The document provides guidance on conducting effective research for a speech. It discusses strategies for working with librarians, evaluating sources, developing a research plan, and citing sources properly. Key recommendations include interacting with librarians for help, using academic sources, keeping a research log, starting with background information, and clearly citing sources in the speech to avoid plagiarism.
Researching Your Speech: 17 Strategies to Work With Librarians
1. Researching Your Speech
What Is Research?
Libraries and Librarians are Our FriendsLibrarians have many
tricks and shortcuts up their sleeves to make hunting for
information easier and faster.Interacting with librarians and
using libraries effectively is the first step to good research.
17 Strategies to Work
With LibrariansA research librarian is extremely knowledgeable
about information sources.You can learn from a librarian and
increase your own research skills.When on reference desk duty,
the librarian is available to help; present yourself in person.A
librarian can teach you, but can’t make excuses for late work.If
a librarian is already helping someone else, wait your turn.
2. Strategies cont.When a librarian helps you find sources, have
the courtesy to look at them.Research is a process, not an event;
allow sufficient time.The librarian can’t do the work you’re
supposed to be doing toward your own grade.Reference
librarians are professional, highly educated information
specialists; ask your “stupid” question.Good research takes
time, and interacting with the librarian takes time.
Strategies cont.Students should expect reasonable questions
from the librarian, such as: “Where have you looked so far?”
“Have you been to a library workshop before?”Students should
approach a librarian sooner rather than later.If you don’t have a
well-defined topic to research, bring a copy of the assignment to
show the librarian.
Strategies cont.Most academic librarians will give in-depth
consultations to students by appointment.Students should be as
specific as possible in what they ask for.Many research
questions do not have ready-made or one-stop
answers.Information comes in varying formats.
Research is Fun and UsefulYou get to ask questions and
actually find answers.Research can open a world you never
knew existed.Research can lead you to new ideas and
activities.A scholarly investigation into a topic in order to
discover, revise, and/or report facts, theories, and applications.
3. Three Functions of ResearchDiscovering occurs when people
conduct some kind of study and find something completely
new.Revision occurs when people revise existing facts, theories,
and applications.Reporting happens after you accumulate
information about a topic and report it to others.
Three End Results of ResearchA fact is a truth that is arrived at
through the scientific process.A theory is a proposed
explanation for a phenomenon.Researchers often look for new
applications for something that already exists.
Primary ResearchResearch that is carried out to discover or
revise facts, theories and applications, and is reported by the
person conducting the research; it is active and creates new
knowledge.
Types of Primary Research
Surveys or QuestionnairesSurveys or questionnaires you
conduct are a type of primary research in which you collect
facts, figures, or opinions. For a survey, you should ask four
questions:Do you know what you want to ask?Do you really
need to collect data yourself?Do your participants know the
information you want to find out, and will they tell you?Is your
goal generalizable?
4. Generalizability When we attempt to survey a small number of
people in the hopes of representing a much larger group of
people.
Interviews Interviews you conduct are another type of primary
research.An interview is a conversation in which the interviewer
asks a series of questions aimed at learning facts, figures, or
opinions from one or more respondents.An interview differs
from a survey because an interviewer can ask follow-up
questions to gain greater understanding.
Secondary ResearchResearch that is carried out to discover or
revise facts, theories, and applications, but it is reported by
someone not involved in conducting the original research.You
often report the results of someone else’s primary research; it is
second-hand information.
Citing Sources CorrectlyIf, for instance, you refer to a study
cited in a book by Mark Weiner, you must cite both Weiner and
the study he cited.A citation shortcut would be
unethical.Omitting Mark Weiner, who did the primary research,
cheats him and misrepresents the source you’re using.When you
steal one of his sources, it is as though you’re stealing part of
his work.If you haven’t read the original study cited by Weiner,
you shouldn’t give your audience the impression that you
have.It is crucial to use great care in citing sources.
