Writing in the Discipline

English 357: Visual Language and Culture

By Naomi Koehler

What is Visual Language & Culture?

• Visual language is a cultural element of communication

• Growing in importance because of our fast paced life-style

• Technology has changed the way we interact with information

Nonverbal Communication

• What does this image say to you?

• Posturing• Facial expression• Hand signals• Graffiti • Did they pose for this

picture?

Basic 5

• Audience• Purpose• Tone• Clarity• Organization

Applications

• Advertisements

• Billboards

• Brochures

• Cartoons / Comic strips

• Company logos

• Graphic novels

• Web design

Overlaps with

• Business and Professional Writing

• Writing in the Sciences

• Health and Medical Writing

• Writing in the Design Discipline

Assignments

• Non-linear timeline

• Photographic self portrait

• A video

• Rhetorical analysis of a professional work

• Reflective writing with all assignments

• Final portfolio

“Always Remember CRAP”

• Contrast• Repetition• Alignment• Proximity

• So just add Visual Interest to the list of CRAP to remember

• Group similar items together

• Align visual elements• Use repetition and

contrast to create consistent visual patterns

• Add visual interest

Business Writing

Contrast

• Color• Font size

Repetition

• Meaningful repetition• Consistency

Alignment

Visual Persuasion

• Direct approach• Indirect approach

Tutoring

• Audience

• Purpose

• Tone

• Clarity

• Organization

•Contrast

•Repetition

•Alignment

•Proximity

•Plus Visual Interest

Design Elements

• Contrast• Repetition• Alignment• Proximity• Plus Visual Interest• Audience• Purpose• Tone• Clarity• Organization

Works Cited

• Blakesley, David, and Jeffrey Hoogeveen. “Designing and Presenting

Information”. The Brief Thomson Handbook: for North Dakota State

University. 1st ed. USA: Thomson Heinle, 2008. Print.

• IaGuardia, Dolores, and Hans Guth. American Voices: Culture and

Community. 6th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2006. Print.

• Savage, Chuck. “Computer Age Ending Literature”. The Brief Thomson

Handbook. New York: Pearson, 2005. Print.

• Trimbur, John. The Call to Write. New York: Pearson, 2005. Print.

• Vosen, Melissa. Personal Interview. 16 Feb. 2011.