Writing & Presentation Skills Lecture 4 PDF

WRITING & PRESENTATION SKILLS Lecture 4 Visual Aids Lecture 4 Why using Visuals? Types of Visuals. General guidelines & Considerations. Why using Visuals? Some 83 percent of what we learn derives from what we see, whereas only 11 percent deri...

WRITING & PRESENTATION SKILLS Lecture 4 Visual Aids Lecture 4 Why using Visuals? Types of Visuals. General guidelines & Considerations. Why using Visuals? Some 83 percent of what we learn derives from what we see, whereas only 11 percent derives from what we hear (Gatlin, 1988). People studying a document with graphics learn about 1/3 more than people studying a document without graphics (Levie & Lentz, 1982). People remember 43 percent more when a document includes graphics (Morrison & Jimmerson, 1989). 3 Why using Visuals? Demonstrating logical and numerical relationships. Communicating spatial information. Communicating steps in a process. Saving space. 4 Types of Visuals Chemical Equations Formulas Diagram Graphs Schematics Tables Images Typographies 5 1. Equations Represent rule, statement, principle, or relationship between two expressions. Follow same formatting rules. Symbols should be previously defined or immediately below equation or formula. By convention, – All variables and terms/symbols being defined are italicized. – Abbreviations and numerals are not italicized. Frequently written on separate line from body of text and numbered sequentially. If not too large, can be integrated into text. 6  1. Equations: In Text When working with antennas, you can calculate the additional loss caused by standing waves using Equation 1: where LA = additional loss a = 10dB/10 p = (SWR−1)/(SWR+1) dB = line loss in dB when perfectly matched SWR = standing wave ratio at the load When working with antennas, you can calculate the additional loss caused by standing waves using the equation, LA = 10 log ( a2 − p2 ) /a (1 – p2 ) − dB, LA is the additional loss caused by standing waves, a is equal w to 10dB/10, SWR is the standing wave ratio at the load, p is SWR − 1 divided by SWR + 1, and dB is the loss h in dB when perfectly matched. e r e 7 2. Chemical Formulas Symbolic representations of atoms, molecules, and/or chemical reactions. Equal sign or arrow separates symbols or quantities of reactants from products. By convention, numerals and elements are not italicized. Equations can be written on separate line of text or be integrated into text. Elements can be defined in text or directly below formula. 8 2. Chemical Formulas: In Text In fuel cells, hydrogen (H) ions are combined with oxygen (O) ions to generate free electrons, and in the process, water (Equation 2). 2H2 + O2 → 2H2O (2) To rehydrate the patient suffering from gastrointestinal malaise, an IV of glucose (C6H12O6) and water (H2O) was started. 9 3. Diagrams Drawings that show the components of a mechanism, steps of a process or relationship among parts of a system. Make them only as complex as is necessary. 10 3. Diagrams: Types of View External showing external physical attributes of device. Cross-sectional describing internal parts and perhaps process of operation. Exploded describing physical attributes of internal structure, providing assembly instructions, or describing process of operation. 11 4. Graphs Also called charts or plots. Great for presenting statistical information, including sets of numbers or proportions of mathematical values. 12 4. Graphs: Common Types Line charts. Scatter charts. Bar charts. Gantt charts. Pie charts. Pictographs. 13 Line Charts Show trends in data which have an intrinsic relationship (often time or distance). Typical axes. – x-axis is independent variable. – y-axis is dependent variable. Source: “Powerhouse Companies,” Hyper-Investor Newsletter, December 2020. 14 Scatter Charts Used to show correlation. Look like line charts, but typically used with two independent variables which do not have an intrinsic relationship. Source: RandomDogData.com, accessed December 19, 2020 15 Bar (or Column) Charts Excellent tools for comparing discrete variables. Trendlines not appropriate for categorical data. Use bar chart when value labels too long to fit on horizontal axis. Source: MomIsHappy.yay, accessed December 19, 2020. 16 Gantt Charts Specialized horizontal bar charts. Used as management and production tool to track tasks and events over time. 17 Pie Charts Used to show a part-to-whole comparison 18 Pictographs Often lack precision, but more interesting visually. Source: MomIsHappy.yay, accessed December 19, 2020. 