5. Developing a Research Strategy
Research StrategiesYou can think of your research strategy as a
map that has your speech as the final destination and the various
steps you need to take along the way.In your public speaking
class, the time you have is fairly concrete; the moment your
instructor gives you the assigned speech, the proverbial clock is
ticking.
Research Time Will be SignificantAs you develop your speech,
you may realize you want to address an issue that didn’t occur
to you earlier.Perhaps you find you’re missing a key piece of
information you need.You might need to meet once or more
with a research librarian.A good rule is to devote one third of
your preparation time to research.You still have other steps to
pursue once your research is done.
Speech Preparation TimeSpeech preparation time is the time
you devote to sitting down to develop the speech and visual
aids.A common rule of thumb is to do one day of speech
preparation per one minute of actual speaking time.Sometimes
things can go wrong both in speaking and in the development of
the speech.
Practice Time“Practice” means actual out-loud
rehearsals.Reading over your speech, or going over it in your
mind does not produce the best result.You will do best when
6. you become comfortable, not only with the text of your speech,
but with the actual presentation.
Researching Your Speech
Ensure that You have a Narrowed Speech TopicOnce you have a
general idea of your needs, ask yourself a series of
questions:What do I, personally, know about my topic?Do I
have any clear gaps in my knowledge of my topic?Do I need to
conduct primary research for my speech?What type of
secondary research do I need?Do I need research related to
facts?Do I need research related to theories?Do I need research
related to applications?
Types of Resources Available
Nonacademic/
Popular PressMany are written at a sixth- to eighth-grade
reading level.Although the actual information in them tends to
be limited, they appeal to a general audience.These texts are
often highly opinion oriented and not based on sound academic
research.
Common Nonacademic Sources
7. Nonacademic BooksMany books are now available in electronic
form and can be read on electronic readers that are highly
portable.In today’s world, there are three basic types of
libraries:The physical library is available only if you go into the
library and find a book using the U.S. Congress catalog
system.Some libraries have both physical and electronic
components, much like most college and university libraries,
which pay for subscriptions to digital resources that students
can then access.Online libraries contain free, full-text
documents.
PeriodicalsGeneral interest periodicals include The New
Yorker, People, and Reader’s Digest.Special interest periodicals
are magazines and newsletters published for a narrow audience,
such as Business Week, Popular Science, and Sports
Illustrated.Newspapers and blogs are nonacademic sources.Most
college and university libraries subscribe to several newspapers
either in print or electronic form.Many blogs are reputable, but
most are not.
EncyclopediasOnline encyclopedias such as Wikipedia are
useful in finding general information, but might not provide the
depth you will need.Furthermore, it can be edited by anyone,
and therefore can contain errors and biased information.
WebsitesWebsites contain a great deal of information, but often
not the information you’re looking for.You should select an
appropriate search engine to find appropriate information.
8. Academic SourcesAcademic information sources have the best
probability of providing accurate information that has been
reviewed by experts.
Types of Academic Sources
Scholarly Books Textbooks are written about specific areas of
content within fields of academic study.They tend to be very
specifically focused.They are written at a relatively easy
reading level.Academic books are primarily written for other
academics to use in their own research.They are sometimes
called scholarly books.There are hundreds of thousands of
academic books.
Scholarly Articles Scholarly articles are much shorter than
books and are a source of the best and most recent
research.They are written for a scholarly audience and take time
to read.Many contain statistics, which require special training
for you to understand them.
Computerized DatabasesDatabases often follow specific themes,
such as business, engineering, and medicine.You can narrow
your research and avoid wading through hundreds of research
papers that don’t address your needs.
9. Websites While there is a wealth of scholarly information on
the web, one must pick and choose the best information.Anyone
can post something on the web.Fortunately, some websites
attempt to sort out the irrelevant
sources.http://scholar.google.com is one of those sites
Six Strategies for Conducting Research
We recommend Mary George’s book The Elements of Library
Research: What Every Student Needs to Know.
Create a Research LogA step-by-step account of the process of
identifying, obtaining, and evaluating sources for your project.It
helps you keep track of what you’ve read so far.It can help you
from needlessly re-reading things you’ve already read.
