Chapter 8 Visual Rhetoric and Technical Communication

1. Chapter 8Visual Rhetoric and Technical Communication

2. Visuals • Pictorial representations other than written text (words) used to convey meaning and information to an audience • Can be classified as “graphics” or “images,” although all three terms are often used interchangeably

3. Graphics • Visuals that appear to be “rendered” or “drawn,” such as charts, tables, maps, graphs, and diagrams

4. Images • Visuals that are photographic or realistic-looking visuals, such as photographs, screen captures or moving images like video clips or animations

5. Visual Rhetoric • Refers to the way visuals communicate meaning to readers • Creates questions about: • The kinds of visuals writers should use • What those visuals should look like • Where those visuals should be placed • How written and visual elements will interact

6. Using the Problem-SolvingApproach with Visuals • Plan by identifying stakeholders and the information to be presented • Research how to produce the visuals • Draft, being mindful of design and persuasive strategies • Revise based on feedback and usability • Distribute after checking file size

7. Communicating withReaders • Visuals increase comprehension: • By clarifying difficult or abstract information • By illustrating relationships between information • By organizing information for clarity and access • Visuals gain attention: • By emphasizing key information • By highlighting specific information

8. Communicating withReaders • Visuals establish authority: • By evoking a sense of accuracy and professionalism • Visuals communicate with a broader audience: • By being understood by diverse groups

9. Types of Graphics • Icons • Graphs • Charts

10. Icons • Icons are visual metaphors because they denote more than what is literally present. • In the workplace, icons can: • Represent brands or logos • Represent emotions • Alert or emphasize

11. Guidelines for Making an Icon • Understand what you need the icon to represent • Understand the words or words it stands for • Develop a list of all of the terms that need to be represented in a single icon • Sketch ideas for the icon • Make the icon in a graphics program

12. Graphs • Are diagrams that represent the relationships among quantifiable information • Depict information along two axes, each of which represents one component of information • Generally come in three types: • Bar graphs • Line graphs • Pictographs

13. Bar Graphs • Are also known as histograms • Depict comparisons between similar kinds of information • Emphasize quantity • Are used with numeric information

14. Line Graphs • Are also known as frequency polygons • Depict information over a period of time • May represent multiple pieces of similar data to compare changes in multiple situations

15. Pictographs • Use pictures or icons to represent numeric information • Are usually easy to read and function much like bar graphs • Are most often used in documents that address general readers

16. Charts • Represent information visually • Make it easier for readers to understand data and relationships between various data • Generally come in three types: • Pie charts • Flow charts • Organizational charts

17. Pie Charts • Are circular charts that represent divisions within a whole • Represent percentages by dividing into representative sections

18. Flow Charts • Depict a process or a procedure • Can be useful for solving problems • Use symbols to identify points within a process

19. Four Primary Flow Charts • Top-down flow charts start at the top and present the primary steps of the process drawn vertically • Work flow diagrams illustrate the flow of work • Deployment flow charts show not only how a process flows, but identify who is responsible for each part of that process • Detailedflow charts depict all the steps and sequences in a process, including the relationships between various internal stages of the process

20. Organizational Charts • Show the administrative, managerial, and staff structures of organizations • Display relationships between each level and identify paths of responsibility and authority

21. Tables • Are lists of data presented in a system of rows and columns • Are comprised of rows and columns of individual cells

22. Line Drawings • Are simple drawings used to represent objects • Are useful in documents like instruction manuals because they show specific parts or steps within a larger process

23. Types of Images • Photographs • Screen Shots • Video • Animation

24. Photographs • Can be effective in manuals and instructions by showing the exact objects used in a process • Can be useful in accident and field reports because they depict a scene as the viewer sees it • Screen Shots are useful when describing a computer process or showing software features or applications.

25. Video & Animation • Video • Provides a good method for showing readers/viewers exact processes • Conveys information quickly • Animation • Can be used to depict processes that can't be shown or that don't exist yet • Adds eye-catching and professional touches to web pages and e-manuals

26. Finding Visuals • In databases, usually for a fee • With Web searches, usually with permission • Using clip art, from previously printed materials

27. Your Own Visuals • Simple paint and draw programs allow anyone to manipulate digital photos and other images. • Understand important differences between print and electronic visuals: • Different color schemes (CYMK vs. RGB) • Different file sizes • Different pixel densities

28. Graphics Software • Bitmap (raster) graphics store information by bits • Allow the user to add color and texture, alter typography, and work in multiple layers • Vector graphics are based on lines, points, and paths • Give the user control over lines and complex shapes • Popular among architects and engineers • Spreadsheet programs can transform data into graphs, charts, and tables • Word processing programs allow users to create diagrams and basic shapes

29. Using Color Effectively • Use color to: • Identify a particular part of a document or kind of text • Highlight or draw attention • Improve the aesthetic and professional quality of your document • Use color appropriately by: • Establishing a consistent color scheme • Creating contrast • Avoiding overuse

30. Guidelines for Using Visuals • Make them relevant to the text • Consider appropriate size • Keep them simple and uncluttered • Consider transnational audiences • Consider visuals during revision

31. Ethics and Visuals • Manipulation • Not acknowledging changes can have serious repercussions • Permission • Be aware of Fair Use guidelines • Citation • Always identify the source of an image • Accuracy • Evaluate images during the Review phase • Representation • Consider image quality

32. Ethics and Visuals • Obfuscation • Use the correct format for the data presented • Concealment • Be careful to retain important contextual information • Clarity • Be attentive to size, readability, and resolution • Access • Be attentive to visual formats and compatibility issues