Assignment 1: Visual Argument

Due: 9.22

In this first assignment, you will visually explore and present three potential research topics for your
final project by creating a total of 6 visuals. In doing so, your goal is both to summarize a complex
topic through infographics (focusing on ethos and logos) as well as intrigue your audience to want
to learn more through movie posters (focusing on pathos).
General Project Requirements
1. 6 visuals on 3 different topics:
3 movie posters and 3 infographics
2. Engages the genre standards of both movie posters and infographics that weve read/talked about:
Movie posters engage and tease your viewer about the topic using pathos by building
visual suspense, humor, or another appropriate emotion;
Movie posters and infographics contain visual storytelling;
Movie posters show dont tellusing limited text, images, and a title + tagline;
Infographic says something interesting and unexpected about your topic, visualizing
some interesting statistic, example, story, etc. Illustrate that youve begun to research
and learn about your topic;
The movie poster and infographic work together both logically and visually.
3. Engages the visual rhetoric concepts weve discussed in class (color theory, vectors, arrangement,
white space, etc.)
4. Includes a page (single-spaced) statement of design in which you:
Use language from class to describe how your design choices were calculated to have a
specific rhetorical effect and enhance your topic;
Describe how your design is a smart take on the assignment and criteria;
Transfer: describe two skills that youve learned in this unit and where they might by
useful in your life/career in the future.

Assignment 1: Rubric
For full description of grading criteria, see above.

_______Technical Skill (15 points)

Photoshop is utilized effectivelydoesnt look Photoshopped
Image boundaries are smooth
Skills taught in class as well as skills learned on students own are well-demonstrated

_______Genre Standards (15 points)

Movie posters engage and tease your viewer about the topic using pathos by building visual
suspense, terror, humor, etc.
Movie posters contain visual storytelling
Movie posters show dont tellusing limited text, images, and a title + tagline
Infographic says something interesting and unexpected about your topic, visualizing some
interesting statistic, example, story, etc.
Infographics have multiple inner-working parts that are logically structured and create some
kind of narrative or interactivity
The movie poster and infographic work together both logically and visually

_______Complex Argument (20 points)
Argument is complex and specific, not broadit passes the scattegories test
Argument is clear to an audience that doesnt have a cover letter to read
Argument considers how it will appear to multiple audiences

_______Visual Rhetoric Savvy (15 points)
Ethos, pathos, and logos are readily perceivable and effective
Beyond genre standards, layout is well-balanced, colored, and arranged

_______Campaign Cohesiveness (15 points)
Elements of movie poster and infographic work together visually and logically

_______Assignment Requirements (5 points)
See above

_______Cover Letter (15 points)
Explains the project effectively and rhetorically, using language from the readings and class
discussions

______Total (100 points)