Page 291 - Essentials of Human Communication

270 ChaPtEr 13 The Informative Speech

Babbling Lallation Echolalia Communication

fIGure 13.4
a flowchart
This flowchart identifies the stages a child goes through in learning language. You can use such charts
to guide your audience through an entire speech—where each section of the chart might represent a
main point of your speech.

Table 13.1 the Many forms of presentation aids
Once you’ve decided on the type of presentation aid you’ll use, you need to decide on the medium you’ll use to present it.
Acquire skill in using both low-tech (the chalkboard or flip chart) and high-tech (the computerized slide show) resources.
In this way you’ll be able to select your presentation aids from the wide array available, choosing on the basis of the mes-
sage you want to communicate and the audience to whom you’ll be speaking.
type of aid uses suggestions
whiteboards Used to record key terms or names, ● Don’t use whiteboards when you can
important numerical data, or even the present the same information with a
main points of your speech (in very preplanned chart or model.
abbreviated form). ● Keep what you write brief; don’t lose
audience eye contact.
Chartboards Used to present one or two relatively ● Be sure you have a way of holding
Large semirigid boards that come in a simple graphs, a few word charts, or dia- the boards up—for example, with
variety of colors and sizes. grams that you want to display during masking tape or with the aid of an
your speech. audience member.
● Black lettering on a white back-
ground generally works best; it’s easi-
est for people to read.
Flip Charts Used to record a variety of information, ● Be sure the print is legible to the back
Large pads of paper (usually about 24 × such as key concepts or main points. of the audience.
24 inches) mounted on a stand or easel. Writing these out before the speech ● Keep the charts simple.
saves you the time of writing them
during the speech.

Slides and Transparencies Helpful in showing a series of visuals ● Follow the general suggestions for
Visuals created with many of the popu- that may be of very different types— using computer-assisted presenta-
lar computer programs (see “Computer- from photographs and illustrations to tions (p. 371).
Assisted Presentations,” p. 371.) charts and tables.
audios and Videos Adds variety to your presentation and ● Videos are best used in small doses; in
Basically, you have two options with vid- helps to maintain audience attention. many instances just 20- or 30-second
eos or audios: record a scene from a film A speech on advertising jingles or music excerpts will prove sufficient to
or television show or create your own. styles would be greatly helped by having illustrate your point.
actual samples for the audience to hear.

Handouts Used to explain complex material and to ● Be careful: if you distribute your
Printed materials that are distributed to provide listeners with a permanent record handouts during your speech, you
the audience A variety of handouts can of some aspect of your speech. They are run the risk of your listeners reading
be easily prepared with many of the also useful for presenting complex infor- the handout and not concentrating
computer presentation packages that mation that you want your audience to on your speech.
we’ll consider later in this chapter. refer to throughout the speech. Handouts ● If you distribute your handouts at the
encourage listeners to take notes— end of the speech, they may never be
especially if you leave enough white space read. Encourage your audience to
on each page or even provide a specific read them by including additional
place for notes—which keeps them material (and giving your audience
actively involved in your presentation. an idea of what you’ve included).