Illustrations are Everywhere Common Places: Integrated Reading and Writing Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education.  All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.

Robocalls—phone calls initiated by a computer using a software program—involve a series of steps. Illustrations are often used with vague, complex, or broad ideas that are hard to understand. http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/sites/default/files/pictures/0381-robocalls-infographic.png

If you answer the phone and hear a recorded message instead of a live person, it's a robocall. You've probably gotten robocalls about candidates running for office, or charities asking for donations. These robocalls are legal. But if the recording is a sales message and you haven't given your written permission to get calls from the company on the other end, the call is illegal. In addition to the phone calls being illegal, their pitch most likely is a scam. For example, Marc Martinez, a travel agent in Florida, was having breakfast one morning when he answered a phone call. The voice on the other end of the line was a computerized recording, and the recording told Marc he had won a complete vacation in Sardinia, Florida. All he would have to do is pay a $199 service fee. Knowing that no such place existed, Marc hung up the phone. He had just received a robocall—and it was a robocall that was a scam. Illustrations are more concrete and specific than the ideas they explain. The illustration is an example. It provides specific information: Marc, Florida, Sardinia http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0259-robocalls

Visual Aid Quote “We have experienced a huge increase in the number of robocalls we are receiving.” ---JoAnn Kriss, Homeowner Illustrations may be examples, visual aids, sample quotes, sample statistics, or other concrete samples. Chart http://www.digitalgov.gov/2013/10/25/thousands-of-calls-blocked-thanks-to-contest-winner/

Examples can be actual or hypothetical. A hypothetical example Examples can be actual or hypothetical. http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2012/april/grandparent_040212

Illustrations are often followed by explanations. An explanation Illustrations are often followed by explanations. https://www.socialsecurity.gov/history/orals/ballphoto2.html

Successful illustrations result in greater understanding. We don’t do business with robots!!! Successful illustrations result in greater understanding. Adapted from photo by moodboard CC BY 2.0

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