Chapter 4 Reflections

There are many ways to make potentially boring and difficult-to-read documents more vivid and interesting.  Some of the ways mentioned in Chapter 4 that are worth implementing are use of typography, spacing, alignment, and visual aids.  The book itself did a great job at implementing the techniques as they were being explained.  The headings are diverse and interesting, and images are found throughout the chapter to enhance the teachings.  I was disappointed, though, to find that ART was used as a title for the subheadings of Tables, Bar and Line Graphs, Pie Graphs, Photographs and Clip Art, and Miscellaneous Graphics.  Art is a pathos strategy that can help with logos and ethos.  I would debate that “art” is not the correct term for grouping these elements of visual aids.  In fact, that is probably the best term for this section:  Visual Aids.  The title of the chapter is Enhancing Visual Appeal, thus making it even more appropriate to refer to these artifacts as “Visual Aids” rather than “Art”.  Art is chiefly used for beauty and emotional influence with the expression of creative skills.  I, for one, cannot imagine a time when someone was emotionally moved by a bar graph (but that’s not to say that it hasn’t happened).  And now, to get off my soap box, I believe this chapter is very useful and informative.  I will surly reference this chapter in the future.