1. Quick way for the audience to visualize what you are saying -- numbers trends up or down
2. Forceful -- Emphasizes main point
3. Convincing -- proves a point, see and hear
4. Compact way to convey information
5. More interesting than just talk or print (Remember to use as many of the five senses as possible)

1. Time consuming to make -- decisions must be made in advance for layout, color, materials, etc.
2. Technical in nature - audience knowledge to interpret, or understand
3. Costly -- depending on the medium used (poster board, transfer letters,etc)

Purposes

1. To show and compare changes
2. To show and compare relationships
3. To bring facts to life