Visual content can help support information.

Submitted by bjdunfor on Mon, 03/02/2009 - 16:15

Visual content can be used by itself to portray a message. You don’t always need to have writing with visual content because just looking at a picture can give you all the information you may need. There are many different types of visual aids, but photographs, illustrations, and charts and graphs are the most widely used ones. A computer is one of the easiest ways to create visual content. You can create a screenshot which is like a digital photograph of what is on your computer screen. This can be useful to aid others when giving instructions through a computer. A computer is also the primary way to create charts and graphs by using software like Excel. There are many different kinds of charts and graphs like: line graphs, bar graphs, pie charts, flowcharts, diagrams, and maps. Chapter 23 also gives an example of how “visual content can make an argument on its own”. In this example there is a picture with different colors and graphics that give it an argumentative style. Visual content can also be used as evidence to prove a point in an argument or even a court case. As chapter 24 mentions there are many new ways to express ideas with the help of computers. You don’t have to be limited to just the plain old 8.5 X 11 sheet of paper with words on it. There are many new types of software which can help you create brochures, flyers, posters, and magazines, which are all great ways to relay information. When creating informative documents with visual content you want to utilize proximity to better portray what you are saying in the document. You should also keep alignment into consideration because proper alignment makes for a more even, professional layout. Repetition should also be important because if you don’t keep the same style and format throughout you may lose your readers interest. Other concerns with page layout can be: line length, leading, margins and alleys, and justification. These all play a role in overall page layout and repetition, because if any one of them is out of whack it can create a poor overall appearance and thus make your reader lose focus and interest in the piece.

Writing Reading Responses

Nathaniel's picture
Submitted by Nathaniel on Mon, 03/02/2009 - 20:35.

Bobby, this is mostly a summary of the readings for this week: there is little in terms of application. As the "Principles of Reading Responses" indicates, these reading responses are not supposed to be summaries. Take these opportunities to make specific and concrete connections between the readings and work you are doing. For instance, start a reading response with the assertion "When creating informative documents with visual content you want to utilize proximity to better portray what you are saying in the document." You can then develop the reading response discussing specific ways you will incorporate or apply the readings. For example, you can discuss how proximity will play a role in your production of graphics for your instruction sets.

You can also connect the readings with the readings from another week or to a previous experience. You are to use these reading responses to produce knowledge for yourself rather than only summarize the knowledge of others. This reliance on summary has been a trend as of late; do make sure your reading responses comply with the course requirements.

Computers Are Useful

Ben's picture
Submitted by Ben on Wed, 03/04/2009 - 19:14.

Just as you said, computers have become very useful for creating visual content. If you think about it, when was the last time that you used something other than a computer for working with visual content? Especially as professional looking content becomes more important to us, computers have become invaluable. As for this assignment, I will be using screenshots to increase the effectiveness of my instructions. These will allow the reader to quickly and easily see what their screen should look like, if they are doing everything correctly. Even though a reader might have no trouble following entirely text based instructions, these screenshots will give them added assurance that everything is going as it should.