Unit 3 Goals Utilize genre and discipline specific visual rhetoric & document design strategies Conduct primary research (based on planning from unit 2) & incorporate results into informative writing

Informative Writing We will be taking a separate look at 4 different styles of publications: Newspapers Magazines Scholarly Article Research Report What visual rhetorical strategies do these types of publications use? How might each organize information differently? Aside from their general purpose of being informative, what else might each of these publication styles be trying to accomplish?

Group Activity: Publication Analysis In your unit 2 groups Select an article from one of the example publications and answer the following questions about it: 1. In a sentence or two, sum up the point of the article 2. Where does the article fall on the open/closed form prose continuum? 3. What is the intended purpose of the article? Go beyond simply “inform” 4. Who is the intended audience? Consider age range, income, sex, and any other characteristics you might want. Feel free to look up this information if able. 5. Does the article use subheadings or not? If so, write their names out here. Are these subheadings semantically based or do they adhere to a research article format? 6. What are the genre conventions of this publication? Is the language formal/informal? Does it utilize figurative or concrete language? Is it more humorous or serious? 7. How does the writer use ethos? Does the writer establish himself as an expert or speak of his own credentials? 8. How does the writer use pathos? What appeals to emotions, senses, or sensibilities can you find in the essay? 9. How does the writer use logos? What instances of logic and hard facts can you find in the essay? 10. How would you describe the author’s angle of vision? What stance are they taking on the topic?

Journal Entry 23 Focus: Publication Brainstorm Based on our class activities and discussion, begin thinking about what publication you would like to use for your informative article. Of the four publication types we have discussed in class (newspapers, magazines, scholarly articles, and research reports), which do you think would be most appropriate for your primary research topic and method? What primary research method is most commonly used in that publication type? Does this align with your primary research method? Within your publication type, what specific publications might be appropriate for your informative article? If you have a specific publication in mind, what formatting and style conventions can be utilized to match that publication’s conventions?

Group Activity: Informative Article Analysis In your unit 2 groups Select an example student informative article, read through it while paying special attention to the style and formatting conventions, and answer the questions below: 1. How does the writer attempt to grab reader attention in the introduction? Is this an effective strategy? 2. What is the issue or question that the essay attempts to address? Would you describe the essay as governed by a thesis question or a thesis statement? 3. How does the writer present the findings (thus far) of their research? Does this seem like an appropriate presentation for the publication they selected? (How are they talking about their research) 4. How does the writer attempt to meet the conventions of the publication for which they are writing? Pay special attention to visual rhetoric here, including use of pictures, tables, columns, nut graphs, headings, etc. (this is the most important question)

Visual Rhetoric Strategies When analyzing the visual rhetoric of a document, consider the following: What is the most eye-catching thing you first notice in the document? What is the first thing you see in the document when reading/scanning it top to bottom? How is the text laid out in the document? Columns? Short or long paragraphs? Margins? Why might it be laid out that way? How are colors used in the document? Is the document organized into subsections? If so, what kind of subheadings? (report based or subject based)

Visual Rhetoric Strategies Analyzing Immediate impact: What words come to mind when viewing this graphic? What is the mood or overall feeling conveyed in the photo? Assume that when using photos, writers have a particular effect in mind. What is the intended effect of the photo?

Visual Rhetoric Strategies Advertisements and publishers in magazines/newspapers will often consider the following before using an image: Who is the intended audience? How would you pitch a product differently to Walmart shoppers versus Neiman Marcus shoppers? How much media landscape should be afforded to the graphic? This is not just a question about money; you must also consider space! Less important graphics or information should not take up as much room as those of central importance What is the intended goal of the graphic or photo in question? Is the graphic intended to stimulate sales and consumer interest or develop long term branding? Is the graphic attempting to grab reader attention or inform readers about something important?

Visual Rhetoric Strategies When marketing to a particular audience, advertising agencies will usually use one of the two effects: Mirror effect: The way in which an image mirrors the target audience’s self-image, promoting identification with the image. This can be something as small as an article of clothing, acne, use of a phone, etc Window effect: The image provides a vision of a possible future, promising a positive effect or warning of a negative consequence. The image implies a brief narrative in this way These can be helpful when selecting photos to use for Informative Article

Group Activity- Analyzing Visual Rhetoric In your unit 2 groups Review the images on page 134 Answer questions 1-4 on page 135 Old textbook p. 319 images and questions p. 320

Homework Read A&B Select a publication you will use for your informative article, select one article from this publication, and bring a printed copy of that article to class on Thursday Sign up for a class progress conference Not mandatory but strongly recommended Will go over individual grades for the course and your progress thus far Appointments start next week. Most will be brief (<5 minutes) and take place directly before or after class Sign up sheet on class website Begin conducting Primary research Finalize your interview/survey questions Make arrangements for your interviews or observations Create the online version of your surveys Preliminary research results due 3/31