Seniors ~ Advertising

As we have discussed, advertising is ubiquitous. Everywhere we look -- on TV, on billboards, in magazines, even on people's clothing -- companies use persuasive messages to convince us to buy their products.

Advertisers use the same methods of persuasion that apply to political rhetoric and satire: they employ the classic appeals of rhetoric - ethos, pathos, and logos -- through text and sensory images designed to win over their targeted audience.

Your assignment is to write a comparison/contrast paper analyzing the rhetorical strategies of two print advertisements. Although your paper will be written in class, you will type the draft for a grade. Please focus on the following:

• The audience - based on the "context" of the ad (where and when the ad appears)
  
• The purpose - beyond the product, what else (abstractly) is being sold?
  
• The use of appeals - ethos (establishes ethics/authority), pathos (abstract emotions of the consumer), and logos (a logical argument based on reason and evidence)
  
• The use of sensory imagery - the design of ad, including color and the images themselves
• The use of text - diction, allusions, data

You MUST have a thesis and a clearly developed, well-organized analysis to meet the demands of the assignment. Your introduction should include a discussion of audience and the context of the ads, as well as your thesis.

Draft MONDAY in class. Bring your thesis and outline!