Some things, people, places, or processes are difficult to describe with only words and gestures. An object, or prop, removes the burden from the audience of having to imagine what something looks like as you speak. For instance, if you are giving an informative speech on the way to tune a guitar, you might find it difficult to explain the process without demonstrating the procedure on an actual guitar. Adjusting a tuning key to show how it affects the pitch of a given string would be an effective visual (and audio) aid.

If a prop is large and cumbersome or too small to be easily viewed by your audience members (particularly for online speeches), then consider using a model, an appropriately scaled object. One of our past students brought in a small-scale model of the Soviet nuclear submarine the Kursk to demonstrate how the vessel tragically encountered problems, exploded, and sank.

Be mindful and considerate when selecting and using props and models in your presentation. One of us had a student give a speech on ocean pollution using a live fish in a bowl as a prop. He poured the contaminants he was discussing into the bowl, and his classmates (and instructor) were understandably horrified and distraught when the fish died. The speaker made a powerful point through this prop, but he was entirely inconsiderate of the speaking situation and his audience’s expectations in addition to unethically contradicting his premise that we should save ocean wildlife.

Similarly, avoid objects that may be dangerous or even illegal, such as firearms, knives, chemicals, and so on. (You would be surprised to know about some of the scary props we’ve seen students try to use over the years, ranging from weapons to unfriendly dogs.) Think safety first!