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Graphic Analysis of a Process
The Graphic(s)
Using Photoshop, produce
a graphic (or set of graphics) that interprets, explains or illustrates
a process, change, development or disintegration, and reveals the dynamic
relations of its factors, causes, techniques and elements. Whether the
narrative you're visualizing and interpreting is a small domestic chore
("How to Build a Set of Book Shelves"), to a natural event ("The
Gathering Storm: the Blizzard of 1999") or a geopolitical process
("How John Kerry Won in Iowa: What the Exit Polling Shows about the
Last Two Weeks"), it should be a process that requires some explanation
or speaks to the needs or interests of an actual audience.
All graphics should be your original work, rather than something snatched
off the Web.
Examples
Examples of such narratives include a magic trick, Napoleon's March on
Moscow, executing the hammer throw, brewing beer, the development and
decline of 1970s Disco, daily Duluth bus routes, etc.
A Sense of Purpose
Purposes might include
- giving directions,
- revealing causes,
- showing the relationship of elements for improved understanding or
use.
Layers, Variables, Data Points
Graphics should include multiple variables or layers: for example, a bus
route graphic could simultaneously show locations, times, routes, daily
repetitions. On page 56 of his book, Tufte discusses a single magic-trick
illustration with ten layers of information. Combined, the variables on
your graphic(s) should include 20 data points (10 instances of 2 variables
would be 20 data points).
Quantities
These graphics should be quantified--that is, should include numbers,
distances, times, etc. as appropriate--using Tufte's three techniques
of direct labels, encodings and self representing scales (13).
Repeat all your quantities in a table at the bottom of your project for
easy referencing.
Parallelism
Depending on the subject matter, audience, purpose and intended medium,
you should decide whether your graphics will appear on successive pages,
or as part of the same eye span. If you use multiple images or pages,
keep in mind the importance of parallelism. For instance, if you're teaching
us how to wax a ski, having the orientation and distance to the ski give
us a sense of continuity. On the other hand, if your various images change
angles or distance, we may get lost. Be sure you visually and verbally
reorient us if you
Text
You may also write textual captions to accompany the graphics or
include text within the graphics themselves.
Sources
You should cite the sources for all the information you include in a foot
note or on a Works Cited section/page.
Submission Directions for the Graphic Analysis
of a Process
You'll mount your images on a Web page or set of Web pages pages posted
to your "www/5230/process" folder . This is not, however,
an assignment about Web design.
Annotation
Submit a print copy of the Web-based project with handwritten annnotations
on it.
Resources and Samples for Graphic Analysis
of a Process
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