This presentation explores the use of visual rhetoric and gives an overview of design principles. It was prepared to help peer writing tutors work with first-year writing students who are transforming their written projects into poster presentations.

1. TUTORING WITH By Kate F.,
Laura M., and
VISUAL RHETORIC Julia Ha.

2. VISUAL RHETORIC
 Definition: The use of images as argument
 Lets pictures speak for themselves through the use of
iconography and symbology recognizable by the viewers
thanks to a priori knowledge.
 Translation?
 Applications: conversation between elements on a
page/screen/board/canvas; use of fonts and colors;
significance of existing images and visuals

3. EXAMPLES OF VISUAL RHETORIC:
CONTEMPORARY ICONOGRAPHY

4. WHAT NOT TO DO

5. PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN
 Balance  Proportion
 Contrast  Scale
 Direction/Movement  Repetition/Rhythm/Pattern
 Emphasis  Unity

6. BALANCE

7. CONTRAST

8. DIRECTION/MOVEMENT

9. EMPHASIS

10. PROPORTION AND SCALE

11. REPETITION/RHY THM/PATTERN

12. UNIT Y

13. PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN - a helpful
mnemonic
C ontrast draws the eye to the page
 R epetition involves reusing design elements throughout a
document
 A lignment refers to how the elements on a page are lined up
with each other
 P roximity refers to keeping related items together

14. COLOR THEORY
 Using color
rhetorically
 Contrast draws
attention
 Colors have cultural
associations
 Context
Video and (fun)
helpful resource, for
you and for writers!
 http://www.mariacl
audiacortes.com/col
ors/colors.html

15. FONT PERSONALITIES
• Times New Roman – University Center for Writing-
based Learning
• Lucida Handwriting – University Center
for Writing-based Learning
• Comic Sans – University Center for Writing-
based Learning
• Papyrus – University Center for Writing-based
Learning
• Rockwell – University Center for Writing-based
Learning
• Impact – University Center for Writing-based Learning
• Courier New – University Center for
Writing-based Learning

16. FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE
Tutoring and Fellowing At the UCWbL
 Fir st Year Writing Showcase  UCWbL Por tfolios
Par ticipants  Take advantage of the features
 Congratulate them first on provided by using an electronic
their accomplishment! platform
 Give them their Poster  Enhance the concepts of your
Tutoring Philosophy,
Board and go through the Professional Development
checklist Activities, and other
 Brainstorm ideas components by using images
 Ever yday  UCWbL Initiatives
 Resumes  Create posters and other
promotional media for the
 Digication portfolios UCWbL
 Multimodal projects  Get involved and participate in
various, creative professional
development activities

17. PRIORITIZING THE TUTORIAL
To ask the writer:
 What is going on your board?
 How will you communicate your main argument
 Recommendation: invite writer to sketch out their board during the
tutorial
 What are your talking points?
 Natural, succinct, direct explanation of your argument
 What are your handouts/takeaways?
 Not required, but very much appreciated 

18. USING THE CHECKLIST

19. REFERENCES & USEFUL RESOURCES
 Block, Stephan M. “Dos and Don’ts of Poster Presentations.”
Biophysical Journal 71 (1996): 3527 -3529.
 Cor tes, Maria Claudia. “Color in Motion.” Rochester Institute of
Technology, 2003. Web.
 Hess, George. Creating Ef fective Poster Presentations. NC State
Univer sity. Web.
 Lost Principles of Design . Fuel Your Creativity, 2012. Web .
 Poster Presentations. Stanford School of Medicine, 2011 . Web.
 Purdue OWL. Visual Rhetoric . Purdue University, 2012. Web.

20. HELPFUL LINKS
 Lost Principles of Design:
http://www.fuelyourcreativity.com/the -lost-principles-of-
design/
 Purdue OWL pages on visual rhetoric:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/1/7 /
 Color theory website:
http://www.mariaclaudiacortes.com/colors/Colors.html
 NCSU page on poster presentations:
http://www.ncsu.edu/project/posters/NewSite /

21. PLEASE JOIN US!
First Year Programs Writing Showcase
Cortelyou Commons, Lincoln Park Campus
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
5pm-7pm
Key Note Speaker: Doug
Hesse, University of Denver