VISUAL AIDS AND PROPS

Visual aids and props are an effective way of supporting and supplementing

 any speech or presentation. Visual aids and props should be colorful and unique, 

but not so dazzling that they detract from the speaker's presence. Never use visual aids 

and props as a way of avoiding eye contact or interaction with an audience, such as 

reading directly from slides. Here is a list of common visual aids and props, and quick 

tips for using them effectively:

• Diagrams, graphs and charts should always coincide with what is being said in

 the speech. Always stand to the side of a diagram, graph or chart while facing the audience.

• Maps should be simple and easy to understand, with key places or points 

clearly plotted or marked.

• PowerPoint slides should present main points as short sentences and bullet 

points and should never be read verbatim by the speaker or presenter.

• Lists should be kept to a minimum. Five or six listed items are usually enough.
• Handouts should be passed out to an audience before or after a presentation 

to avoid wasting time and causing a distraction.

• Photographs or sketches can be powerful visual aids as long as a speaker 

maintains consistency between what is being said and what is being shown. 

• Physical objects and props should not be too large or too small, nor too few or 

too many. They should always be relevant to the presentation or speech and should 

always be checked prior to taking the stage to make sure they are working properly.