Summary
Highlights
The discussion begins by framing organization as a critical rhetorical concern, especially when evaluating the 'complexity of discussion' in a piece of writing. Effective organization directly contributes to a writer achieving their purpose, while poor organization hinders it. The video uses The Herbivorous Butcher Kickstarter project as an example to illustrate these concepts.
The presenter demonstrates a technique of taking a '100-foot view' (screenshot) of the entire Kickstarter page to observe overall organization. This reveals that the project is heavily reliant on video and imagery. The strategic placement of videos (initial sales video, celebration video, victory video) and images is highlighted, showing how they engage the audience and tell a story visually.
A detailed look at the content reveals a consistent pattern of 'picture, text, picture, text.' This structure is used to explain products, showcase their market presence, and present future plans. The images serve to complement the text, offering visual representations of the written content and enhancing the overall message.
The video points out how the Kickstarter project anticipates potential backer questions through its section breaks and then answers them with accompanying imagery. For instance, questions like 'Meat-Free Meats?' are immediately clarified by images of familiar-looking vegan products. This strategy addresses reader curiosity and builds trust, especially for those who might not watch the introductory videos.
The presenter introduces a formula for formulating a concise and effective claim about organization: 'What' + 'in that' + 'how' = strategy. Using this, a claim is developed: 'The project is effectively organized in that the project creators use still imagery to answer direct and implied questions posed in their section breaks.' This formula helps articulate the strategy precisely.
Another organizational strategy identified is the use of short, punchy paragraphs and bulleted lists. This approach ensures that the content is easily digestible and allows readers to quickly find important information without being overwhelmed by lengthy text. This further contributes to the claim's effectiveness by explaining 'why' the organization is successful.
The video concludes by discussing how to provide evidence for organizational claims. For elements like short paragraphs or bulleted lists, direct quotations or copy-pasting the text can be used. For visual elements like imagery answering questions, taking screenshots and inserting them into the analysis is an effective method. The key is to treat visual evidence like textual evidence, explaining its connection to the claim and unpacking its meaning for the reader.