Visuals

I must admit that though the Wysocki book is interesting, it’s somewhat dense. I completely understand the need to “reinvent the wheel” so to say due to our ever-changing world, and the fact that we can’t effectively teach composition as we might have 20 years ago or even two depending on the content. Nonetheless, Wysocki makes a valid argument as to why we need to go back to the drawing board and incorporate a greater emphasis on the visual. Though I’m not in accordance with all the methods I’ve come across yet in the book, this week’s activity actually seems like it could be of great use in my class (more so than last week’s). Asking students to build a visual argument seems that it would best accompany Paper #1, Hurricane Katrina. Instead of allowing students to pick the terms which they need to build their argument around, it would interesting to give all the students the same terms (as in relation to Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath), next have them write down which visuals come to mind, and thirdly have them search on the internet for actual visuals to aide further in their argument. I would probably do it before When the Levees broke so their minds are clear of any recent visuals. Ideally this assignment would be clearer and would follow the book more closely. I think it would be interesting to see the variations of arguments for the same concerns.