Student Example #3: Slide Show
Visual Literacy Narrative
Click above to view the assignment sheet.
Evaluative comments to student using writing rubric.
Thesis/Focus
In this slide you construct a thesis through the use of text and images. The multiple modes interact with one another and construct a visual argument to the audience that through friendship, coffee, and discussion, you developed a love for reading. The slide show begins with images of you and your friends hanging out at a bookstore cafe and deciding to start a book group. The image to the left depicts a book cover, and you include text to make the audience aware that the book is the first the group read together.
Organization
Here, you use a variety of tools to keep the composition organized and easy for the audience to understand. The slides are well titled to separate sections and ideas within the slide show. What is not visible in the version of the slide show embedded in this website is the use of animations that you included. There were multiple transitions between the slides, as well images and text that faded in and out within each slide. This is both a weak and strong point to the organization of this slide show. The animations between slides are effective at drawing in the audience and keep them interested. However, some of the animations within the slides are not effective. Many of the animations take to long to appear and move too slowly.
Development
You develop the slide show well. There is a consistency in the modes. For instance, you use redundancy of images (the book covers) and slide design (purple background with complimentary side bar) to assist in building your argument. The repetition of the book covers not only sets up visual consistency but also exemplifies how the coffee talks with friends contributed to your reading.
Syntax and Diction
You do a successful job at keeping the amount of text to a minimum in the slide show, using only as much as the audience can comfortably read at a time. Additionally, they are short, quick phrases that provide the audience with the specific relevant information. You could have done a more successful job at using text or images to point out more clearly that the coffee talks with friends was how your book group began.
Format and Design
You utilize design principles effectively through repetition of modes. The font, size, and color of the text are consistent throughout, although the color was not the most effective choice for easy reading. The images are used as examples to support your argument. Additionally, the color and design choice of the background were well chosen in contrast to the images. However, the reason for the rhetorical choice of purple is not obvious.
Research
Not applicable.
Mechanics
You demonstrate an awareness of mechanics. The titles on the slides are error-free. Additionally, all of the images and text transition and appear as you intended.