Overview
For this assignment, you will create an informative,
2-page brochure th
Overview
For this assignment, you will create an informative,
2-page brochure that focuses on a specific career of your choice. By
applying the principles of visual and document design that you’ve
learned and practiced in this module, you will use Canva.com to develop a
brochure that uses clear visual hierarchy, appropriate color, contrast,
repetition, and alignment, effective and readable font, and appropriate
graphics to inform your audience about a specific career.
Brochure Genre
You’ve
probably read or at least seen brochures before. They are usually
short, apply various design elements (including headings, lists,
images), and inform their audience about a specific topic. With that in
mind, you’ll need to consider the common elements and genre expectations
for brochures as you create your own for this project.
Audience
As
our class materials discuss, knowing and understanding your audience is
essential. For this project, then, you’ll need to have a clear idea of
who your target audience is and what your audience needs and expects.
Because the brochure will focus on a specific career, a good target
audience might be other Miami students who are interested in that
career. You might even think of the brochure as something that might be
handed out to students at a career fair or at the career services
office. Keep your audience in mind not only in creating the content of
the brochure, but also with its design and layout.
Applying the Principles of Visual Design
Layout
and design are important in workplace writing, and so when creating
your brochure, you’ll need to apply what our class materials said about
the principles of visual design: Contrast, Repetition, Alignment, and
Proximity. Keeping these in mind can help you create a document that is
visually appealing and professional. You can start with a template if
you like, although you’ll still need to customize it to fit your
project.
Assignment Requirements
Part 1: Your Career Brochure
For this assignment you will create a two-page Brochure (between 500-1000 words) that will provide information on a specific career you are interested in seeking.
In
informing your target audience about the career, you should consider
what information they might be seeking and would benefit from. The
prompts below can give you ideas of what you can research and address,
although you are not required to address all of them:
Provide a brief description of the career and its function.
What types of writing and communication are involved in this career?
What
are the general requirements or qualifications for the career? That is,
what do you (or someone in your position) need to do in order to become
qualified for this position? This may include internships, particular
course paths, and additional certifications.
What are challenges or obstacles that this career may pose?
What are some of the rewards/benefits? That is, what do people in that career like or find rewarding?
Pulling
from research on the market context for this career, provide your
reader information on topics such as competitiveness, growth, and
salary, and other conditions relevant to this career.
You
can include additional relevant information as needed. You can also use
the above list to help you create section titles for your document.
Part 2: Design Memo
In
a short, 1-2 page memo, please provide a description of how you used
the principles of visual and document design that you’ve learned about
in Module 2 to develop your brochure. Your writing should provide a
clear explanation of your rhetorical and design choices. For example, if
you used different colors to differentiate information, then you should
be able to explain why you chose those colors and where/how you used
them effectively. Be as specific, concrete, and detailed as possible.
Use
what you learned about the memo genre’s typical format and style from
Module 1 to guide the construction of your memo. That is, include a
clear introduction, sub-headings, and a conclusion.
Researching Information
However,
there might be other reliable and relevant sources you find online or
in printed publications. But remember to carefully evaluate the
reliability and relevance of any sources you find. Put yourself in your
reader’s place, and consider if that reader would find your sources to
be trustworthy.
If you know someone working in the profession you
are focusing on for the brochure, you might even consider interviewing
them for information.
Cite Your Sources
Remember to cite
all of your sources both in-text and as a Reference at the end of the
document. Also try to summarize information in your own wording. But, if
you need to use any of the exact wording of any sources, remember to
use quotations and clear citations. You can use any citation style you
are comfortable with, but please be consistent. When listing the sources
at the end of the document, you might also consider it as a list of
resources for your target audience.
Criteria
Your brochure will be graded by the following criteria:
Attention to Audience
– the brochure is clearly tailored toward your target audience with
both design and content. The content focuses on information your
audience will want and need, and the brochure is designed to help your
reader easily find information.
Overall Design – the brochure is designed following the principles of visual design, as discussed in our course materials.
Effective Content
– the content of the brochure is clear, with appropriate context and
details about the career. The most important information about this
career is clearly addressed.
Research and Citations
– the brochure clearly uses resources consulted and they are cited
clearly and consistently, both in-text and in a References list.
Polished and Professional
– the brochure is polished and clear, and uses a professional tone
appropriate for the genre and audience. If your audience is other Miami
students, don’t go overboard with an excessively formal tone–speak to
your audience appropriately and in terms they will understand.
Below I have attached a sample brochure.