs and charts (pie, bar, line), whiteboards, chalkboards, marker pads, overhead projections, model replicas, inanimate objects, people, and performances.

 

Handouts

1. Always have a handout that emphasizes your main theme and your five main points.

2. Match your handout graphically to your presentation.

3. Link your handout back to yourself (use appropriate letterhead or include your contact information).

4. Distribute your handouts at the end of the presentation.(Otherwise, your audience might be tempted to skip ahead or rely too heavily on the handout.)

 

Computer Slide-show Programs

Many people use computer programs such as Microsoft PowerPoint® or WordPerfect Presentation for Windows® for professional presentations. If you do:

1. Stay simple. Avoid wild colors and flowery fonts (use Times New Roman or Arial).

2. A slide should be on the screen at least 10 seconds and no more than two minutes. Don’t let an old thought remain on screen.

3. Break up a slide that is too long, combine slides that are too short.

4. Stand close enough to the computer so that you don’t have to jump back and forth to advance the slides.

 

Using Presentational Aids

Use presentational aids to simplify and clarify your speech, to create a picture, to focus attention, and to add color or sounds. Instead of notes, use your presentational aids to keep you organized and on-track.

1. Think about the purpose of your aid, how it is normally used. Does it meet your needs? If you don’t need it, don’t use it.

2. Don’t go overboard: presentational aids should add to your presentation, not overwhelm or dominate the speech. You want the audience to connect to you, not to your chart.

3. Make your aids visible, legible, and audible to the audience.

4. with visual aids, use color to break up the main points visually.

5. with slides, observe the 4x4 rule (four lines per page, four words per line).

6. use equipment that is relevant to the presentation and right for the environment.

7. interact with your aids physically to create engaging body language.

8. Always have a backup plan in case your audio or visual aids malfunction!