Strategies for Using Visuals in Writing Assignments

Illustrating Arguments (Jean Schwind & Paula Patch) – activities and results from the Revson Digital Literacies Project (see related post)
Creating Visual Representations of Information (Jessie Moore)

1. Students collect data and practice representing it in a visual form (table, graph, illustration, etc.). The class can compare different representations and discuss what each version emphasizes/deemphasizes, etc.
2. Jessie’s favorite version—Colors of M&Ms

• Provide each student/group with a package of M&Ms. Ask them to count the number of M&Ms in each color. (At this point, the whole class could create a table with “actual per packet,” “total,” and “average” information represented.)
• Ask each student/group to create a visual representation comparing the amount of candies in each color included in their packet.
• Give students information about the reported color break-down, as provided on the M&Ms website. (See handout)
• Ask each student/group to create a second visual, comparing their actual color distribution with the company’s reported distribution.

Tags: visuals