Chapter 20, p. 466
CHAPTER 20
Designing Presentation Aids
CHAPTER CONTENT OUTLINE
I. Keep the design simple.
A. Present one major idea per aid and try to keep presentation aids simple. Visuals that try to
communicate too many messages can overwhelm the audience.
2. Word text in active verb form.
4. Create concise titles that summarize and reinforce your message.
5. Beware of “chartjunk.”
II. Use design elements consistently.
A. To help maintain continuity, carry any key design elements—color, font, uppercase and
lowercase letters, styling (boldface, underlining, italics)—throughout each aid.
III. Select appropriate typeface styles and fonts.
A. Integrating typefaces and fonts effectively is important in designing presentation aids.
B. Serif typefaces include small strokes at the tops and bottoms of each letter; they are used
for blocks of text.
Chapter 20, p. 467
1. On slides, major headings should be 36 points or larger, subheadings 24 points, and at
least 18 points for text
2. Check that the lettering stands apart from the background.
4. Use standard uppercase and lowercase type.
6. Don’t overuse boldface, italics, or underlining. Use them sparingly to call attention to
IV. Use color carefully.
A. Color can set the mood for the presentation.
1. Keep background color consistent across all slides.
3. Use contrasting colors for typeface and graphics.
4. Limit the number of colors you use to no more than three, or up to four in complex
and detailed aids.
KEY TERMS
six-by-six rule rule of design that suggests using no more than six words per line and six lines or
bullet points per slide or other visual aid
Chapter 20, p. 468
CHAPTER STUDY GUIDE
I. SUMMARY QUESTIONS
What are some of the factors to consider when preparing a presentation aid?
Many considerations are important in constructing an effective visual aid. Size, shape, color,
proper labeling, simplicity, and continuity are all important.
What are some tips for using color?
The use of color in a presentation helps audience members see comparisons, contrasts, and
emphasis. Color also sets the mood of a presentation. Keep background color consistent, limit
II. DISCUSSION QUESTION
1. What are your own personal challenges in preparing and using presentation aids?
This is a good question to ask when you want students to express their anxieties about
public speaking. The main challenge students may recognize is the time it takes to prepare
presentation aids. Therefore, a time constraint is one challenge students may have to
overcome. Another challenge may be their lack of familiarity with certain multimedia tools.
Students can overcome this challenge if they are not afraid to ask other students or the
Chapter 20, p. 469
CONTENT PRESENTATION IDEAS
I. STUDENT ACTIVITY
1. View a YouTube video or a video of a speech from LaunchPad Solo for A Pocket Guide to
Public Speaking in which the speaker uses presentation aids. Write a brief description of the
aids used in the presentation, and evaluate the speaker’s choice of aids. Could you read the font
and typeface? Do you remember anything about the colors that were used? Do you think these
were good choices for the topic? Which aids would you use for the same topic?
Show video clips of speeches given in previous semesters, and have students watch them in
class. Things they need to consider are the type of visual aid (e.g., graph, chart) used, its
II. GROUP ACTIVITIES
Chapter 20, p. 470
1. Have students form groups to watch a famous speech or video from a previous class. The
speech viewed should not include a presentation aid. Each group should then create a
presentation aid for the speech it views, paying particular attention to the typeface styles, font
sizes, and colors selected. Let other class members critique the newly created visual aids based
on information learned in Chapters 19 and 20.
2. Prior to presenting content material from Chapter 20 of the text, students should form pairs or
groups. Hold up a series of colored crayons. Ask each group to discuss its interpretation of the
meaning of the colors shown. Have group members write down their thoughts. After you have
presented several crayons, ask each group to share its ideas on the cultural meaning of the
colors. How are group members’ ideas shaped by American culture? Would these ideas be
different if students were from another country? How?
This activity is a simple icebreaker to initiate discussion of Chapter 20. It works best when
III. ADDITIONAL QUESTION AND ACTIVITIES
QUESTION
The following question may be used by instructors to help illustrate important points in the chapter
and to facilitate students’ learning of this material. This question can be used as:
• Homework
• Quiz
1. What are some limitations on the use of presentation aids?
Presentation aids should be relevant, clear, and simple. Remember that you are giving a
ACTIVITIES
The Ideal Presentation Aid
Purpose: To help students brainstorm presentation aids that they might use in their own speeches.
Instructions: Have students form groups of five. Ask them to decide what the ideal visual aid
would be for the following speeches. Ask students to consider the various types of aids (videos,
flowcharts, graphs, maps, photographs, etc.) and to decide how they would present them in the
context of each speech.
2. Informative speech about the federal budget
4. Informative speech about teenage pregnancy
6. Informative demonstration speech that explains how to pack for a camping trip
8. Informative speech on the structure of workplaces at Google or Microsoft
10. Informative speech on how to carve a pumpkin
The Dos and Don’ts of Presentation Aids
Purpose: To create an awareness of the effective use of presentation aids.
Instructions: This activity should be used at the beginning of the chapter (prior to the instructor’s
lecture and discussion of the text). Students should create a list of the dos and don’ts of using
RECOMMENDED SUPPLEMENTARY RESOURCES
Ainsworth, A. J., & Patterson, R. (2010). The essential guide to presentation software. New York,
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Heinich, R., Molenda, M., & Russell, J. D. (1993). Instructional media and the new technologies
of instruction (4th ed.). New York, NY: Macmillan.
Holcombie, M. W., & Stein, J. K. (1983). Presentation for decision-makers: Strategies for
structuring and delivering your ideas. New York, NY: Lifetime.
Holmes, N. (1991). Designer’s guide to creating charts and diagrams. New York, NY:
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Jones, S. (1997). A guide to using color effectively in business communication. Business
Communication Quarterly, 60, 76–88.
Pathak, A. (2001). Teaching and assessing multimedia-based oral presentations. Business
Communication Quarterly, 64, 63–71.
Raines, C. (1995). Using visual aids: The effective use of type, color, and graphics (2nd ed.).
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