{"id":711,"date":"2020-08-26T14:42:44","date_gmt":"2020-08-26T14:42:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-publicspeaking\/?post_type=chapter&#038;p=711"},"modified":"2020-12-01T05:20:29","modified_gmt":"2020-12-01T05:20:29","slug":"objects-props-and-personal-appearance-as-visual-aids","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-publicspeaking\/chapter\/objects-props-and-personal-appearance-as-visual-aids\/","title":{"raw":"Objects, Props, and Personal Appearance as Visual Aids","rendered":"Objects, Props, and Personal Appearance as Visual Aids"},"content":{"raw":"<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\r\n<h3>Learning Objectives<\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Identify how personal appearance can be a visual aid to a presentation.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Identify how objects and props can be used to enhance a presentation.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<h3>Clothing, Uniforms, and Personal Appearance<\/h3>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3799\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\"]<img class=\"size-medium wp-image-3799\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5348\/2020\/08\/25164757\/uniform-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"A man speaking to several people wearing a green uniform jacket\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" \/> To deliver his persuasive speech about the importance of protected public land, Jim might wear his State Park Ranger uniform.[\/caption]\r\n\r\nSome people choose to dress up as part of their presentation, and this choice can help set the tone of the speech or reinforce a specific point. A speaker may choose to wear a handmade sweater in a talk about knitting in order to inspire others to begin the hobby. Another speaker may opt for a firefighter's uniform in a speech about joining the local volunteer fire department in an effort to appeal to the respect most people have for people in uniform.\r\n\r\nIf you aren't dressing in relation to your topic, you should dress appropriately for your audience and venue. A presentation to a professional audience or at a professional\u00a0conference would lend itself to appropriate business attire. If you are giving a presentation to your local Girl Scout troop, more casual clothing may\u00a0be the best choice. Any time you are\u00a0doing a demonstration, make sure you are dressed appropriately to give the demonstration. It is difficult for a speaker to show how to correctly put on a rock climbing harness if she is wearing a skirt the day of the presentation.\r\n\r\nBeyond dressing appropriately for your audience and topic, the audience will make judgments about you even before your presentation begins. Your dress, mannerisms, the way you greet the audience when they are arriving, how you are introduced, and the first words out of your mouth all impact your credibility and ability to connect with your audience. Make sure you are calm and welcoming to your audience when they arrive and greet them in a professional manner. Your credibility and professionalism suffer when the audience arrives and you are busy scrambling around attempting to finish your preparations.[footnote]Duarte,\u00a0Nancy.\u00a0Resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences.\u00a0United Kingdom,\u00a0Wiley,\u00a02010.[\/footnote]\r\n<h3>Objects and Props<\/h3>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4010\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\"]<img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4010\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5348\/2020\/08\/01051745\/Juventino_Gutie%CC%81rrez_Go%CC%81mez-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Man speaking into a microphone and holding up a book\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" \/> If you want to call attention to a quote or passage from a specific book, the physical book can be a good prop.[\/caption]\r\n\r\nObjects and props, such as a bicycle helmet for a speech on bike\u00a0safety or an actual sample of the product you are trying to sell, can greatly enhance your presentation. Seeing the actual item will often make it easier for your audience to understand your meaning and will help you connect with your audience on an emotional level. Props can be used as part of demonstrations (discussed below) or as a stand-alone item that you refer to in your speech.\u00a0There are several important considerations for using props in your presentation. If you have a large audience, showing the prop at the front of the venue may mean that audience members can't see the item. The alternative to displaying the prop at the front is to pass the item around, though Young and Travis advise caution in passing objects around during your speech, as most people will be seeing the object after you have moved on with your talk.[footnote]Young,\u00a0Kathryn Sue,\u00a0and\u00a0Travis,\u00a0Howard Paul.\u00a0Oral Communication: Skills, Choices, and Consequences.\u00a0United States,\u00a0Waveland Press,\u00a02008.[\/footnote] Having your prop out of sync with your presentation, either as it is passed around disrupting your audience's attention or by having your\u00a0prop visible when you aren't talking\u00a0about it, is distracting to your audience and message. To make the most effective use of props in your presentation, carefully consider how the object will be visible to your entire audience when you are speaking about it, and make sure it is out of sight when you are not.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;","rendered":"<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\n<h3>Learning Objectives<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Identify how personal appearance can be a visual aid to a presentation.<\/li>\n<li>Identify how objects and props can be used to enhance a presentation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h3>Clothing, Uniforms, and Personal Appearance<\/h3>\n<div id=\"attachment_3799\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3799\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-3799\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5348\/2020\/08\/25164757\/uniform-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"A man speaking to several people wearing a green uniform jacket\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-3799\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">To deliver his persuasive speech about the importance of protected public land, Jim might wear his State Park Ranger uniform.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Some people choose to dress up as part of their presentation, and this choice can help set the tone of the speech or reinforce a specific point. A speaker may choose to wear a handmade sweater in a talk about knitting in order to inspire others to begin the hobby. Another speaker may opt for a firefighter&#8217;s uniform in a speech about joining the local volunteer fire department in an effort to appeal to the respect most people have for people in uniform.