Rhetorical Analysis of Websites - Essay Example

(school) Rhetorical Analysis Websites have become popular media tools for most organizations. These sites seem to serve a variety of purposes, including advertisement, communication, promotion, and networking. Through these sites members and leaders can communicate and coordinate with each other regarding their activities. This paper shall provide a rhetorical analysis of websites which are important to my future profession and to computer engineers. The language, logos, and other manners of presentation in these websites shall be considered for this paper. This paper shall first present the different websites chosen for this paper, followed by a specific discussion on the language, design, and logos as well as general presentation of these websites. An analysis of these sites will then be indicated. Finally, conclusions shall be drawn based on the language and the identity of my profession. There are several websites that shall be subject of this rhetorical analysis, including the IEEE (Institute of Electronics and Electrical Engineers, ACEEE (Association of Computers Electronics and Electrical Engineers), and the ACET (Association of Computer Engineers and Technicians). First of all, the IEEE or known as the “Eye-Triple E” by the members of the organization has a visually appealing website in terms of color alone, which is a shade of sky blue. From the very start, the view of the website is enticing, and not assaulting to the eyes and one is then eager to explore the website further. The design for the other websites also has their own appeal and these points shall be discussed individually based on various elements for evaluation. Enticing members to join any organization have now become an important consideration for many organizations especially with the proliferation of the internet. The improvements in the internet design and use have also prompted many organizations to redesign and repurpose their websites in order to support their needs. Using different websites for electrical engineering, this study shall consider the relations between verbal and visual data on the strategies used by organizations and design staff to present essential information and data on the web. Immediately when navigating through the IEEE website, the viewer is able to see different visual data. For one, the text in the site comes in various typefaces, groupings, sizes, and pictures and other images are placed in various significant points, depending on the information being presented. The web page in other words is a combination of visual and verbal codings (Doumont, p. 219). Still, the viewer is able to understand the mass of data presented due to the subtle and explicit design techniques utilized by the website’s design team. The initial visual information on the website includes data on the website itself, including its membership and services, publications and standards, conferences and events, education and careers, and contact and support. Data on recent innovations and activities are also indicated, including social network links, membership, advertisements, and a brief description of the website purposes and goals. There is a clear visual hierarchy on the page and such hierarchy has managed to preserve the visual order in the website. Visual hierarchy is based on the establishment of significant visual elements in the design. The website puts emphasis on the activities of the organization, placing snippets of information on their current activities and the perks being offered by the organization. Visual hierarchy however is based on information about the organization, which can be differentiated from the rest of the text based on spatial groupings and visual contrast – top of page location and highlighted bold texts. The spatial groupings also take on a proximity which is meant to visually group similar information with each other. Based on the groupings in the text, with the middle top area including basic links to data on the website, similar items are grouped with each other. The general color of the fonts and of the site is blue which is visually appealing and consistent throughout the site. There is therefore a structural logic to the website in general. Visual differentiation is seen based on more specific data and the more major or the main topics or information for the website. The viewer is in effect led to believe that the links in the menu are very much functionally related because they are located in close proximity to each other. Moreover, the links are in a similar typeface, color, capitalization as well as size. The more specific text is in a lighter shade of black, indicating explanations for each main element of the site. As a result, the visual weight of the information is delineated from the main data being presented. The heaviest vital information presented in the site is the name of the website and their logo which have pride of place at the very top of the website. The logo blends well into the site itself, but is still noticeable enough to impact on the viewer. The fact that the logo as well as the site’s basic data and upcoming activities are given much focus on the website do not necessarily mean that the other elements in the site are not given important roles. However, with greater functionality, other elements in the site are placed where they are to ensure distribution and establish a more orderliness to the site. Images are used in order to portray elements found within the text and which help embellish the information being presented. In some ways, the grouping and presentation of information in the website is visually overwhelming because all elements seem to be within the visual range of the viewer, who is likely compelled to evaluate which information to access first. In viewing the ACEEE website, information can be gained at once. From an initial view of the website, options on information can be seen from the text highlighted and emphasized. It is apparent to note that groupings in data include information about the organization, their mission, their activities, as well as conferences available per schedule. The text come in varying typefaces, seen in different groupings, sizes, and pictures as well as images apparent based on significant points and information presented. Mostly verbal or text codings are apparent in the text, not so much on pictures or images. The viewer is prompted to read the specific details under each main data indicated and no images are apparent beside each main heading. This somehow decreases the visual appeal of the site. The viewer is nevertheless able to understand the headings and is able to read from the descriptions under each heading about the contents of the