Considering Visual Elements

In this post, I will consider some questions regarding the visual elements of my project. A complete list of these questions can be found in Writing Public Lives pages 395-402.

Aldridge, Micky, "Question Mark Cloud." 06/03/10 via Flickr. Attribution License.

Visual Coherence

1. If my project uses headings for different sections of my argument, do these headings stand out and break up the text clearly? Should another font or font color be used to make them more distinct?

Because my genre is a blog post, subheadings will be very useful to keep my post concise and organized. These subheadings will help me organize information, and help my audience understand the logical flow of my argument. These headings will likely be bold and slightly larger than the rest of the text, but I don't plan on using another font or font color, as I feel that this might make the post seem more unprofessional.

Visual Salience

2. Is the theme or association that the image produces relevant to the theme of my argument?

For this post, I plan on using images of DNA and other images that are immediately recognizable and relevant. These images are relevant to my argument, and they also make it more visually appealing. I will definitely have to be careful about using images that carry the proper connotations, as they should make logical sense in the context of the argument.

3. Is the feeling or tone that the image invokes appropriate to the visual-rhetorical tone of my argument?

The images I choose to use should tie together to the argument and make people feel excited about the science and technology I am talking about. I will have to ensure that each of my images accomplishes this, and does not make the audience feel the opposite way.

4. Does the image inform or emphasize my argument in an important way, or does it seem superficial or unrelated to my argument?

My argument is not predominantly visual, but it will have some images in it. However, these images all need to connect to my argument appropriately, rather than look out of place. In order to do this, I will have to choose images that add to the argument, rather than take away from it. All of these images should make logical sense, and even cause some type of emotional reaction in some cases.

Visual Organization

5. Scan your public argument or your outline. Do your eyes move easily from section to section in the order that you intended?

At the moment, my outline does admittedly look a little cluttered and overwhelming. I think the main thing I will have to focus on here is trying to make the argument flow logically, and focus on the pros of my controversy, rather than trying to address every aspect of it. I am writing a position argument, so it will be important for me to stick with my position instead of trying to insert other forms of argument into my main one.

Visual Impact

6. Do the different visual and textual elements come together persuasively as  a whole, or are there elements that seem disconnected or out of place?

To accomplish this, I am planning on only using visual elements that make sense in the context they are presented in. I do want the images to help make the text more reader friendly, but they should still help persuade the audience of my perspective. Because of this, this idea will be very important to keep in mind.