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RUNNING HEAD: MULTIMODAL ANALYSIS

Analysis of Multimodal Components

I selected this picture as my header because it appeals to

emotion. I believe it draws attention to the website a lot more

than a picture with no emotional component. It is common for

people in the area to see people in similar conditions.

However, this picture was not taken in Downtown Phoenix.

The picture shows the lack of self-care that they can provide to themselves. It shows the emotion

that man is feeling, probably sadness and hopelessness. Furthermore, you can see that he is

sitting on the pavement and has no belongings. I believe it strongly appeals to emotion when the

audience thinks about how devastating it is for a person to lose everything. Specially because he

is alone. Perhaps, not having material thing or a roof over his head is unimaginably

overwhelming, but he also appears to lack of emotional support or a family foundation.

I built this chart to summarize my main claim. It explains the

probable causes of homelessness and the reciprocal

relationship between homelessness and mental illness. I chose

to put different diseases under the mental illness umbrella to

reference everything that could apply. The main reason was

because most people fail to consider substance abuse a mental disease. I believe this chart is

important to clarify any doubts about my claim.

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I had statistics on my paper, but I realized that having graphs

would help to visualize the increase of homeless people. Seeing

the different in the height of the bars helps to a better understand

than reading numbers. I also built this graph to utilize logos.

People in the audience were more likely to be persuade if I

included visuals that appealed to their logic. Using empirical information to back up my

argument.

The purpose of this picture was to further explain the Housing First

Model that I explained in my last paragraph. It also compares it to a

different program that is not as effective. In the paragraph I don't

go in depth about this initiative that has been taken in Downtown

Phoenix because it is not my main purpose to educate about it. However, I deemed it important

to explain that there are things that can be done to help the situation. I stress that there need to be

a similar program to help mentally ill individuals be successful too.

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Analysis of Components

For project one I had to develop a multimodal research paper. My topic is homelessness

in Downtown Phoenix. Initially I thought that my intended audience should be someone in the

City Council that could read it and develop ideas to deal with the problem. While I was writing

the paper, however, I realized that my intended audience should be broader. Anyone in the area,

or in any area that struggles with the same problem could educate themselves about the issue.

Most of my statistics and solutions are specific to Downtown Phoenix, but it doesn't mean it is

not applicable in other cities or states. For this reason, I added a map that locates Downtown

Phoenix, because my paper doesn't target residents of the area as the only audience. I utilized

terms that are understandable for anyone who would search for information on the topic.

Meaning, that high school and college students, residents and elected officials, could easily

comprehend the main points of the paper.

I decided that integrating it to a website could make it more appealing for a variety of

people. Looking at an APA formatted research paper makes the content less appealing for the

general population. Besides adding the content to a website, I added a great variety of visuals to

make the reading lighter and pleasant.

I located the pictures in relation of the paragraph information. I located the relevant

picture to each paragraph right before. It was with the purpose of building into the content and

adding some background about what was expected on the text. When opening the website, the

first picture of a homeless man sitting on the street. I chose this picture because it appealed to

emotions (pathos). If I would’ve started with statistics, the reader wouldn’t relate to the problem

on an emotional level. The second reason for which I located this picture in the beginning is
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because it catches the audience attention. There is a lot that can be said through that one picture.

Looking at the terrible conditions in which he is found and the sadness in his face.

To use logos, I added graphs. The best way to back up my information was to add

information that was empirical. That could be proven by hard facts. I believe that adding graphs

helps with the credibility of my paper. It proves that it is not based on off a theory or emotional

value. There is a chart that signal the process of homelessness that is discussed on my paper. I

put it around the mid part of my paper because that is when I truly start building into my

argument. Positioning it early would draw attention away from the background information I

provided. If it was positioned at the end, its intended purpose, which is facilitation understanding

of my claim, would be discarded.

Overall, what I learned while developing this paper, I will use throughout my school and

professional career. I feel like it is important to be able to evaluate your audience successfully

and build upon what I perceive is effective.

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Analysis of Feedback

feedback I received on my paper helped me build a stronger claim and a more appealing project

overall. I received feedback from my peers, my instructor and the writing center. The comments

focused on the writing structure, relevance of my information and the appealing elements.

The first feedback I received was form one of my peers. Her comments were extensive

and focused on content of the paper. From her comments I looked back to my sources and

decided to cut out information that was too broad. Such as, statistics referring to the US or

another country. She mentioned some mistakes with spelling and conventions. I had considered

those as I hadn’t thoroughly revised my draft. I didn’t agree when she mentioned that I shouldn’t

include substance abuse, because she considered it out of the mental illness umbrella. From this

concept, I realized that other people could have similar ideas. Therefore, I chose to address that

substance abuse is a mental illness, as describes on the DSM 5. The official manual for mental

illness diagnosis.

To receive a second opinion, I got an appointment at the writing center at Downtown

campus. My main concern was that I didn’t like the continuity of my paper. I felt like the

paragraph didn’t connect properly. My writing mentor helped me organize my ideas in a way

that made my paper fluent. Furthermore, she helped me with some troubles I had in regards of

APA citations. Two of mu sources were written by the same author on the same yea and month. I

resolved it by adding the day it was published. It was extremely helpful to meet with her because

it helped me develop and improve my paper.

The last feedback I received was from my instructor. He focused on bigger ideas about

my paper. Such as how to address a counterargument and validating and selecting my sources. I
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read through my draft again and realized that I thought I had addressed a counterargument, but it

was too brief for the audience to acknowledge it. I built more upon opposing views on

homelessness. I also accredited those views, because I know that homelessness can’t be the

caused by one specific issue. My instructor told me to build more upon why my sources were

relevant and to explain my claims thoroughly. I believe I explained all he material I addressed

clearly. Therefore, recognizing the importance for each source and quote.

All the feedback I received from different sources helped me build a stronger paper. I

didn’t consult about the pictures I was using to support my paper. I felt confident about my

choice of pictures and charts. I was sure they built into my paper and the purpose. However,

about conventions and content, I was able to modify my paper to use the comments I had

received.