links within the site. The primary visual data on the site includes information on the site, its purposes, aims, publications, as well as conferences. Information on the current and future conferences and trainings are also highly visible within the site. No advertisements are apparent in the website and a clear visual hierarchy is seen at the left side of the website. All these elements provide orderliness in the visual presentation of the website. The hierarchy is also based on the essential elements in the design where the site clearly places an emphasis on the identity of the website, the various conferences to be carried out, and those which have already been carried out. The text chosen highlights the name of the organization at larger text fonts. The rest of the text is at a smaller font with bold text faces for the main data of the site. The brief descriptions under each site are at a smaller text but are still readable with bold texts. The groupings of the text are based on the data being imparted. Basic website information is indicated via a hierarchical presentation on the left side of the website. The groupings of text in the middle of the website further provide more specific information about the goals, the policies, and the services of the organization. Other less relevant information about the website including the terms and condition of the site are seen at the bottom side of the site. This indicates lesser importance attributed to such information. The logo of the website is a very simple one, and seems to be easy to dismiss. It is a very simple logo and is likely to be overlooked by the viewer. No embellishments are seen in this logo and no explanations are apparent in the site itself. The general color scheme of the website is also very simple, with mostly a white background and with main information links colored blue. The readable text is in the smaller black font. The viewer understands the structural logic to the website and is led to believe that all significant points in the site are related to each other, helping support the overall goal of the organization. The importance of social networking is apparent in the site, with links using Facebook and Twitter indicated in the website. All in all, the language used in the site is simple enough for any reasonably educated viewer to read; moreover, the visual presentation is also simple and essentially detailed to include only important details for the purposes of the organization. The ACET website presents another visually simple website for an electrical engineering organization. An initial view of the site indicates main data presented in relation to the identity, the goals, the purposes, the formulation, as well as prospects of the organization. Other data includes membership and benefits as well as latest news on the organization and developments in relation to the practice and the profession. The primary text have larger texts and in all capital texts. Information on the website is also detailed specifically, with primary details for the viewer to easily grasp and understand on initial reading. The organization includes data on the benefits which can be gained from membership as well as the actual membership process. The text of the specific details indicated for the site information is in smaller letters than the main typeface. Only one image or picture is seen in the site and is meant to appeal to the technical side of potential members. The viewer is also promoted to consider the specific details under the main data. No visual guide is apparent under the specific data. The viewer nevertheless is able to understand the text and is enlightened about the organization in general. The main visual information includes data on how membership can be established through the website. The organization of the data presented is very simplistic, yet highly organized. In other words, there is less imagery and even advertisements in the body of the text. The hierarchy of information is less apparent in this website, but a grouping of data is based on an orderly management of information essential for members and potential members. The color of the site takes on a darker and more formal tone, and is not meant to visually appeal to younger populations or to less technical crowds. In so many ways, it is not a visually appealing site because its colors are muted, and membership has significant membership fees. Nevertheless, various services are indicated in the site for members. The logo of the website seems to be based on the letters ACET which is artfully transformed into a logo. It is however unclear if this is indeed the logo of the group. However, it occupies the area beside the name of the organization at the top left corner which, in other websites, including the two previously discussed, is usually where the logo is placed. Other less relevant information is also indicated at the lower part of the site, including credit card options. This indicates how monetary considerations are crucial to the organization. The main letterings of the site are in aquamarine blue, and seem to be the only other color seen in the site. Against the muted dark gray tones of the website, serve to highlight the essential information and main data of the site. All in all, this website has its essential similarities and differences with other websites. Most of the similarities lie in the hierarchy of information in the sites, mostly presenting data about the organization, their mission, vision, goals, history, and even their membership. Differences are seen in their visual appeal, with most of the sites opting for simplicity and minimalism in terms of images and use of colors. All in all, these elements have allowed the sites to portray essential information without having to overload the members and viewers visually. Based on the discussion above, there are various websites which relate to organizations in electrical engineering. These websites are mainly: IEEE, ACEEE, and ACET. These sites are popular within the field and are very much within the purview of individuals in this career. The information on the sites is generally simple and not graphically rich in terms of images or text. The simpler and less visually graphic options are applied in these sites. The colors are generally muted and nor garish, and blend well with the overall colors chosen for the text and for the background. In effect, these sites portray favorable images for any organization. Works Cited ACE – ACET, 2012. 08 July 2012. Web. ACEEE. 08 July 2012. Web. Doumont, J. ‘Verbal Versus Visual: A Word Is Worth a Thousand Pictures, Too.’ Technical Communication, 49.2 (2002), 219-224. IEEE. 2012. 08 July 2012. Web. < http://www.ieee.org/index.html> Read More