<\/p>\n<p>If you aren&#8217;t dressing in relation to your topic, you should dress appropriately for your audience and venue. A presentation to a professional audience or at a professional\u00a0conference would lend itself to appropriate business attire. If you are giving a presentation to your local Girl Scout troop, more casual clothing may\u00a0be the best choice. Any time you are\u00a0doing a demonstration, make sure you are dressed appropriately to give the demonstration. It is difficult for a speaker to show how to correctly put on a rock climbing harness if she is wearing a skirt the day of the presentation.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond dressing appropriately for your audience and topic, the audience will make judgments about you even before your presentation begins. Your dress, mannerisms, the way you greet the audience when they are arriving, how you are introduced, and the first words out of your mouth all impact your credibility and ability to connect with your audience. Make sure you are calm and welcoming to your audience when they arrive and greet them in a professional manner. Your credibility and professionalism suffer when the audience arrives and you are busy scrambling around attempting to finish your preparations.<a class=\"footnote\" title=\"Duarte,\u00a0Nancy.\u00a0Resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences.\u00a0United Kingdom,\u00a0Wiley,\u00a02010.\" id=\"return-footnote-711-1\" href=\"#footnote-711-1\" aria-label=\"Footnote 1\"><sup class=\"footnote\">[1]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Objects and Props<\/h3>\n<div id=\"attachment_4010\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4010\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-4010\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5348\/2020\/08\/01051745\/Juventino_Gutie%CC%81rrez_Go%CC%81mez-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Man speaking into a microphone and holding up a book\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-4010\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">If you want to call attention to a quote or passage from a specific book, the physical book can be a good prop.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Objects and props, such as a bicycle helmet for a speech on bike\u00a0safety or an actual sample of the product you are trying to sell, can greatly enhance your presentation. Seeing the actual item will often make it easier for your audience to understand your meaning and will help you connect with your audience on an emotional level. Props can be used as part of demonstrations (discussed below) or as a stand-alone item that you refer to in your speech.\u00a0There are several important considerations for using props in your presentation. If you have a large audience, showing the prop at the front of the venue may mean that audience members can&#8217;t see the item. The alternative to displaying the prop at the front is to pass the item around, though Young and Travis advise caution in passing objects around during your speech, as most people will be seeing the object after you have moved on with your talk.<a class=\"footnote\" title=\"Young,\u00a0Kathryn Sue,\u00a0and\u00a0Travis,\u00a0Howard Paul.\u00a0Oral Communication: Skills, Choices, and Consequences.\u00a0United States,\u00a0Waveland Press,\u00a02008.\" id=\"return-footnote-711-2\" href=\"#footnote-711-2\" aria-label=\"Footnote 2\"><sup class=\"footnote\">[2]<\/sup><\/a> Having your prop out of sync with your presentation, either as it is passed around disrupting your audience&#8217;s attention or by having your\u00a0prop visible when you aren&#8217;t talking\u00a0about it, is distracting to your audience and message. To make the most effective use of props in your presentation, carefully consider how the object will be visible to your entire audience when you are speaking about it, and make sure it is out of sight when you are not.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t <section class=\"citations-section\" role=\"contentinfo\">\n\t\t\t <h3>Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t <div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <div id=\"citation-list-711\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <div class=\"licensing\"><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">CC licensed content, Shared previously<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>Objects, Props, and Personal Appearance as Visual Aids. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Sheila Kasperek. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: Mansfield University, Mansfield, PA. <strong>Project<\/strong>: Public Speaking Project. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/\">CC BY: Attribution<\/a><\/em>. <strong>License Terms<\/strong>: Used by permission<\/li><li>Uniform Committee. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Virginia State Parks. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/fcvopf\">https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/fcvopf<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/\">CC BY: Attribution<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>Juventino Gutiu00e9rrez Gu00f3mez. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: Secretaru00eda de Cultura Ciudad de Mu00e9xico. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Juventino_Guti%C3%A9rrez_G%C3%B3mez.jpg\">https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Juventino_Guti%C3%A9rrez_G%C3%B3mez.jpg<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/4.0\/\">CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike<\/a><\/em><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t <\/section><hr class=\"before-footnotes clear\" \/><div class=\"footnotes\"><ol><li id=\"footnote-711-1\">Duarte,\u00a0Nancy.\u00a0Resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences.\u00a0United Kingdom,\u00a0Wiley,\u00a02010. <a href=\"#return-footnote-711-1\" class=\"return-footnote\" aria-label=\"Return to footnote 1\">&crarr;<\/a><\/li><li id=\"footnote-711-2\">Young,\u00a0Kathryn Sue,\u00a0and\u00a0Travis,\u00a0Howard Paul.\u00a0Oral Communication: Skills, Choices, and Consequences.\u00a0United States,\u00a0Waveland Press,\u00a02008. <a href=\"#return-footnote-711-2\" class=\"return-footnote\" aria-label=\"Return to footnote 2\">&crarr;<\/a><\/li><\/ol><\/div>","protected":false},"author":161083,"menu_order":6,"template":"","meta":{"_candela_citation":"[{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Objects, Props, and Personal Appearance as Visual Aids\",\"author\":\"Sheila Kasperek\",\"organization\":\"Mansfield University, Mansfield, PA\",\"url\":\"\",\"project\":\"Public Speaking Project\",\"license\":\"cc-by\",\"license_terms\":\"Used by permission\"},{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Uniform Committee\",\"author\":\"Virginia State Parks\",\"organization\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/fcvopf\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by\",\"license_terms\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Juventino Gutiu00e9rrez Gu00f3mez\",\"author\":\"\",\"organization\":\"Secretaru00eda de Cultura Ciudad de Mu00e9xico\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Juventino_Guti%C3%A9rrez_G%C3%B3mez.jpg\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by-sa\",\"license_terms\":\"\"}]","CANDELA_OUTCOMES_GUID":"daf423a5-1b23-482f-8e80-f8554a0aa5fe, fa16afd4-d122-4c82-9f8b-95bd28990a5e, 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