Talking about Graphs andStructuring your Talk

How to Use Visual Aids

How to Use Visual Aids• Introducing Visuals• Commenting on Visuals• Change and Development

Introducing Visuals• Visuals are:• Highly memorable• Reduce the amount of talking• Used to speak for you

Types of Visuals

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3rd Qtr 4th Qtr

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45 .0

90 .0

135.0

180.0

NorthWestEast

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Graphs

Charts

Diagrams

Introducing Visuals• If you don’t know the different types of

visual, simply say:

• Have/Take a look at this.• As you can see here … and here … .

Commenting on Visuals• Use visuals for situations,

developments, events and processes that would take a long time to explain.

• Good visuals speak for themselves and require little or no description.

Commenting on Visuals• You often need to draw attention to one

or more key points before you discuss in more detail:

• Highlights Which part of the visual are most

significant?• Comments Why?• Interpretations What conclusions can

you draw?

Commenting on Visuals• Highlighting Important Information

• I’d like to look at …• I’d like us to focus our attention on …• I’d like you to think about…• I’d like to point out …• I’d like to draw your attention to …

Commenting on Visuals• Commenting on Important Information

• As you can see, there …• If you look at it more closely, you’ll …• However you try to explain it, this is

very bad news.• Whatever the reason for this, the

underlying trend is obvious.• Whichever way you look at it, these

are some of our best results ever.

Commenting on VisualsInterpreting Important Information

• I’m sure the conclusions to be drawn from this are …

• I’m sure the lesson to be learned from this is …

• I’m sure the implications of this are clear to all of us.

• I’m sure the significance of this is …• I’m sure the message here is …

Change and Development• Vocabulary to talk about changes and

developments:increase decrease shoot up

plungerise fall take off slumpfluctuate recover pick up stabilizelevel off remain peak hit

a lowbottom out grow expand shrinkdecline

Change and Development• Vocabulary to talk about the scale or the

speed of the change and to comment on its significance:

substantial rapidencouragingslight spectaculardisastrousmoderate disappointing steadyenormous

a(n) ……………… increase

Change and Development• Except in complex technical and

scientific presentations, you don’t quote precise figures.

• Include important figures in a separate handout or report at the beginning or end of the presentation.

• When describing detailed visual aids, mention overall trends and approximate figures.

Training 1• Together with a partner talk about the

line graph below using the language for changes and development.

increase decrease shoot up plungerise fall take off

slumpfluctuate recover pick up stabilizelevel off remain peak hit a lowbottom out grow expand shrinkdecline

Training 3• Together with a partner talk about the

bar graph below.

increase decrease shoot up plungerise fall take off

slumpfluctuate recover pick up stabilizelevel off remain peak hit a lowbottom out grow expand shrinkdecline

substantial rapid encouraging slight spectacular disastrous moderate disappointing steady enormous

Training (5)You brought a graph with you that is relevant to your field of interest. Team up with a partner and, without showing the graph, describe the the shape of graph to him/her using the language for Change and Development on the screen. Your partner is going to recreate your graph based on your instructions. After you have finished, check the graph your partner drew and compare. After you have finished, change roles.

Structuring your talk

Structuring your talk• A presentation has 3 parts

• an introduction• a body• a conclusion

Structuring your talk• The introduction is about:

• who you are• what you going to talk about (topic +

subtopics)• how long your talk is going to be• ‘hooking’ your audience

Structuring your talk• The body is about:

• developing your subtopics

• Talk about your subtopics in the same order as you mentioned them in your introduction.

• giving more information about each subtopic

• Using examples where possible.• Using ‘signposts’ between subtopics.

Structuring your talk• The conclusion is about:

• repeating your important points in different words

• giving advice if possible• giving a ‘road map’ for the future if

possible