Start With Background InformationStart with background
information written for the general public, which can help you
learn the basic vocabulary of the subject area.Then you can
move to more specific technical or academic information.
Search Your Library’s ComputersMany have online tutorials to
help you get started.Research librarians can direct you to
tutorials.Try to search many different databases.Try using
10. synonyms for topics; for instance, one synonym for ecology
might be biosystem.
Learn to SkimStart by reading the introductory paragraphs to
get an idea what is in the reading.Look for highlighted,
italicized, or bulleted information.Look for tables, charts,
graphs, and figures to see if the content is relevant to your
project.Look at headings and subheadings.Take good notes
while skimming to help you sort out the information.
Read Bibliographies and Reference PagesSometimes these pages
can lead to even better sources of information.Backtracking:
The process where a research uses a printed bibliography or
reference page to find other useful research materials, and then
finds those cited materials and reads them for herself or
himself.
Ask for Help Again, librarians are our friends, so let’s use
them.Just remember to be prepared and follow the strategies
discussed earlier when working with librarians.
Evaluating Sources
Date of Publication It can help you locate the most recent
information.It can help you identify historical perspectives, if
that’s what you need.
11. Author’s Name & Credentials You can learn whether the author
is a scholar, or just an opinionated person.You can figure out
who might have a commercial, political, religious, or other bias.
PublisherYou can investigate whether it is an academic press, a
mainstream press, or a fringe publisher trying to sound
authoritative.Many websites have an “about” or “FAQ” section
that will explain who the publisher is.This is one of the ways
you can guard against using sources that have a hidden agenda,
or are not authoritative.
Academic vs.
Nonacademic SourceAcademic sources undergo scholarly
scrutiny.You can generally rely on academic sources.However,
some sources are nonacademic even when the author has
received a PhD at a university.One example is “Men are From
Mars, Women are From Venus.”Much of what the author says is
at odds with the findings of academic research.
Quality of Bibliography or Reference PageAre other scholars
citing the work you’re reading?The source you’re reading is
considered credible and useful, so the source has some level of
perceived credibility by others.If, in your research, you keep
running into mentions of particular studies again and again,
perhaps they are studies you should look at yourself.
12. Citing Sources
Style Refers to those components or features of a literary
composition or oral presentation that have to do with the form
of expression rather than the content expressed.APA style is the
reference style of the American Psychological Association.MLA
style is the reference style of the Modern Language
Association.The book goes into more detail on using APA and
MLA style.
Citing Sources in a Speech
Types of Speech CitationsParaphrases: Taking the main ideas
from a source and summarizing them using the speaker’s own
words and phrasing.Direct Quotations: Citing the actual words
from a source with no changes.
How to Cite SourcesSet up your audience to receive the
citation. Make a general statement that will cause the audience
to expect more specific information.One example is:
“Workplace bullying is becoming an increasing problem for
U.S. organizations.”Deliver the source of the information,
whether you’ve quoted it directly or you’ve paraphrased
it.Begin with citing the author(s): this is either the individual or
the group that did the research in your source.Next, provide the
title of the study, scholarly paper, podcast, or documentary
13. source.Explain what is being cited; make sure the audience
understands what you are supporting by citing the source.
Five Ethical Issues Related to Using Sources
Tips to Avoid Plagiarism Listing your source on your “Works
Cited” page is not enough.You must clearly tell your audience
where you got each piece of your information.Do your own
work, and use your own words.Allow yourself enough time to
research the assignment; no matter how busy you are, not
having adequate time to prepare is no excuse for
plagiarism.Keep careful track of your sources; when you’ve
read similar information in several places, you might believe
the information is “common knowledge,” so use your research
strategy and notes to be able to cite your sources.Take careful
notes; be systematic and complete so you won’t plagiarize.
