Entry 7

Response to Practical Typography written by Butterick

     After I read the book Practical Typography written by Butterick, I have a basic understanding of typography which is quite useful in my life. What is typography? From the text, it answers that “is the visual component of the written words.” The ability to produce good typography depends on how well you understand the goals of your text no matter it is ugly. Good typography makes text more effective. The author gives examples of high way sign. The typography should catch people’s eyes. Speed limit and number are both important, so it uses the same obvious font.

      The book also tells that the gift of typography is from reader’s attention. People are rational for they will not always focus on what they have to concern. How to get people’s attention? The author illustrates an example on two different resumes. How to pick up one resume without reading its content? It depends on typography. It is undoubtedly that noticeable typography will gains more attention.

     I think have a good typography is a premise of good project, because people are more likely to focus the attention the overall impression at the first sight. This book is really interesting and useful for me.

Entry 6

After I saw the ted video delivered by Andrew Atanton, this video mainly talk about how to lead to a great story. His words is persuasive and impressive. In the process of his telling, he also gives some examples that used some film series he directed to support his ideas. Finally, he gives the answer on how to get a great story that is “ capturing a truth from your experiencing it, expressing values you personally feel and deep down your core”.

 I also see the infographic about this lecture. There is no doubt that infograph way and video lecture is different. Infographic summary the main ideas of this lecture and list the four steps about the process of how to lead to a great story and also matched with an illustration. This illustration shows a gradual process of how to lead to a great story vividly. Infograph emphasis on the main idea and use the picture to show the statistics or number clearly. In contrast, the lecture contains the whole content and more likely to involve more information. 

 As for me, I prefer to the way of taking a lecture, because I think the power of language is conclusive. I enjoy the speaker to use his own way, his own expression to tell us what he think. It is quite interesting and attractive. I think the video lecture is a dynamic way for me to receive information whereas the infographic is a static way for me to get the information. 

Entry#5

http://www.scholaradvisor.com/study/study-abroad/

About study abroad among Americans

1) Outline the infographic essay

Introduction: Currently, more and more American high school students choose to study abroad.

Body: a. Showing the top 10 leading destinations for American students choose to study abroad.

           b. There are different study fields for American students and introduce percent of sexuality.

            c. There is a trend towards studying abroad and the major reasons for American students choose to study abroad.

Conclusion: The number of America students who choose to study abroad is increasing.

2) Provide the Rhetorical Situation of this essay

Purpose: The purpose of this essay is to show a currently phenomenon that more and more American students choose to study abroad.

Audience: The audience is American high school students

Stance: the author hold a neutral attitude shows a phenomenon about American students.

Genre: Expository Essay

Media/design: Text, graphs, pictures. The composing is clear and the whole image is very comfortable. The main color tone is appropriate.

3) While you are only outlining the essay--not writing it word-for-word--you can still get a feeling for what this essay would look like. How is the infographic different from the traditional essay you outlined?

This essay uses infographic way to show what the author wants to say clearly. I can know the basic information after seeing infographic. Therefore, if I need to outline this essay, I just need to show some number or statistics which concretely express author ideas. In contrast, traditional essay sometimes have other extra words. When we are outlining an essay, we have to mention these words. Sometimes it is unnecessary.

4) Strengths and weaknesses of the infographic: what does the infographic do better than the essay? What does the essay do better than the infographic?

Strengths: The infographic uses pictures, graphs and other ways to support author’s perspective. There is no doubt that it is an effective way for us to understand information quickly. In this essay, we can quite know the top 10 countries for American students choose to study abroad and easily discover the percent of sex. Readers just need to spend less time to acquire knowledge.

 Weaknesses: The traditional essay is more specific than infographic essay. The traditional essay has more details which infographic cannot express. As for an academic essay, there is no wonder that traditional essay is more serious and more persuasive for readers.

5) How does this qualify as an essay and not a series of pictures?

A series of pictures do not mean anything. An essay shows a theme and gives a clear method. This essay gives a good introduction of abroad phenomenon for American students. In terms of counties, field, sex distribution, the author takes a very comprehensive explanation of study abroad situations. For this reason, this is an essay not a series picture.

