Just as the rough draft tested my ability as a listener in what we had learned throughout the semester, the transition into the final draft forced me to listen to the criticisms of my peers. After a full-class workshop of my rough draft, I had a lot I knew I had to change in order to ensure the piece reached its full potential. Most of the complaints were focused in the design--altough I had tried to purposefully make the numbers and the writing a bit disorganized in order to draw the reader's attention, some felt that this was too distracting. I responded to this by streamlining the design and still keeping some of the form that the rough draft had, but making a better effort to keep the audience's understanding in mind. Additionally, I was told that it would be more effective to place a a greater emphasis on the Grammys over time, which would be more authoritative than just one year. This led to the addition of the white asset, which serves an important purpose on three levels: being incredibly insightful, drawing the reader's attention to a crucial piece, and having symbolic importance as the only white representation. This project was amongst the most rewarding I have ever worked on, as it allowed me to take a subject I love and apply everything I have learned throughout this semester, truly testing my ability as a listener as well as a writer. For a closer look at the final draft of "ORANGE Isn't New For Blacks," click on the image to the left.
Project 3: Remediation
The most enjoyable step throughout this process may have actually been in the creation of the mock up. Once I decided that I wanted to create an infographic for my remediation project, I have never become more excited with the possibilities for the project. I first sorted out the most fundemental aspects of any infographic: the design aesthetic. I tried to choose a color scheme and font family that would be as close to the original Grammy theme as possible. I then focused on what additional aspects I would include in order to transcend this from being just a by-the-numbers account into an argument in and of itself. I chose to include the thumbnail artist drawings for this purpose, as they are both visually attractive as well as expanding the scope of the argument to the Grammys in its entirty. With these foundations in place, I was able to complete the mockup by putting together these peices along with the other assorted ornaments that would bring the infographic together and give it cohesion. For a closer look at the rough cuts, click on either image.
As was explained before, the remediation project truly forced me to listen to what we had been learning about throughout this semester and apply it to my writing. The creation of the rough draft epitomized this. First and foremost, it required research, and lots of it. I had to find out exactly how many albums Mumford & Sons sold in 2013, exactly how many seconds Kelly Clarkson's perfomance was, and exactly what percent of award recipients were white. In addition to this research, though, I also had to keep in mind my audience and rhetorical situation. I knew that I would be writing for a young audience not only interested in being informed but also in being entertained. Therefore, I knew as a writer that I had to be cognizant of that, and chose to mix in some humurous lines in order to keep the piece fresh and ensure it was not bogged down as a straight collection of facts. For a closer look at the rough draft, click on the image to the right.
My third creation for the Gateway course was my infographic on the Grammy Awards, which was an attempt to illustrate the argument of the Repurposing piece visually. I felt that this would be both an entertaining and informative medium to attempt to redefine the argument within. This also required the most concerted effort for me to really listen to what we learned and use the tools we have been developing throughout the course. I also believe it has produced the most tangible instances of growth for me as a writer. I have outlined below the steps I took along the way to creating the finished product.