Tips to Avoid Plagiarism cont. If you use an idea, a quotation,
paraphrase, or summary, then credit the source.Learn how to
cite sources correctly both in the body of your paper and in your
Works Cited; cite your sources within the speech because
otherwise, your audience won’t know whether you did actual
research or not.Quote accurately and sparingly, and be mindful
that your speech shouldn’t just be a string of
quotations.Paraphrase carefully; make sure you accurately
convey the meanings of the original researcher. As Howard and
Taggart explained in Research Matters, “paraphrasing force[s]
you to understand your sources and to capture their meaning
accurately in original words and sentences.”
14. Tips to Avoid Plagiarism cont. Do not patchwrite [patchspeak].
Avoid mixing several references together and arranging
paraphrases and quotations to constitute much of the
paper.Summarize, don’t auto-summarize. Electronically reusing
the original author’s words without a citation is not an ethical
form of paraphrasing.Do not rework another student’s paper
[speech] or buy paper-mill speeches. To do so is to engage in
plagiarism.
Academic FraudAcademic fraud occurs when you try to pass off
someone else’s work as your own.
Don’t Mislead your AudienceIf you know your source is biased,
and you use it anyway without spelling this out for your
audience, you are misleading or manipulating your audience.
Give Author CredentialsIn a world where anyone can publish
online or in print, we must both know the author’s
qualifications and pass them along to the audience.
Use Primary Research EthicallyIf you tell your survey
participants that the results will be anonymous or confidential,
make sure you keep that promise. We must respect the privacy
of those who contribute to our research.
ECO 555 Economics of Decision-Making
15. Midterm Exam
Winter 2017
Gabriella Bucci
Instructions:
-Label the axes of any graphs you draw
-Adhere to the page limits
-Format is either double space, 12 point font, 1 inch margins
-you may draw graphs by hand and insert a picture of the graph
into your document
1. (20 points --Limit 1.5 pages. Graphs required.)
Assume that the markets for sugar cane, rum, and whiskey are
initially in equilibrium. Assume further that a plague destroys
much of the world sugar cane crop. Sugar cane is a principal
ingredient in rum, but it is not an ingredient in whiskey.
Analyze the effect of the plague on the markets for each of the
three goods. In other words, what effect does the hurricane have
on the market for sugar cane, the market for rum, and the
market for whiskey? Does the plague increase or decrease
revenues for sugar growers, rum producers and whiskey
producers? Describe the conditions that affect the answer to this
question. This question requires graphs.
2. (30 points--Limit 1 page. Graphs required)
Assume that the market for labor is perfectly competitive,
and that authorities institute the following policy: All workers
should have health insurance, and the employer should pay for
100% of each worker's insurance policy (assume that the cost of
16. the policy is the same for every worker). Use graphical and
economic analysis to evaluate the effects of this policy on the
surpluses of workers, employers, and society as a whole. Who
are the winners and losers? Do workers necessarily benefit
from this policy? Why or why not? Explain. This question
requires a graph.
3. (20 points -–Limit 1 page. Graphs not required.)
The Homo Economicus assumption states that "individuals act
in a rational and self-interested manner, and have the ability to
make judgments to achieve their subjectively defined ends." In
theory, this means that consumers and producers act as if
solving optimization problems to maximize their utility or
profit. Explain why, from a practical standpoint, this may or
may not be a good assumption. Give an example (from either
the consumer or producer side) to support your answer. A graph
is not required in your answer.
4. (30 points--Limit 1.5 pages. Graphs not required)
In an August, 2016 Working Paper, Steven Levitt et. al.
calculate price elasticities of demand for Uber. The elasticities
were estimated at times when surge prices went into effect.
Table 4 reproduced on the page below shows the estimated
elasticities. The estimates are the negative numbers. The
standard errors are in parentheses.
a. What patterns are present in these elasticities? Are they
consistent with what you would intuitively expect? Explain.
b. What do you think explains the differences or similarities
across the city specific elasticities?
17. c. Which consumers are getting the biggest consumer surplus
from Uber? How do you know? Could Uber take advantage of
the information on consumer surplus? How?
d. Based on these elasticities, (i) should uber raise or lower
surge prices to maximize revenue? (ii)suggest some changes
Uber can implement going forward to increase their
profitability.
