Getting Started

Look at this example infographic on Prison Nurseries or on COVID-19 in Prisons. These were made both using Canva. The GIF above also displays the nurseries infographic. See how it is meant to be a long skinny two-sided flyer.

Now look at this example of a "bad" infographic. Can you see the difference between the first and second one? Which one seems more convincing? The first one! It is visually appealing and contains data/claims from reputable sources. We know the information is reputable because it is cited.

There are various free, easy-to-use (but with limited features) online platforms. I recommend Canva, but there are other platforms such as Piktochart, Venngage, or Easelly. There are also blank PowerPoint and Google Slide templates available for you to copy/download. These work as well, but have less built in design tools.

No matter what platform you end up choosing to complete this assignment, I recommend checking out Canva for inspiration. Go to Canva and select "create a design" then choose "infographic." There will be numerous templates to choose from with great color schemes. Notice how Canva uses color to portray meaning. Sections will be divided by different colors. The colors of font will vary depending on if it is a header or regular text. These cues help guide the reader.

Here is a tutorial video focusing on Canva and Powerpoint to help you. This was made by Dr. Breanna Boppre (the inspiration for this assignment who has also generously allowed me to adapt her assignment for this course so that I wouldn't need to recreate the wheel). I'm also including a video tutorial about using Canva.

*Note: the bolded words are actually hyperlinks you can click on. For some reason they are not showing up as blue underlined text. So just hover your mouse over the bolded terms for the hyperlink/click on it for the corresponding document.

Requirements

Out of 14 points (so 14% of your overall grade), you'll be graded on the following:

Content

Your infographic must contain the following information about your criminal justice system topic:

1. A title

2. Background information

• • Define your topic/issue.

  • Provide some relevant statistics/figures related to the topic.

  • Give some context on the topic in your home state.

• • Explain why this topic is important or controversial. This could be in the form of pros and cons or lay out the relevant information.

3. Solution or Recommendation

• • Provide your proposed solution to the issue and/or your specific recommendation for the U.S. and/or your home state.

You can provide your own headings and sections to fit your topic.

There is no word-length on the infographic, however, there must be enough information to inform the public with little-to-no background in criminal justice and to make a compelling argument for your stance. The writing style should be professional and in third person (no “I” statements).

Grading Criteria (0-3 points):

• The infographic contains the required information above (2 points)

• The writing is professional, third person (1 point)

Visual Appeal

To achieve visual appeal, cohesive colors and font should be used. Font should be legible and easy to read. Do not use below 10 point font besides in your footnote with references. Remember, this is intended to be a printed flyer. Your reader cannot zoom in.

Headings should have larger bold font. The infographic should have clearly delineated sections based upon the major content areas. The flow should be easy to follow.

Grading Criteria: (0-3 points):

• Font and colors were used that are complimentary and easy to read (1.5 points)

• Headings, colors, or shapes are used to denote clear sections throughout the infographic (1.5 points)

Reputable Sources

What makes an infographic an infographic is the info! You must use reliable sources and cite them. Reputable sources include your textbook, peer-reviewed journal articles, credible news outlets (e.g., the Wichita Eagle), and non-partisan (meaning not affiliated with a political group) research resources (e.g., The Sentencing Project, Vera Institute of Justice, Pew Research Center, Prison Policy Initiative, or The Marshall Project). Your interactivities provided you with statistics and reliable information on the topics above! Use them!

If you google "pros and cons" on your topic, non-reputable sources will come up. These websites will list pros and cons with no links to actual research. They are based upon someone's insider knowledge and are not credible. You must find sources of information based upon outsider knowledge, or research. In this example, you can see that there are not links or references to actual research.

Now, this isn't to say you can't use a quote from someone with direct experience. Take a look at this infographic on dog training programs made by a former student of Dr. Boppre's. She found a quote from an incarcerated man who participated in a rehabilitation program. That was a great addition! But, she also had plenty of outsider knowledge to back up the quote.

Grading Criteria (0-2.5 points):

• The information cited is from reputable sources (2.5 points)

Charts

Charts and images are a great way to convey information in a visually appealing way.

You must include at least one chart must be used with data to show the extent of the issue. These charts can be pre-existing, or made by the student. Graphs/charts must be directly relevant to the issue. However, you want to make sure you understand and interpret charts correctly.

Here is a great tutorial:

Images

Include at least one other graphic, such as clipart, icons, or photographs.

The one drawback of Canva is that many of their images are not free. You can always look up your own images and upload them. If you choose the paid images in Canva, this will have a watermark on the images when you download them. You can find free images on Google, or better yet free image sites like Pexels.

Images must be directly relevant to the issue. If your topic is on mass incarceration, does it make sense to have an image of a dog? Probably not. Also, be mindful of the images you choose. For example, if your topic is the death penalty, is showing a dead body the right message you want to convey?

Grading Criteria (0-2.5 points):

• The infographic has at least one data visual/chart (1.5 points)

• The infographic has at least one other image (0.5 points)

• The images are clear and do not have watermarks (0.5 points)

Format

Typically, infographics are vertical and are 600 wide X 2000 pixels long or about 4.5 inches wide by 11 inches long. You can use up to two sides, front and back. Your infographic should not be longer than two sides. You can use Canva's templates as mentioned above.

Grading Criteria (0-1 points):

• The infographic is about 4.5 inches wide X 11 inches long, no longer than two sides (1 point)

Submitting

Please include your name on the infographic when you submit.

The infographic should be downloaded and submitted through Blackboard as a PNG or JPEG file (not PDF!!). To download your infographic in Canva, click the download (arrow) icon in the top right corner (see screenshot).

In Powerpoint, you can go to "File>Export>File Format>PNG."

If you are unable to do that, send me the link in the Blackboard text submission box.

Your infographics are due by 11:59pm on Monday, December 7th.

You may also submit a first draft prior to December 5th via Blackboard and I will give you feedback.

Infographic Examples:

Re-learning How to Read:

Watch the video linked below by Dr. Jamie Fader for a quick discussion of how to approach reading scholarly papers by working smarter, not harder! Trust, me this will save you LOTS of time. I use a version of this method for my own research, as do most other researchers and scholars.

How to use Google Scholar to find sources for your Infographic

By Dr. Jamie Fader