Green Rhetoric

Green Campaign Part 2: Infographic (40 points)

“Graphical excellence is that which gives to the viewer the greatest number of ideas in the shortest time with the least ink in the smallest space… And graphical excellence requires telling the truth about the data.”  –Edward Tufte

Students will create an infographic as Part 2 of their green campaign. The infographic will build on and connect to your op-ed research and argument, particularly the audience, but the purpose may vary. So begin by identifying your infographic’s purpose: to inform, to persuade, to change behavior, to join in a movement, or to do something else. Once you know the purpose, then collect your data (design tip: try not to cover too much – lest your infographic be really long). And then write the copy for your infographic (design tip: less text, more images). Then use one of the many free infographic platforms available online to create your infographic. Before settling on a final design, I recommend sketching out a design and layout and considering multiple infographic templates. Don’t settle on the first one. Be deliberate. Ultimately, your infographic will be disseminated in two ways: 1) disseminated online as part of your green campaign social media posts, and 2) online as part of your final (e)portfolio.

Links:

Ultimate Infographic Design Guide

Greener Ideal’s List of Best Environmental Infographics

Climate Reality Project’s Eight Great Infographics on Climate Change

Piktochart (free, but you have to register – like most of them)

Green Campaign: Infographics Scoring Guide (40 points)

(10%) Writing Process: Peer review submission and participation; self-evaluation

(40%) Content of Infographic:

• Clear purpose with an overall message
• Reliable information
  • Conveyed by text and visuals (photos, tables, figures)
  • Derived from credible sources
• Audience awareness by designer

(40%) Layout and Design

• Legible and readable information via font color and size, contrast with background, spacing (i.e. not cluttered)
• Organization
  • Facilitates understanding of content
  • Considers visual hierarchy of information
  • Balances visuals and text
• Aesthetically appealing, pleasing to the eye

(10%) Delivery

• Edited and polished
• Shareable online via (e)portfolio, social

Self-Evaluation

1. How would you characterize the purpose of your infographic?
2. What did you enjoy about creating the infographic? What was challenging?
3. What are the strengths of infographics as a genre and what are the strengths of your infographic in particular?
4. What could be improved in your infographic?
5. ___Name of colleague_____ gave me my best feedback. As a result, when I revised, I changed ____________ and ______________.