19 5. Schematics Visually represent system’s structure or the procedures involved in a process, include flowcharts and circuit diagrams 20 6. Tables Orderly arrangements of data and information in columns and rows. Note: a table is NOT a chart. Table 2 Listing of students’ purchases. Table 1 Successful students’ weekly time management. Toys Gas Source Hours/Week Food Computers Studying 50 Drink Cleaning Supplies Clubs & Extracurriculars 10 Books Videogames Cleaning Apartment 5 Travel Netflix Utilities Happiness Source: MomIsHappy.yay, accessed December 19, 2020. 21 7. Images (Photographs) Add interest, credibility, and extreme visual detail. Two precautions: make sure that photographs. – Relevant to text. – Have adequate pixel density for purpose at hand. 22 7. Image (Alteration) Enhance or emphasize visually. Alterations of photographs and images acceptable if. – Used appropriately – do not use to change meaning or reality. – Documented appropriately – acknowledge alteration in figure title (beyond minor editing like contrast, brightness, or hue). 23  8. Typographies Typography is the art of arranging letters and text in a way that makes the copy legible, clear, and visually appealing to the reader. Make conscious decisions about fonts for both text and in visuals. Choose based on increasing readability and audience comprehension. Fonts Consideration: – Serif or sans serif. – Type. – Size. – Bold. – Underline. – Italics. 24 Fonts – Serif or Sans Serif? Serif fonts have the extra curves and flourishes that make discerning the difference between letters easier, and thus make text easier to read. Use serif fonts for blocks of text (body of a report), e.g., Times New Roman. Use sans serif fonts for headings and visual cues of sections, e.g., Arial. 25  Fonts – Type? Type choice can create or undermine credibility. Avoid “artistic” fonts in technical writing, e.g., Comic Sans. Font type Example Times New Roman Visuals should be designed with audience in mind. Arial Visuals should be designed with audience in mind. Comic Sans Visuals should be designed with audience in mind. 26 Fonts – Size? Measured using term “point” (abbreviated as pt). Two things to consider. – Size should be large enough to be easily legible. – Should not be so large that it makes a bad impression. Use size to reflect hierarchy of headings. 27 8. Typographies: Emphasis Consider carefully – some methods are more effective than others. Best option is often to boldface: – BEST OPTION IS OFTEN TO BOLDFACE (looks like yelling). – Best option is often to boldface (line visually connects letters). – Best option is often to boldface. 28 8. Typographies: Special Formatting Example: Includes Mathematic Terms like corollary, definition, theorem, rule, and proposition. Often set in large and small caps when they introduce a specific corollary, definition, theorem, rule, and proposition. RULE 1. The teacher is always right. LAW 2. Entropy will increase in any closed system. DEFINITION 3. RADAR is the use of electromagnetic energy to detect and track reflective objects. 29  General guidelines & Considerations Include visuals only when needed as it should serve a purpose, just because software allows a visual choice does not make it a good one. Visuals should provide clarity, not confusion. They should be simple, uncluttered and should present a manageable amount of information. Visuals should meet readers’ format expectations. Better to develop your own visuals and avoid copying figures (especially without CITATION) 30  General guidelines & Considerations Refer to a visual in the text before it appears and integrate them. Text in visuals should match that used in body of document. Visuals should be clearly labeled (Caption=Number + title) with titles that should allow them to stand alone. Table caption go on top of visual. Figure captions go below visual. 31  General guidelines & Considerations Document when visuals contain copyrighted information. Visuals’ colors should be translated to a world of gray as they may be shared in grayscale and printed on papers. Also consider that significant proportion of population has some degree of color blindness. 1 out of 12 men 1 out of 200 women 32  Don’t : Axis Truncation Significant difference because of x- axis truncation. Same color Insufficient information in title No units 33 Don’t: 3-D Distortion Avoid using 3-D charts when it is not needed 34 Activity 4 (4 points) Download the word document. Enhance the document readability using VISUALs Upload the document again  Yasmine Fahmy THANK YOU [email protected]