Presentation Aids:
Design and Usage
Chapter 9
What Are Presentation Aids?
&
Functions of Presentation Aids
18. What Are
Presentation Aids? Presentation aids (sometimes also called
sensory aids): The resources beyond the speech itself that a
speaker uses to enhance the message conveyed to the audience.
General Aid IdeasThe type of presentation aids that speakers
most typically make use of are visual aids: pictures, diagrams,
charts and graphs, maps.Audible aids include musical excerpts,
audio speech excerpts, and sound effects.A speaker may also
use fragrance samples or a food samples as olfactory or
gustatory aids.Presentation aids can be three-dimensional
objects, animals, and people; they can unfold over a period of
time, as in the case of a how-to demonstration.
General Guidelines for Using Presentational Aids Each
presentation aid used must be a direct, uncluttered example of a
specific element of the speech.Presentation aids must be used at
the time when you are presenting the specific ideas related to
the aid.Presentation aids must also be easy to use.Presentation
aids must also be easy for the listeners to see and understand.
Functions of Presentation Aids
Improving Audience UnderstandingHuman communication is a
complex process that often leads to misunderstandings.One
19. reason for misunderstandings is the fact that perception and
interpretation are highly complex individual processes.
Two Ways to Reduce Misunderstandings Clarifying: To make
clear so that the audience understands your meanings the way
you intend.Emphasizing: To impress the importance or to repeat
the verbal message in visual form.
Aiding Retention and RecallA 1996 article by the US
Department of Labor summarized research on how people learn
and remember. The authors found that “83% of human learning
occurs visually, and the remaining 17% through the other
senses—11% through hearing, 3.5% through smell, 1% through
taste, and 1.5% through touch.”Lockard & Sidowski’s (1961)
Research FindingsAudiences retain 10 percent of what they hear
from an oral presentation.Audiences retain 35 percent from a
visual presentation.Audiences retain 65 percent from a visual
and oral presentation.
Adding Variety and InterestA speech can be made even more
interesting by the use of well-chosen presentation aids.People
can only listen to a talking head for so long, they need the
added presentation aids to maintain their interest.
Enhancing a Speaker’s CredibilityYour presentation aids must
be clear, clean, uncluttered, organized, and large enough for the
audience to see and interpret correctly.Misspellings and poorly
designed presentation aids can damage your credibility as a
20. speaker.A high-quality presentation will contribute to your
professional image.Make sure that you give proper credit to the
source of any presentation aids that you take from other
sources.
Types of Presentation Aids
General Principles for Presentation AidsOnly as many
presentation aids as necessary to present your message.The
technical sophistication of your presentation aids should never
overshadow your speech.Keep your presentation aids within the
limits of the working technology available to you.Always be
prepared for technology to backfire.Presentation aids must
deliver clear information, and it must not distract from the
message.
Principles for
Presentation Aids cont.Avoid overly elaborate presentation aids
because they can distract the audience’s attention from your
message.When you display a visual aid, you should explain
what it shows, pointing out and naming the most important
features.Although there are many useful presentation tools, do
not attempt to use every one of these tools in a single
speech.Your presentation aids should be designed to look like a
coherent set.
21. Types of Visual Aids
ChartsA graphical representation of data (often numerical) or a
sketch representing an ordered process.
Types of ChartsStatistical Charts (convey statistical information
to an audience)Sequence-of-Steps Charts (explain a process that
involves several steps)Decision Trees (show the relationships
between ideas and how decisions are made)
GraphsA pictorial representation of the relationships of
quantitative data using dots, lines, bars, pie slices, and the like.
Types of GraphsLine (designed to show trends over time)Bar
(useful for showing the differences between quantities)Pie
(useful for showing the differences between quantities)
RepresentationsA group of aids designed to represent real
processes or objects.
Types of RepresentationsDiagrams: Drawings or sketches that
outline and explain the parts of an object, process, or
phenomenon that cannot be readily seen.Maps (e.g., including
22. population, weather, ocean current, political, and economic
maps)Photographs and Drawings: best way to show an
unfamiliar but important detail.Video or Audio recordings:
allow audience members to hear or see something they could not
see or hear just by listening to you as a speaker.
