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last.updated 4.2.06

Visuals & Writing

Purpose

Last week we discussed how new digital technologies places multimedia capabilities into the hands of most writers. Therefore, writers now have the capability to incorporate visuals more effectively into their texts. Yet some disciplines, as Gossett et al. discuss, still value lexical communication and believe that pictures do not communicate as intelligently. Today, we will discuss this notion, placing an emphasis on the different disciplines represented by the students in the class.

Article Reviews

We will listen to article reviews by Starr and Jeri.

Discussion–Lupton & Miller and Doumont

We will address the following questions...

• What questions do you have about Lupton and Miller's article or Doumont's article?
• We will discuss Doumont's distinction between symbolic communication and nonsymbolic communication; likewise, we will discuss his theory on when and how to use pictures.
• Do you agree with Doumont's critique of Dragga and Voss? why?
• What is Lupton & Miller's argument? Do you agree? Why?
• In what ways do you see your discipline Mc-ifying their communication strategies?
• How is USA Today complying with or violating Doumont's theory on when and how to use pictures? Do you find USA Today's use of visuals effective? Explain.

Discussion–Gossett et al.

We will address the following questions...

• What questions do you have about Gossett et al.?
• What were their arguments? Do you agree? Why?
• How did the presentation of their article support or refute their argument? Describe your experience reading this article? What does this approach add to what we conceive as writing? What gets lost?
• Kairos is a composition/professional writing (with an emphasis on computers and writing) journal. Do you see your discipline adopting this type of media for their academic journals? Should this article be counted towards tenure for these writers? Why?