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"Hope" political campaign poster from Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign.
(Fairey)
An Introduction to Visual Argumentation
An Introduction to Visual Argumentation
Visual argumentation is defined by Lone Star College as “an argument made primarily through images that is intended to persuade viewers to believe or do something” (np). Visual argumentation is a core component of presenting research, and so the choices involved with creating visuals can either aid or hinder a researcher’s ability to persuade an audience to consider their subject. Likewise, the University of Minnesota confirms that “the human brain processes images 60,000 times faster than text” (Thermopylae, np), which means the quality of a researcher’s images can have an immediate impact on the audience retention. Ineffective visuals that are unappealing to the eye, confusing, biased, or irrelevant can decrease audience retention for presentations of research, while visuals that incorporate more appealing features will captivate the listeners.
The displayed Barack Obama “Hope” political campaign poster, Surfrider Foundation anti-pollution poster, and “Flavors Hook Kids” anti-flavored-tobacco-products poster exhibit desirable characteristics of argumentative visuals. The graphics incorporate color, emphasis, and striking text that attracts the attention of viewers. Also, the visuals demonstrate relevancy to modern times, in which recent presidencies, pollution, and vaping are major topics of interest. The messages of each are prominently communicated to the audience through these aspects, which essentially is the goal of implementing visuals into arguments, essentially.
From this webpage, English students will learn the necessary knowledge for employing visuals to strengthen their arguments, through various descriptions and examples.
"Flavors Hook Kids" advertisement against flavored tobacco products.
(Channon)
Surfrider Foundation poster for pollution awareness.
(Surfrider Foundation)
Choosing the Correct Format for Data
Choosing the Correct Format for Data
Unable to display proportions and being hard to read, pie charts are ineffective for visual argumentation. Pie charts often contain many categories that become cluttered and difficult to read. Mikael Häggström's created the pie chart "Pie Chart of US Population by State", which attempts to show population data of the United States. With so many sections similar in size next to each other, determining the relative scale of each section becomes increasingly difficult. For instance, Maryland and Puerto Rico appear identical in size, however, are 1.7 million people off each other’s population. Making it indistinguishable to notice the difference, the pie chart is an ineffective tool for visual argumentation. Similarly, if a reader wants to determine how many times the population of Colorado could fit into Florida by visual alone, they could reasonably choose a number between three to five. The population of Florida is approximately 3.7 times, but readers are unable to determine that level of specificity. Finally, the chart has a portion labeled “other.” The pie chart runs out of space to include the rest of the data, leaving the reader without any information about the missing data. Thus, the pie chart is ineffective at displaying data and other methods should be used.
"Pie Chart of US Population by State" (Häggström)
The bar chart titled “US population by State and Territory” was created using the data from Häggström's pie chart. The proportions and relative size of each piece of data become much easier to determine from the bar chart. Unlike the pie chart, Florida can easily be determined to be about four times the size of Colorado. Being much more descriptive than pie charts, bar charts are an effective alternative.
Bar Chart
Bar Chart
Bar charts work well when comparing parts of larger data sets, emphasizing different categories, displaying change over time, or portraying positive and negative values in a dataset. Avoid bar charts if you have too many categories, no more than 10.
Line Chart
Line Chart
Line charts work best if you have continuous data that changes over time or visualize trends. Line charts are not effective if you have small datasets.
Scatter Plot
Scatter Plot
Scatter plots are effective if you want to show a correlation in big datasets, if your dataset contains points that have a pair of values, or if the order of points does not matter. Refrain from using scatter plots if you have a small dataset or if the values in your dataset are not correlated.
Proper Visual Composition Strategies
Proper Visual Composition Strategies
There are methods to create a strong compositional system.
There are methods to create a strong compositional system.
Alignment of Text:
Alignment is a type of formatting that determines the appearance of the text in a paragraph. Different alignments promote different goals, for example left aligned text results in readability, while centered text promotes balance.
Color Contrast:
Contrast in general distinguishes separate elements by juxtaposing visually different elements next to eachother. This highlights contrasting elements and draws attention to what makes them different. With effective use of color contrast, movement, tension, and focus can be fostered.
Balance/Symmetry:
Symmetry refers to a balanced similarity found in two sides facing each other or around an axis. Symmetry promotes balance, creating patterns that allow the viewer to feel peace.
