Proposal for My Visual Argument

By Shibli Nuhan

My visual argument focuses on phone addiction and how it affects college students, including myself. I chose this topic because I notice how often students, and even I, spend huge amounts of time scrolling without realizing it. There are nights when I stay up way longer than I should because I’m stuck on TikTok or Instagram, and suddenly an hour is gone. That extra scrolling makes it harder to sleep, harder to focus the next day, and it affects my productivity. Since this behavior feels normal for most people, the negatives are easy to ignore. My visual is meant to help students recognize these habits, especially the ones that feel harmless but end up taking a lot of time. By showing how social media interrupts everyday moments, I connect the issue to situations many of us, including me, experience daily. Because phone addiction is so common and often overlooked, I think my visual argument could be helpful to publishers looking to raise awareness in a way that feels relatable and honest.

I chose a 6–8 slide PowerPoint because it lets me build the message in a clear order, rather than trying to explain everything in a single image. A slideshow lets me start with the problem, move into the impacts, explain why we ignore it, and end with solutions. This format is easy for students to follow and works well in a classroom presentation. If a publisher chose to use it, it could also be shared online or shown to student groups. In terms of design, I followed the UTSA framework. For Use, I kept the text simple and chose images and icons that show distraction, notifications, andeveryday scrolling habits. For Type, the slideshow format makes the visual argument accessible and understandable. For Space, I made sure the slides had enough space to keep them clear and not overwhelming. For Arrangement, I organized the slides in a logical way that builds toward a call to action. I also used the BTC (Be The Change) approach to encourage students, including myself, to be more aware of our habits. These design choices help make the visual straightforward, relatable, and easy for publishers to use in different contexts.

The rhetorical choices I made help the visual argument fit both my purpose and my audience. I tried to combine emotional and logical appeals by using examples that students regularly experience, such as scrolling late at night, checking phones between assignments, or losing focus while studying. The tone is honest and realistic because I want viewers to think about their behavior without feeling judged, and because I experience these habits myself. In the slide about ignoring the issue, I point out how“normal” scrolling feels, which makes the problem harder to notice. In the “My Visual Message” slide, I show how social media interrupts daily life in small ways that add up over time. These points help the audience relate the issue to their own habits, just like I do. By the end of the presentation, I encourage viewers to reflect on their routine and consider making small but meaningful changes. My goal is for publishers to see that this visual argument can help students understand how easily time slips away on social media, and why becoming more intentional with phone use can improve their daily lives.