Visual Rhetoric and the Common Core Amy Jo Southworth Bay Shore High School

What are the implications of our visual world on the literacy of our youth, the educational system, and a new Common Core curriculum? -Dr. Barbara Long Bishop

Visual literacy ability to interpret and make meaning from information presented in the form of an image (photograph, web page, movie, object, etc.). Visual rhetoric Use of images as argument Arrangement of elements on a page Use of typography (fonts, etc.) Analysis of existing images and visuals

Integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) evaluating the credibility and accuracy of each source. Present information, findings, and supporting evidence clearly, concisely, and logically such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization, development, substance, and style are appropriate to purpose, audience, and task. Make strategic use of digital media (e.g., textual, graphical, audio, visual, and interactive elements) in presentations to enhance understanding of findings, reasoning, and evidence and to add interest. Common Core Speaking and Listening 9th Grade

Visuals impact us on an emotional level…We make judgements about how trustworthy, reliable, attractive, something is.

What is the central concept or message?

CRAP

Design for the LAST ROW…

Type is saying things to all of us all the time. Typefaces express a mood, an atmosphere. They give words a certain coloring. -Rick Poynor; Design critic and author

This is a serif font (Times New Roman) This is a sans serif font (Arial) Serif fonts are good for large chunks of text (Garamond) Sans serif fonts are easier to read on the screen (Helvetica) Georgia

Font conveys tone _Ks&hl=en&sa=X&ei=yacrUbbeI8Hs0QH_joCADw&ved=0CEoQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=reliable%20typefaces&f=false

The Exorcist Saw VI The Hangover Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Style for readability left align all body text center or justify - makes it hard to read especially for some people with reading difficulties such as dyslexia bold and italic sparingly key words/ key phrases not whole paragraphs avoid ALL CAPS-”shouting” do not use underline for anything other than links. General Font Tips

Sans-serifs headings and titles good contrast with body text below advice may change based on your audience avoid mixing two, different types of the same font category Times New Roman title over a text block of Palatino (both serif) pair one serif font with one sans-serif font Use decorative fonts sparingly General Font Tips

Questions for Students to Consider When Choosing Fonts What kinds of expectations does my audience have regarding fonts? Are they scholars or soccer fans? Church-goers or movie-goers? What am I representing in my font choices? Am I a job applicant? A student writing a seminar paper? A club officer making a poster to advertise a formal dinner? What kind of text am I running in different fonts? Headlines or fine print? Body text or bulleted lists? What distance is my text being viewed at? On a greeting card or a bumper sticker? A poster or a flyer? What fonts are commonly available on computers that I can use for the Web? What kinds of alternatives are available for text that cannot be displayed in Web browsers?

-Robin Williams

If two items are not exactly the same, make them different, really different. Contrast

1) large type with small type 2) bold text with plain text 3) caps with non-caps 4) thin lines with thick lines 5) large graphics with small graphics 6) changes in element positioning

Repeat some aspect of the design throughout the entire piece. Repetition

1) fonts or font styles 2) headers or titles 3) color schemes 4) spatial relationships 5) graphic types or shapes

Nothing should be placed on the page arbitrarily. Every item should have a visual connection with something else on the page. Alignment

Group related items together. Proximity

SOURCES/RESOURCES **All images are taken from Flickr Creative Commons or copyright free Google search (Google Advanced Image Search)