Visual Coherence
- What colors best reflect the visual-rhetorical tone of my project?
The National Geographic color scheme is a white background, black text with bolded subheadings, and very colorful contrasting images. The images are the main focal point of this particular genre, which will be difficult to replicate in terms of quality. However it will be easier to represent the crucial visual aspect of the genre, being the very simple outline with minimal graphic design along the sides of the page.
Visual Salience
- Is the theme or association that the image produces relevant to the theme of my argument?
The simplicity and clarity are definitely two concepts that climate change can be very distantly related too, which is exactly why such a visually clean article will help the audience. News sources like CNN have ads and other articles plastered along the sides trying to grab attention from every angle. National Geographic also uses the simple theme to keep the audience focused on one article and only one.
- Is the feeling or tone that the image invokes appropriate to the visual-rhetorical tone of my argument?
The feeling I am aiming for is storytelling. If I lean too much towards QRG and an informational tone, I could lose half of my audience. If I instead drift to an entirely descriptive fictional novel-esque language, I could also lose the audience. This genre is a blend of the two and is perfect for my topic.
- If the image is a graph or chart, does it clearly support a major point of my argument, or is it superfluous?
I am aiming for selecting one or two informational pictures and two to three aesthetic or perspective photographs. I have not found the set of photographs that I am particularly happy with, as they don't quite convey the messages I would like.
Visual Organization
- Do your eyes move easily from section to section in the order you intended?
In order to make a clear flow in the project, I have to dedicate myself to medium and small paragraphs. In order to match the genre, I will have to split any paragraphs that get too information intensive. I have not nailed out the entire draft yet, as this is a major issue for such a broad topic.
- Do the visual images help you move from point to point in the argument clearly?
The visuals are almost a break for the audience. Instead of being presented with blocks of text, they are confronted with an awe inspiring or at least interesting photograph that should make the issue seem more real to them. However, it also has to connect one idea to the next and not be an obvious tangent from the topic. I am still working on finding the correct images for this task.
Visual Impact
- Is the call to action specifically developed? Do they know what action they can take or what steps they can take?
My call to action is the main purpose of this project. The one issue I've run into is conveying the right amount of information in the beginning of the project and presenting reasonable steps of action for the audience. My article is rendered moot if my information makes no sense and I give the audience no clear options to make an impact. That has been a major problem in environmental science as a field, as it is a complicated issue. However, I will do my best to make my case as clear and inspiring as possible.
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| reynaldodallin "pope" accessed via Pixabay Uploaded April 2015 CC0 Public Domain |
Your genre seems like it's complex when it comes to visuals, which is very different than my genre and I think it really helps to capture a reader because of that. The idea of doing a National Geographic article seems like a great opportunity to grab readers with strong images that help guide them through the argument. I think you're on a great track! Good Luck!
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to visuals, simple does the trick in your case as you pointed out. The color schemes and layouts you chose will definitely keep the reader's attention on the article. I wrote similar answers in mine so as I read your post, I was imagining the layout just as I imagine mine.
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