Objects/ModelsObjects: Anything you could hold up and talk
about during your speech.Models: Recreations of physical
objects that you cannot have readily available with you during a
speech.
People and Animals
Animals as
Presentation AidsWhen giving a speech on a topic relating to
animals, it is often tempting to bring an animal to serve as your
presentation aid.Risks Associated with using AnimalsAnimal
behavior tends to be unpredictable.Some audience members may
respond negatively to a live animal.Some locations may have
regulations about bringing animals onto the premises.
Speaker as
Presentation AidSpeakers can often use their own bodies to
demonstrate facets of a speech.While demonstrating a process
or movement with your own body may be effective, it is not
always considered a presentation aid in a public speaking class,
23. so double check with your teacher.
Other People as Presentation AidYou should arrange ahead of
time for a person (or persons) to be an effective aid—do not
assume that an audience member will volunteer on the spot.You
must also make certain that they will arrive dressed presentably
and that they will not draw attention away from your message
through their appearance or behavior.Use your absolute best
judgment about behavior, and make sure that your human
presentation aid understands this dimension of the task.
Media to Use for
Presentation Aids
Ethically Using
Mediated AidsThe venue of your speech should suggest the
appropriate selection of presentation aids.Many students feel
they lack the artistic skills to render their own graphics, so they
opt to use copyright-free graphics on their presentation
aids.Presentation aids should never look hastily made, dirty,
battered, or disorganized. They do not have to be fancy, but
they need to look professional.
Types of Mediated
24. Presentation Aids
Computer-Based MediaSpeakers are expected to be comfortable
with using PowerPoint or other similar software to create and
display presentation aids.Presentation software: Software
packages that enable a speaker to visually show material
through the use of a computer and projector.Proprietary
SoftwareFree or Open Source SoftwareSpeakers should use the
technology to support the speech and not get carried away with
software’s capabilities with special effects.
Universal Principles of Good DesignUnity - use a single font
for the text on your visuals so that they look like a unified
set.Emphasis or focal point – the focus should be on the slide’s
content and not on the slide animation or transitions. Scale and
proportion - it is essential to make sure the information is large
enough for the audience to see.Balance – the amount of content
on slides should be relatively balanced for similar slide
types.Rhythm – do not display a dozen different slides in the
first minute of a five-minute presentation and then display only
one slide per minute for the rest of the speech.
Audiovisual MediaAudio presentation aids are useful for
illustrating musical themes.Video that clarifies, explains,
amplifies, emphasizes, or illustrates a key concept in your
speech is appropriate.When using either Audio and Video aids,
do not rely on the aid to do your presentation for you.
25. Using Audiovisual Media Identify a specific section of video
that delivers meaning.“Cue up” the video so that you can just
pop it into the player, and it will begin at the right place.Tell
your audience where the footage comes from.Tell your audience
why you’re showing it.
Low-Tech Media
Why People Still Use
Low-Tech MediaComputer technology is not
available.Computer-based presentation aids are unnecessary or
even counterproductive.Low-tech media are very
predictable.Low-tech media are inexpensive to produce.
Problems with
Low-Tech MediaThey can be prone to physical damage in the
form of smudges, scratches, dents, and rips.Harder to make
them look consistent and professional.
Types of Low-Tech Media
Chalk or Dry-Erase BoardGreat when you want to generate
information using your audience.However, it is not a prepared
26. presentation aid (a presentation aid designed and created ahead
of time to be used as a coherent part of a speech).
Tips for Using Chalk or Dry-Erase BoardWrite large enough so
that everyone in the room can see.Print legibly; don’t write in
cursive script.Write short phrases; don’t take time to write
complete sentences.
