Brochure Guide

What are Brochures?

According to Dictionary.com, a brochure is “A small booklet or pamphlet, often containing promotional material or product information.” Brochures are also formatted and published using MS Word, but a brochure is normally a persuasive piece of writing. When developing a brochure, more than any other type of literature, the medium is the message. That doesn’t mean the words don’t count but it does mean that the size and shape of the piece, the way it folds, the paper stock, and the overall use of graphics make a strong impression. If this impression is off the mark, it is difficult for the words to turn it around.

Folding publications provide a convenient format for students to promote concepts, research, or events. The folded piece can be mailed (either in a standard envelope or as a self-mailer). This format also works well for a series of lessons - once you work out the format, you can make a template and reuse it over and over again.

Advantages for use in the classroom:

• Excellent method of organizing material around a them or publishing student research
• Useful for focus and comprehension evaluation activities
• Can be used in small group activities
• Can practice concise and persuasive writing projects (Text should be concise with integrated graphics to promote message)
• Present unique conceptual and design opportunities for students

Disadvantages for use in the classroom:

• Art placement or balance can create problems for some students

Student examples:

• Homeless Youth in America (Carrie Barrett)
• Mummification and You (Amy Swartz)
• Plants: An Informative Brochure (Jennifer Morales)

Check out the lesson plans at Education World that utilize brochures, such as the one available at http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/00-2/lp2274.shtml.

Your task is to create a brochure using MS Publisher. You may choose to create a "student sample" or a mock-up of what you would expect students in your classroom to create for you as a product OR you may choose to create a brochure that students would use as part of a class assignment.

Make sure that your brochure meets the criteria from the checklist. Your brochure may vary depending upon the template, but should include the following:

• Two pages of information (articles that could serve as a sample assignment OR information a student would use during classtime)
• A minimum of three columns on both pages
• The front page as a title page that includes a graphic as well as your name and the date
• A minimum of 3 graphics somewhere in the brochure with captions underneath for each graphic
• One URL resource included somewhere in the brochure
• Titles of articles and body text of articles should be in a different font with a different font size AND color

2) Construct your brochure:

Use the tutorial found on the Intel Teach to the Future CD-ROM. The tutorial begins on page 23 of Module 4 and continues to page MOD4.35. The tutorial includes a great deal of brochure planning materials to help you set up your brochure on pages MOD4.23-4.26 and you should read these materials closely. However, ALL of the steps you will need to use Publisher to create the brochure begin on MOD4.27.