Entry 4

Respond to "Searchin'" by Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson

This author uses infographic way to help us understand what he wants to say. There is no doubt that using infographic makes the whole article more visual, more vivid. At the first page, I can clearly know that this article wants to express the theme of music by a picture. For instance, about the discovery channels, author uses the tree diagram to show the data. I have to admit that this way is very easy for me to understand the data explicitly. Although this article is written on the platform of Web 1.0, the basic characteristic of Web1.0 is “static” not “dynamic” or “instantly dynamic”. However, I think it is clear enough to show the main content.

 Nowadays, there is no need for us to buy CD in the shop. We have already owned more options. Listening music online undoubtedly becomes a hot choice for many people. Actually, this way really saves our time and money. However, it also increase the distance with music. Not only is music, but also many other things. With the development of technology, we are more accustomed to chatting with friends online rather than talk  face-to-face. We prefer to shop on the internet instead of buying things with parents on the street. The speed of technology develops more quickly, gradually we seems lose something. No matter the time has entered into the time of “Social 3.0”, or following “Web 4.0, Web 5.0”, we really need to attach great importance on people and people.

Entry3

Response to “the data miner’s guide to romance”

There are many social networking websites have such function: Search. In terms of locations, sex, and characteristic, people are more likely to create a relationship with other people. “the data miner” offers some statistics to help people finish their profile perfectly. Better profile will gain more attention from other people. There is no wonder that “data miner” gives several tips to help us finish a perfect profile picture. For instance, making contact with your camera is a significant way to enhance your attractiveness. And, it is pretty interesting to compare some data collection to analyze the target audience which belongs to us. I have to admit that it is easier for us to find out more friends and become more related to social contact. However, there exist some problems. As shown in the chart, there are some hot key words which are ranked by some attractiveness people, like skiing, yoga. These words also present some popular trends. Nevertheless, I think it will be a little misunderstanding for some people who are eagerly to be concerned. In order to make more friends, people marked their tags like surfing, skiing or live in London. Actually, they do not like these sports but to attract more people’s attention. It is useless and a kind of mislead other people who really want to make friends.

Entry 2

Punk music is not like other music, which is gentle and melodious. The rhythm of punk music is very fast and voice is very loud. People worn holes clothes and dance crazily to express their strong feeling. Although it was not accepted by many people, punk music became mainstream music at that period. Mixed with both admirations and controversies, punk music showed its unique style. People played punk music, seemed like to say “rebel, rebel, rebel.” The way they performed and loud roar expressed their unsatisfactory to this society. I think this spirit of resistance is a powerful strength to push the improvement of society. Actually, people need this spirit. Currently, the speed of technology develops very fast. In just five years, the function of Web2.0 is so useful and broad. The rapid development of technology really brings us a lot of convenience. We also need to think: what makes Web2.0 develops so quickly? I think increasing demands from people motivate the development of Web 2.0. Just like the punk music spirit, only dissatisfactory could push the progress of society. As Mr. Martin said, “If early punk led to a dead end, he suggests, the answer is clear: more experimentation.” The appearance of punk music represents that the diversity of human development. Also, the innovation of Web2.0 gives more opportunities to human. 

Entry1

Response to Web 2.0 to Social 3.0: The Next Big Thing

When we are still enjoying the convenience that Web 2.0 brings to us, the next big thing is coming. It is Social 3.0. This article mainly gives an introduction of Social3.0. At the beginning of the article, the author illustrates with an example of websites sites. Different people can complete an assignment simultaneously no matter where they are. Compared with Web 2.0, Social 3.0 improves collaboration ability to be synchronous and real-time. Social 3.0 is regarded as “synchronous collaboration”. In the meantime, author also realizes that reader will have a misunderstanding on Web 3.0 and social 3.0. For this reason, author emphasis that Social 3.0 is different from Web 3.0. From my perspective, the innovation of technology undoubtedly brings a lot of convenience, especially for students. Students and teachers will get more communication and interaction with each other. Teacher can use this as a platform, so students are able to share their views at the same time on computers or mobile phones. You are not only relies on your own wisdom, other people will also help you.