FlipchartFlipcharts can be either prepared or unprepared
presentation aids.If using as a prepared visual aid, follow these
helpful hints:Each page should be neatly titled.Make an effort
to give the pages a consistent look.Organize your flip chart in
such a way that you flip pages in one direction only, front to
back.Make sure you have an easel to place your flip chart on.
Poster Board or Foam Board
Foam BoardFoam board consists of a thin sheet of Styrofoam
with heavy paper bonded to both surfaces.It is a lightweight,
inexpensive foundation for information, and it will stand on its
own when placed in an easel without curling under at the
bottom edge.
Poster BoardCheaper than foam board and consists of a thin
piece of cardstock.Poster board is flimsier, more vulnerable to
damage, and can’t stand on its own.
27. Handouts Appropriate for a delivering information that
audience members can take away with them.
Tips for Using Handouts Effectively Make sure to bring enough
copies of the handout for each audience member to get
one.Determine When to Give Your Audience the Handout If you
need your listeners to follow along in a handout, you will need
to distribute it before your speech begins.If the handout is a
“takeaway,” leave it on a table near the door so that those
audience members who are interested can take one on their way
out; in this case, don’t forget to tell them to do so as you
conclude your speech.It is almost never appropriate to distribute
handouts during your speech, as it is distracting and interrupts
the pace of your presentation.Handouts should include only the
necessary information to support your points, and that
information should be organized in such a way that listeners
will be able to understand it.
Tips for Preparing
Presentation Aids
Tips for Preparing
Presentation Aids
28. Easily Seen or Heard by Your AudienceThe first rule of
presentation aids is that they must be accessible for every
audience member.Graphic elements in your presentation aids
must be large enough to read.Audio must be loud enough to
hear.Text-based visuals, charts, and graphs need to be executed
with strong, clean lines and blocks of color.Carefully limit the
amount of text on a presentation aid.
Ease of HandlingYou should be able to carry your presentation
aids into the room by yourself.You should be skilled in using
the equipment you will use to present them.
Aesthetically PleasingAesthetics: The beauty or good taste of a
presentation aid.
Tips for Text AidsUse text only when you must.The type must
be big, simple, and bold.When you display text, you must read
it out loud before you go on to talk about it.Under no
circumstances should you merely read what’s on your text aids
and consider that a speech.
Tips for Graphic AidsMake sure the graphic is visible for all
possible audience members.For Pictures or IllustrationsFind one
that is appropriate for your speech.Enlarge the image so
everyone can see.To show integrity, cite your source.
29. Rules for Computer Presentations
Watch Your FontJust because you can read it on your screen,
doesn’t mean your audience can read it in their seats.Make sure
each slide is legible from the back of the room where you will
be speaking.In most circumstances, try to keep your font above
a 32 pt. font.
Don’t Write
Everything OutDo not try to put too much information on a
slide.Make sure that your slide has the appropriate information
to support the point you are making and no more.Avoid
complete sentences on a slide unless you need to display a very
important direct quotation.
Don’t Bow Down to the SoftwarePresentation software is an
aid, so it should aid and not hinder your presentation.Do not
stand and read your speech off of the PowerPoint slides – this
kills your eye contact and is bad delivery. You also shouldn’t
need to hide behind a computer monitor to see what’s being
projected.
Slide ColorDon’t go overboard or decide to use unappealing
combinations of color.You should never use a light font color
30. (like yellow) on a solid white background because it’s hard for
the eye to read.You should also realize that while colors may be
rich and vibrant on your computer screen at home, they may be
distorted by a different monitor or overhead projector.
Slide MovementWhile all presentation software packages offer
you very cool slide movements and other bells and whistles,
they are not always very helpful for your presentation.If you’re
going to utilize slide transitions or word animation, stick to
only three or four different types of transitions in your whole
presentation.Do not have more than one type of movement on a
given slide.
Practice, Practice, PracticeIt is vital to practice using the
technology.If you do not know how to use the technology, your
audience will notice and your credibility will go down.
Always Have a
Backup PlanOne of the parts of being a professional is keeping
the speech moving in spite of unexpected problems.Decide in
advance what you will do if things break down or disappear
right when you need them.