Questions to Consider
- What rhetorical appeals are at work in Matson’s infographic? Consider what the colors, graphics, and text do to engage the audience.
- Who is Matson’s audience and what examples can you provide from the infographic that show a clear connection between audience and content?
- Matson describes taking in peer feedback about pathos in their infographic and how that feedback influenced their revisions. Where could you also offer feedback to Matson about the project’s use of pathos?
A Note from an Editor—Christopher Lovgreen
Matson’s infographic is well-designed, logical, and visually appealing. The project’s color scheme is inviting to the audience. Matson’s use of light greens and blues are aesthetically pleasing and are relevant to the topic of the project itself. Moreover, this infographic’s layout to easy to navigate. Matson quickly identifies the specific community, its problem, and what is at stake. They gesture toward specific, tangible examples of how algae blooms are detrimental to the lake—such examples garner genuine investment and interest from the Lake Geneva community. Just as importantly, Matson offers a specific solution to this ecological issue. Though it is vital to identify and describe Lake Geneva’s issue with algae, this infographic makes the essential step in offering a call to action. Strong remediation projects, such as Matson’s, do more than list off facts: they advocate for action.
Algae Outbreak
Click here to view infographic.
Writer’s Reflection
Dear Reader,
For this project, I chose to create an infographic on the blue-green algae outbreak in Lake Geneva. I made the intended audience the local residents of Lake Geneva. Throughout this class, I made several rhetorical choices, used feedback to improve my work, and developed my skills in communication, research, and argumentation.
Rhetorical Choices: Genre, Audience, and Purpose
I chose to create an infographic for this project because it allowed me to inform locals with information in a visually engaging way. I ultimately thought that using an infographic would be ideal for sharing this information in-person, as I could post flyers around Lake Geneva. This would ensure the local community would be able to see it around town and have easy access to the information. This approach made the issue of blue-green algae more understandable and engaging for residents, with the goal of informing them and encouraging them to take action. The combination of concise text and visuals helped simplify the problem and easily show possible solutions.
The intended audience for this project was Lake Geneva residents which are both locals and seasonal visitors. These are people who care about the lake’s well-being. The purpose of the infographic was to raise awareness about the algae bloom’s harmful effects and to propose solutions. I suggested measures like stricter enforcement at boat ramps to prevent the spread of algae and advocated for long-term investments in stormwater management and wastewater treatment to reduce nutrient pollution. These solutions were meant to engage the community and motivate them to protect Lake Geneva’s water quality for future generations.
Feedback
After presenting my rough draft, I received feedback that helped me refine my approach. In my rough draft, my design was visually appealing and well-organized, but my classmates suggested that I needed to include more pathos to be able to build a stronger connection with my audience. I adjusted my infographic by using language such as “our community” to make the issue more personal and relatable because I experienced this issue with the boat rental company I work for being shut down just like many others.
Personal Connection
This project was especially meaningful to me because Lake Geneva is my home. After growing up as a resident of Lake Geneva, I feel strongly connected to the community. When the algae outbreak occurred, it affected me directly. I lost income because I couldn’t work due to the reduced tourism. This personal experience motivated me to create an infographic that could help prevent similar issues to my community in the future. By relating to other residents and offering solutions, I hoped to protect Lake Geneva and its economy.
Challenges
One of the main challenges I faced was balancing the technical aspects of the issue while connecting it with pathos. Initially, I focused mostly on the facts but realized that emphasizing the personal impact was equally important. This change helped make the infographic more relatable to residents who care about the lake.
Development of Communication Skills
This project greatly expanded my understanding of how to use different types of communication. I used visuals, text, color, and layout not just to inform, but to persuade and engage my audience. I realized that it’s not just about combining different ways of sharing information; it’s about using them effectively to strengthen the message. Designing the infographic required attention to detail. I had to choose colors, fonts, and layouts that would make the information clear and accessible, while also ensuring it was visually engaging.
My understanding of being able to find and use information also grew. I had to not only gather credible information but also tailor it for my audience. For example, I emphasized the closure of all of the 6 beaches on the lake after the outbreak because I knew these would resonate with local residents. Regarding making strong arguments, I learned how to balance emotional and logical appeals. By adding personal anecdotes, like the closure of beaches and my own job loss, I made the argument more relatable. At the same time, solutions helped back me up with credibility.
Expanded Writing Skills
This project pushed me to improve my writing skills. Before this class, I was used to writing shorter, two-page papers. However, by writing the Research-Based Proposal Argument and then creating an infographic required more in-depth research and content development. I now feel more comfortable writing longer, more detailed pieces and am confident I can tackle multi-page assignments in the future.
Applications to My Major and Career
As a Sport Management major, the skills I developed in this project will be useful in my future career. Understanding how to tailor my message based on the audience will be crucial in any career I pursue. Whether working with athletes, fans, or community stakeholders, I will need to use information effectively to build trust and advocate for change. The lessons I learned from this project will help me do this in my future career.
Reflection on Personal Growth
Overall, this project was a meaningful way to connect my academic work to my community. It challenged me to think critically about how to communicate effectively by using ethos, pathos, and logos. By connecting the issue to my personal experiences and offering practical solutions, I created an infographic that was both informative and engaging. Looking ahead, I plan to apply these skills in both my academic and professional life. I feel better prepared to address problems with solutions in the future.
Conclusion
Overall, this project has helped me to be able to use my personal connection to Lake Geneva to create a powerful, visually engaging piece. It broadened my understanding of how to use different forms of communication and build strong arguments. This provided me with valuable skills that I can use in my future career. Ultimately, it taught me how to communicate effectively and meaningfully with an audience. I am very excited to carry these lessons forward for the rest of my life.