OVERVIEW
The final part of the policy project requires you to create an infographic on the topic covered in your written
research paper. The project will be judged largely on your ability to summarize your policy debate topic to a
general audience (see grading rubric in Blackboard).
WHAT IS AN INFOGRAPHIC?
An infographic, otherwise known as a data visualization, uses charts, graphs, images, decorative fonts,
diagrams (and the like) to illustrate information and statistics – creating a visual narrative.
The infographic assignment challenges you to visually communicate the information you presented in the
written component of the policy project to succinctly convey a broad overview of your policy debate.
WHY SUCH AN ASSIGNMENT?
A college education should give you the confidence and ability to adapt to change – to be resilient. This
means that you must be able to learn new things quickly, including technologies, and apply them to new
contexts. However, you must also learn how to apply sound communication principles to the “new”
technologies, genres, and contexts you encounter. This task reflects the information and media literacy
demands of contemporary digital culture and commerce and, more specifically, prepares you for learning a
new genre and technology (an infographic) to communicate what you know about a topic.
HOW DO I GO ABOUT THIS PROJECT?
1. The hardest part is already done – You have already researched your topic and presented the key elements in your written paper. Read through your paper to locate and analyze relevant data. I require that most of the data for your infographic comes from the information that you already provided in your written paper.
2. Search to see how others have represented similar data. I have provided several sample templates in PowerPoint to get you started. A simple search on pro con infographics will also return good sample infographics on the internet to get an idea on how to present your information visually.
3. Plan the most important elements/assets. Sketch out your “story.” Thumbnail sketches help us “think” on paper. You MUST organize your strategy BEFORE you start finding or producing graphics on the computer. Once you have some hard data to work from, you need to begin to consider the design. Infographics often work best when the graphics reflect the subject of the data, so try and let the data inform and drive the design.
4. Develop a clear title. You need to “boil-down” your topic to one sentence that clearly defines what you are trying to show with your infographics.
5. Keep it simple! Keep it clear! 6. Carefully select a color scheme. A color scheme is very important to convey a wide array of messages
while keeping the reader confined inside the infographic. With huge and complex infographics, readers will become quickly confused and their perceptions will be scattered all over the place if they don’t have colors tying down their thoughts visually. You can have 2, 3 or 10 colors but assigning them before you begin designing will be the most important thing you do. Since we are primarily using a PRO/CON approach, a good starting point is one color per side.
7. Carefully select your font. Do not use display fonts that distract and detract from your message. 8. All the different sections should all feel part of the same theme. The layout must have good
spatial organization, structure of elements, and informative value. Continue the refining process and gain feedback from as many people as possible. You should begin to see the finished product coming into shape.
9. Reference your sources. Always. Always. No exceptions. 10. Size. Use the PowerPoint templates as a reference on size. 11. Make sure that the final file you submit is saved as a pdf format.
Required Elements 1. Clear Title that conveys the focused topic 2. Quote or Clear sentence that explains topic 3. At least 2 arguments for and 2 against – With support such as a statistic or quote. The main arguments
MUST have been in your research paper – support can be new. 4. Party Position (with quote or fact from official website or key leadership figure in Congress) 5. Interest Group for and against – With key statistic or quote from the group. At least one of the groups
must have been in your written paper. 6. Public opinion on the topic – At least 3 breakdowns (e.g. for and against, men vs women, south vs north,
then and now, breakdown by race, religion or party etc.) At least two of these must have been in your written paper.
7. Additional information, graphs, pictures, tables, decorative elements to fill out the infographic. 8. Sources presented under each element.
How to Create, Save, and Upload INFOGRAPHICS in PowerPoint
Download and Open the PowerPoint Infographic Templates from Blackboard You may want to zoom in on the graphic to see the detail better – Use the Zoom Level Slider at the far bottom right of the PowerPoint screen (shown below)
Select one of the templates and then delete the rest. I have included a plain template that has already been formatted to the right size if you want to start from scratch.
Edit and Customize Infographic Pay careful attention to the required elements. Use Color and Shapes to make your infographic more appealing. Use the KISS principle – Keep is Simple and Specific The templates MUST be customized. These are examples of HOW to create, not just a plug in the information. I strongly suggest drawing your idea on Paper first. Get an idea of what should go where. Then you can move around and copy text boxes, title boxes and placeholders from the template as needed.