Proximity & Visual Relationships:
Proximity of elements implies the existence of a relationship in the mind of a viewer, therefore relationships between objects can be created without explicit visual connection. When arranged in a specific way, these shapes imply a triangle.
Repetition:
Repetition of elements reinforces the message trying to be conveyed. Repitition adds consistency and visual interest to an image.
Rhythm:
Where repetition is the simple inclusion of additional elements, rhythm refers to the structure of composition and repetition. The rhythm of repetition, the way elements are organized relative to each other, creates interest and depth.
Scaling:
Scaling provides variety in composition, while also having the potential to confront a viewer's conceptions by visually distorting or warping the typical size of objects.
Emphasis:
By making a specific element the focal point of an image, emphasis directs the viewer's perceptions to align with the goals of the creator of the work. Here, the reader's attention is grabbed by the yellow circle.
The Significance of Misinformation
The Significance of Misinformation
Image depicts protesters rallying over COVID-19 concerns. Above (Kreps and Kriner)
Below Los Angeles Times
Misinformation is defined as, “false or inaccurate information, especially that which is deliberately intended to deceive” (Oxford Languages np). The COVID-19 pandemic was the first of its kind during the modern age of technology, with constant media coverage and increased use of social media, misinformation was constantly and is still being spread. Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) recorded statistics that highlight the misinformation spreading through media and the challenge to accurately communicate the science surrounding the pandemic. They found that “60% of adults say they have heard that the government is exaggerating the number of COVID- 19 deaths by counting deaths due to other factors and either believe it to be true or aren’t sure if it is true or false” (KFF). This inaccurate information is dangerous to the public, causing individuals to not believe the gravity of the pandemic. Additionally, Taylor Nelson, a writer for PubMed Central, describes numerous examples of the significance of misinformation during the pandemic. She explains how a CDC survey found that, “39% of responders engaged in dangerous practices including washing food products with bleach, applying household cleaners directly to skin, and intentionally inhaling or ingesting disinfectants with the goal of preventing COVID- 19 infection” (Nelson NP). These actions are dangerous to human health and would have little to no impact on preventing infection and are the product of ignorance and misinformation.
Actions speak louder than words
Individuals themselves can be a form of visual argumentation. One's actions, when seen by others, have the power to persuade. This is important to remember when people exhibit dangerous activities, their actions may be leading someone else to believe the same idea.
Another example of the potential harm of misinformation was exhibited in Washing D.C. in 2016. A man targeted a local pizza shop during the middle of the day in a busy shopping center full of families. No one was hurt and the suspect was arrested, but the reasoning for his acts are significant. Takashi Imamura explains how false tweets were spread claiming that the pizza shop was, “the base for a pedophile sex ring involving Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, a former Secretary of State, and members of her campaign. The operators of the pizza shop began receiving threats from right wing activists who believed that the reports were true” (Imamura np). Although nobody was harmed, the fact that a shooting was caused by fake news is crucial. Misinformation can cause significant and detrimental events, and it is important that as a society we work to prevent It through proper investigation and examination.
Comet Ping Pong Pizza (Wikipedia)
Appropriate Visual Argumentation
Appropriate Visual Argumentation
This data chart shows beach ball sales and temperatures.
(MacWorld)
Visuals are incredibly influential in aiding audience understanding of concepts. However, as established by previous explanations and examples, only optimal visuals that exhibit specific characteristics increase the understanding of viewers, while inappropriate visuals do not. These characteristics include pleasing uses of color, repetition, emphasis, and various other strategies. The portrayed bar chart that depicts the correlation between beach ball sales and weather is an example of a simple, clear, and visually aesthetic visual. The chart captivates the viewer through the similar shades, yet contrasting intensities, of color and well-ordered layout. The faded beach ball in the background doesn't overwhelm the image either, but instead creates emphasis for the colored bars in front of the ball. The image does not aim to deceive or confuse the viewer, which is necessary for visual arguments. The message that beach ball sales increase as temperatures increase is easy to interpret from this appropriate chart.
This diagram displays the location and anatomy of the human heart.
(Lumen Learning)
Likewise, the diagram displaying the anatomy of the human heart is also an effective image for increasing audience comprehension. The diagram displays the important sections of the heart in an uncomplicated manner, which is impressive because the heart is an extremely complicated organ that is typically not viewed upon by human eyes. Through the neat and colorful visual, however, a viewer can receive sufficient knowledge on the basic anatomy of the human organ.
Created by Kylie Sims, Kiley Gustin, and Brody Ghashghai
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