Two
types of brochures:
1) a Brochure Describing a Place or Organization:
A brochure informs, educates
or persuades. Businesses often use brochures to inform, educate, or persuade --
quickly. They use a brochure to grab the
readers attention and get them interested enough to want to know more. A brochure for a new convenience store might
have a map and list of all the locations around town and a brief description of
the types of food products it sells. The
brochure for an Animal Shelter may give facts about abandoned animals, pet
overpopulation, and the importance of spaying and neutering programs. A travel brochure may show beautiful pictures
of exotic places -- making you want to visit that city or country. These types of brochures tell enough about a
place or an organization to get your interest and make you want to know more.
The brochure as an
informative, educational, or persuasive device must present information in a
clear, organized manner. It should give
enough information that the reader won't be left wondering "what's this really
about" but should also be a "quick read" so that the reader
doesn't become bored before reaching the end.
Because it doesn't tell the whole story, it should contain the most
important parts of the story. Give the
reader the most significant, most interesting facts -- the information that will
make them want to find out more.
Task Create a brochure about
place/organization that informs, educates, or persuades. The brochure is not an in depth study of a
topic but it should give enough information to grab and keep the readers
interest from start to finish. A
brochure may cover a broad topic but it shouldn't contain so much information
that it overwhelms the reader. Choose 2
to 3 key points about to describe. If
there are other important elements, consider listing them in a simple bullet list
or chart somewhere in your brochure. In
addition to what your brochure says, you must decide the best format to present
your information. Different formats work
best for brochures with lots of text, lots of pictures, small blocks of text,
lists, charts, or maps. You'll need to
find the format that works best for your information.
2) A Brochure about a
Process or Project (Educates, Explains, Instructs).
These types of brochures tell how to do
something or explain how something works using simple descriptions, diagrams,
or lists of steps. They are intended for readers who don't need to know
absolutely everything on a subject but do need the basics.
This type of project is good
for "how-to" subjects. How to Make and Read a Sundial, How to Determine
the Diameter of Any Circle, or How to Make a Rainbow with Red, Yellow, and
Blue. It is also a good format for explaining how or why something works. How a
Prism Works, or Why the North Pole is Covered in Ice.
Task Create a brochure about (fill in selected
or assigned process/project) that educates, explains, or instructs. The
brochure is not an in depth study of a topic but it should give enough
information that the reader can perform the task or understand the process.
In addition to what your brochure says, you
must decide the best format to present your information. Different formats work
best for brochures with lots of text, lots of pictures, small blocks of text,
lists, charts, or maps. You'll need to find the format that works best for your
information.
Brochure Assignment:
Create a Brochure for an
organization the you are interested, a place you would like to visit, a local
organization or a non-profit organization. Remember for this brochure you will
be required to make both the back and front of the brochure and each page must
have the correct orientation when printed.
Be sure to include:
- Use MS Word in Landscape mode, to change to
Landscape --> File / Page Setup / Paper Size / Landscape
- Sub titles to break the information into short
quick-read sections
- Bullets to highlight important points
- One Textbox containing important information,
such as web sites to learn more.
- Graphics
- Use FULL JUSTIFICATION to visually balance the
short blocks of text
Brochures Ideas:
- Where you live (city, county, state, country);
An entire country or specific regions or cities that tie in with your
current unit of study (contemporary or assign a specific time period, such
as London, England in the 1860's);
- A fictional location (The Land of OZ); Mars,
Saturn, the Moon, etc.;
- An organization or group related to your
current unit of study (The Sons of Temperance, An American Indian Tribe,
the Whigs);
- A local or school organization (FTA, the Art
Club, the school football team, the Junior Rotary Club).
Evaluation
Application - Use of Word features
/10
Thinking & Inquiry -
Correct format and orientation of
brochure /5
Communication - Grammar,
Punctuation, Spelling and Content /5
Brochure Checklist
Many of the items in this
list are optional. You must decide which ones are appropriate for your
brochure.
— Name of Location,
— Business or Organization.
— Address.
— Phone Number.
— Fax Number.
— Email Address.
— Web Page Address.
— Headline that creates
curiosity, states a major benefit, or otherwise entices the reader to open and
read your brochure.
— Headline that states the
name of the Product, Project, or Described Process.
— Subheads.
— Short, easy to read blocks
of text.
— Lists, charts.
— Key Benefits (2-3).
— Features.
— Instructions, steps, parts
(for a procedure, to assemble a product, etc.) Biography (of business owner,
key members of organization, officers, etc.).
— Mission Statement.
— History.
— Logo.
— Graphic Image(s) (including
purely decorative elements).
— Photographs of product,
place, people.
— Diagram, flow chart.
— Map.
— Call to Action (What you
want the reader to do: call, visit, fill out a form, etc.)
Checklist for a Brochure about a place.
These are a few things to
look for specifically related to brochures about a place. Not all will apply to your brochure.
— Does the brochure give
enough information that the reader knows where to find this place? (Map,
directions)
— Does the brochure tell what
is significant about this place (historical importance, tourist attractions,
famous residents, significant industries, etc.)?
— Are there interesting
pictures? (Pictures with people are usually more effective but pictures of
well-known landmarks or beautiful scenery can work with or without people in
the photos)
— Are the pictures or clip art
useful?
— Do they help to tell the
story or do they just seem to be filling up space?
— Does the brochure make the
reader want to visit this place (if that is the purpose of the brochure)?
— Does the brochure make the
reader want to avoid this place (if that is the purpose of the brochure)?
Checklist for a Brochure about an Organization
— These are a few things to
look for specifically related to brochures about an organization.
— Not all will apply to your
brochure.
— Does the brochure give the
name of the organization?
— Is the purpose of the
organization clearly stated?
— Does the brochure list the
organizations activities?
— If appropriate, is there a
calendar of events?
— If the organization has a
product or service that it sells (or gives away) is that in the brochure?
— Does the brochure state the
membership requirements (if any) for the organization?
— Does the brochure tell how
to contact the organization?
— Are the most important
activities of the organization highlighted?
— Does the brochure make the
reader want to join the organization (or find out more about it)?
