howtowrite3e

INFOGRAPHIC

Infographics are visual reports designed to present data memorably and powerfully. If they do their job well, they can also make convincing arguments. So it should be no surprise that most of the infographics available on the official White House site carry partisan messages (see http://www.whitehouse.gov/share/infographics). Nonetheless, a government-sponsored item such as “Wind Technologies Market Report 2012,” reproduced on the following page, can still be rich in basic facts and information — in this case helping readers to appreciate the accomplishments of a rapidly growing industry.

Reading the Genre

Study the infographic that follows, paying attention to the way it presents data about growth in the energy sector. Aside from presenting numbers and information, what messages do the designers of the relatively modest chart try to convey? What visual devices do its creators use to emphasize key points about wind energy? Why is it important that “Share on Facebook” and “Share on Twitter” buttons accompany this item when viewed online?

Infographic by Sarah Gerrity, Courtesy of the U.S. Department of Energy.