Visual Integrity & Rhetorical Analysis Survival Guide (Pages 27–35)

Visual Integrity:

The honest use of images and graphics so that they accurately represent data and facts without distortion.

Edward Tufte:

An expert known for his work on accurate data visualization, whose principles help guide ethical visual communication.

Emotional Manipulation:

The unethical use of visuals to unfairly trigger emotional responses, influencing the audience without providing accurate information.

Cultural & Historical Sensitivity

The awareness that images carry deeper meanings related to cultural and historical contexts, which must be respected to avoid reinforcing stereotypes or misrepresenting reality.

Fact-checking:

The process of verifying that images and data presented in visuals are accurate and reflect the true message intended.

Logical Fallacies:

Mistakes in reasoning that weaken or invalidate an argument by undermining the logical connection between evidence and conclusion.

Non Sequitur:

A specific logical fallacy in which the conclusion does not logically follow from the provided evidence, breaking the argument’s logical flow.

Testing Assumptions:

The practice of examining and verifying the underlying assumptions of an argument to ensure they are supported by solid evidence, rather than being taken for granted.

Strengthening Arguments:

Strategies that involve using clear, precise language and concrete evidence, organized logically, to make an argument more convincing and robust.

Overgeneralizing

Making broad or vague claims without sufficient evidence, which can lead to weak or unsupported arguments.