Exploiting Verbal-Visual Synergy in Presentation Slides

Mike Markel
Study Guide/Outline


PowerPoint software (especially the prefabbed templates) frame information in a topic-
subtopic structure (recall McLuhans dictum the medium is the message). What
alternative framework does Markel propose in his essay? And, what is this frameworks
advantage?

Markel recommends the use of charts with labeled graphics instead of bullets. Labeled
graphics is the best way to communicate with the listeners, because people interpret
visual information very effectively.


What is the name of the field that studies the relationship between images and words?

The name of the field is visual-rethoric.

What is the major insight of this fields scholar in terms of this relationship?

The major insights are Images that usually mean description, and words that are means
of analysis. Images and words cant be without each other they basically support each
other.

How does Michael Allys structure for slides apply the major insight about this
relationship?

Images are describing object and events that lack a verbal system. Michael Ally
structure of the slides have minimum amount of words, because he would rather
present the words without putting them in his slideshow presentation.

According to Markel, what are the two basic principles for creating effective graphics,
and what is the rationale behind these principles.

Use functional graphics not decorative graphics

Show what is best shown, say what is best said


What are some common organizational patterns that may be used in following the 2
nd

principle above?

Some common organizational patterns are using table, drawing tools (cycle and venn
diagrams, pie charts) and representations.

In Figure 5 (126-127) the speaker misunderstands the schema of the Venn diagram
because Venn diagrams are used to do what?

Venn diagrams use overlaps to show any possible relation between every circle. The
speaker used the chart as decorative more than functional.

Why is a pie chart inappropriate for the content displayed in Figure 6? (127)

This pie chart has four equal portions in the diagram, which is completely wrong. Pie
chart should have different portions meaning different things, the bigger a portion is the
more significant it is.

Even though photographs most realistically represent a physical object, why is it not
always the best image to use on a slide?

Images can distract listener and confuse them without the right representation. Images
must have words to explain the message that has to be delivered.