Narrative Essay, Concept Map, Process Flow

Overview •

Narrative Essays

•

Concept Maps :: The Matrix :: The Map

•

Process Flow Diagrams

Jon Kolko Savannah College of Art & Design

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Narrative Essays

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Narrative Essays

What is a narrative?

Then what is a narrative essay?

• An account • A story • A factual description

Precise

Plot

Told from a Particular Point of View

Detailed

Character

Makes and Supports a Point

Sensory

Setting

Vivid

Climax

What sort of things have narratives associated with them? • Plays • Movies • Books

Ending

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Narrative Essays

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Narrative Essays

Precise

:: Exact, accurate, well defined

Detailed

:: Comprehensive, in depth, thorough

Sensory

:: Utilizing sight, sound, touch, taste or smell

Vivid

:: Vibrant, colorful, dramatic, bright

Write down a three sentence paragraph describing this room, right now. Be precise, detailed, sensory and vivid.

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Plot Character

:: main storyline – what is occurring :: actors participating in the storyline.

Setting

:: location and situation

Climax

:: pinnacle of the action

Ending

:: conclusion of the story

Revise your paragraph. This time, include plot, characters, setting, climax and an ending.

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Narrative Essays

Told from particular point of view Makes and supports a point

Narrative Essays

:: Usually first person (“I did this, then I noticed this”); point of view directly affects the emotional feeling of the story.

“Wait, writing?! I’m a designer!” No! You are an information architect!

:: Thesis statement; usually defined in the first sentence, or the last sentence of the first paragraph. Explains what the rest of the narrative will be about.

Why is a successful narrative essay important when attempting to structure large quantities of information? [ hint: there’s something about language … ]

Revise your paragraph. Tell your narrative from the first person point of view, and make and support a clear thesis.

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Narrative Essays

Concept Maps So how do you get to this step? Yay, iterative design!

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

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What is a concept map? • • •

A picture of our understanding of a (often complicated) system Intended to represent a mental model of a concept Can see the “forest and the trees”

List the terms used in describing the genre you are studying Define the terms listed Rank the terms with regard to their importance Prepare an outline Write a draft narrative Write a final narrative Enhance the narrative using basic type elements (bold, typesize, font)

Due next class: 1-6.

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Concept Maps

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Concept Maps Nodes (nouns) are main branches

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Concept Maps

Concept Maps No “correct” visual style; more important than the visual style is the content

Actions (verbs) are the links from node to node

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Concept Maps

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For example …

How the heck do you figure that out?

Making a concept map of Industrial Design at SCAD.

1. Create a matrix showing the relations of terms :: List terms :: Create empty matrix :: Form relationships 2. Decide on main branches of the map 3. Fill in the rest of the structure 4. Use color and the tools of typography to clarify and make the content more accessible 5. Create a final version (16.5” x 23.375”, full color)

Students

Large machines

Process

IDSA

Small machines

Theory

Computer Lab

3D Printer

History

Shop

Models

Materials

Professors

Classrooms

Human Factors

Chair Bailey

Drawing

Ren

Dean Ermoli

Rendering

MDF

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Students IDSA

MDF

Ren

Human Factors

Materials

History

Theory

Process

Rendering

Drawing

Classrooms

Models

3D printer

Small machines

Large machines

Dean Ermoli

Chari Bailey

Professors

Shop

Computer Lab

IDSA

:: which items have many connections?

Computer Lab

Students

MDF

2. Decide on main branches of the map Ren

Human Factors

Materials

History

Theory

Process

Rendering

Drawing

Classrooms

Models

3D printer

Small machines

Large machines

Dean Ermoli

Chair Bailey

Professors

Shop

Students

1. Create a matrix showing the relations of terms

Computer Lab

For example …

IDSA

For example …

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Students IDSA Computer Lab

:: sort the grid by occurrence – does this help?

Shop Professors Chair Bailey Dean Ermoli Large machines

:: mix common sense with grid results:

Small machines 3D printer Models Classrooms Drawing

Students Professors Models Classrooms (?) Process Theory

Rendering Process Theory History Materials Human Factors Ren MDF

Shop Professors Chair Bailey Dean Ermoli Large machines Small machines 3D printer Models Classrooms Drawing Rendering Process Theory History Materials Human Factors Ren MDF

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For example …

For example …

2. Decide on main branches of the map (fill in the verbs)

3. Fill in the rest of the structure (using your matrix

Industrial Design at SCAD

Industrial Design at SCAD

for assistance)

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Ren such as

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For example …

History

MDF

Human Factors IDUS370 - Information Architecture | 20

Process Flow Diagrams

4. Use color and the tools of typography to clarify and make the content more accessible

phone rings

What is a process flow diagram?

Industrial Design at SCAD

Is ringer turned on?

What is a process?

N

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A process flow diagram shows the discrete rules, and their relationships to one another, that make up an activity.

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Classrooms

Theory

Drawing

using

Large machines

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Process

Models

Shop

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Small machines

What is a flow?

An example: Answering a telephone call

Y

voice mail picks up

phone rings Y N Does user answer phone?

N

Is ring #4?

Y

Rendering Materials

Ren such as

MDF

phone stops ringing

History Human Factors

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Process Flow Diagrams

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Process Flow Diagrams : An Example

Eek, that looks hard! (It’s not) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

List operators and their roles Define things to be counted Define boundary conditions (beginning and ending) Begin with a walkthrough, sketching each step Fill in the rest of the structure Reorganize to create a coherent overall structure Use color and the tools of typography to clarify and make the content more accessible 8. Create a final version (16.5” x 23.375”, full color)

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Process Flow Diagrams

Summary

Let’s try it.

• •

Narrative Essays Concept Maps :: The Matrix :: The Map

•

Process Flow Diagrams

Create a process flow diagram for looking up a name in the phone book.

All of these are ways of presenting complicated information systems to an audience.

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