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As the old saying goes, a picture is sometimes worth a thousand words. When you are giving a speech, it can save time and improve clarity to present a simple visual representation rather than try to describe something. If you are explaining the layout of a room, for example, a scale drawing will provide your audience with a clearer image than would a recitation of the room’s dimensions. There are several types of visual aids that can give your audience a clearer image of what you are talking about.

Maps. A map is a visual representation of geography and can contain as much or as little information as you wish. In addition to the map itself, you can add highlighting or labels to make the map more useful to your audience. For example, if you’re giving a talk on the architecture of a particular city, you could show a map with the most important buildings labeled. In a presentation about competing in the Ironman triathlon in Hawaii, a speaker could use a map to show the route traveled for the race.

Photographs and Drawings. Photographs can help you provide an exact depiction. For example, if you’re giving a speech about the Mona Lisa, you could provide a photograph of the painting and use it to point out certain aspects of Leonardo da Vinci’s technique. Drawings enable you to emphasize certain details about your topic. For instance, in a speech about how mosquitoes spread malaria, you could provide a drawing of the insect that details its proboscis as the tool for spreading disease. As with maps, you can add labels or other types of highlighting to a photograph or drawing to focus your audience’s attention on specific details.

Diagrams. If you are trying to explain how something works or describe its parts, a diagram can be helpful. A diagram is a drawing that details an object or action, as well as arrangements and relations among its parts. Diagrams can be drawn by hand or rendered on computers, and they typically include labels and important information in addition to visual images. Coaches routinely diagram plays to convey strategy to their players; you might also use an annotated diagram to provide instructions or point out different elements of something, such as a cyclist’s equipment.