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Multi-Modal Project

Writing Prompt 8

Angela Vargas

UNC Charlotte
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Due to the nature of the topic chosen for this semester-long project, many visuals used

will involve tables and charts of sorts. A substantial amount of data is found when researching

pollution, especially dating back to the Industrial Revolution. As a result, these types of visuals

are the best way to present all of the information that has been gathered over the years. The main

focus in this project is the effects of pollution on Americas air, water, and soil with a small

concentration how this, furthermore, affects the food we eat. Below are the top three visuals that

I feel exemplify the best research that has been done so far:

Figure 1.0: Pie chart showing the percentage of air pollution affected by sources within the
industrial sector. Analysis done by EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) from their Toxic
Release Inventory. Source: globalstewards.org Air Pollution.

1. This pie chart shows the powerful effects that industrialization has had on the quality of air in

America. While electricity generation is what is producing the heaviest amount of

pollution, it is important to know that chemicals, as well as food and beverages also have

a substantial impact. This pie chart also corroborates the statement earlier mentioned that

contamination in America, while having always existed, it began to increase exponentially

beginning with the Industrial Revolution.

As a modern society, we have only become more and more dependent on machinery and un-

natural resources to advance as a species.

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Figure 1.1: A creative way to visualize the impact these powerful agricultural businesses have
had on Americas water. Tyson, Cargill, Perdue, and Pilgrims are the top four in the
agricultural sector, but they are also well-known for their aggressive contamination on water.
Source: veganstreet.com The Vegan Street Meme.

2. This meme is instantly appealing to viewers because these are all brands that everyone is

familiar with whether or not they are meat consumers. These giant companies have not only

taken over water pollution but they have also taken over the propaganda on almost all types

of public display. While it is obvious that they are not the only contributors to the

contamination of our waters, they still are responsible for a significant percentage. More
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specifically, this meme also digs deep into the amounts of toxins (per pound) that are inputted

into water by these companies. It puts more than one thing into perspective and really shows

the connectivity between pollutions effects on air, water, and soil. It is all connected and the

more people start noting this trend, the more one can make conscientious changes to prevent

this, and any, other type of pollution.

Figure 1.2: A visual on majority of the potential causes of soil pollution. Created by a student
in 2014, the labeled picture shows the many sources of soil pollution. One can make several
connections from this photo. Source: slideshare.net Soil Pollution and Its Remedies.
3. One of the concentrations of this project is to show how pollution affects our soil and how in

turn, this affects the produce that we eat. In general, the contamination of air, water, and soil

will all have a series of domino effects within one another. It is, however, interesting to see

the many factors that affect soil contamination, where they derive from, and how they could

trigger one another. In order to put everything into perspective and really reach the audience,

I believe this picture is the perfect tool. Data content is an extremely vital aspect of this
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presentation but it is also essential that the audience can understand the how soil can be

contaminated in the first place. This must come before providing any statistics in order for

the audience to get a full grasp of everything. I also love that this photo also has industrial

pollution as a cause because it reiterates what has already been mentioned and reinforced.

References

July 20, 2011 Pete Altman. (2016, December 15). The "Toxic 20": States with the Highest

Levels of Toxic Air Pollution from Power Plants. Retrieved March 26, 2017, from

https://www.nrdc.org/experts/pete-altman/toxic-20-states-highest-levels-toxic-air-

pollution-power-plants

Vegan Street -- The Daily Meme Archive. (n.d.). Retrieved March 26, 2017, from

http://veganstreet.com/dailymeme-2-26-15.html

Vivek Pathak, Student Follow. (2014, January 09). Soil pollution. Retrieved March 26, 2017,

from https://www.slideshare.net/vivekpathak5686/soil-pollution-29851692
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