For your analysis, you will choose an advertisement from any era (1950s, 1960s, or a current one), but make sure that it is an appropriate one to view in class; in other words, choose one that is respectful of your classmates and professor. If you have any doubt, please send me an email for prior approval of the advertisement.
The purpose of writing a rhetorical analysis essay is to help you recognize how authors try to influence the opinions or choices of others. You will learn and practice critical and analytical thinking skills in this assignment, and analyzing an advertisement will enable you to make wise consumer choices in the future.
Once you have chosen your advertisement, answer the following questions as a thread in this discussion board:
Who are the direct and indirect speakers?
Who is the target audience? Is there an indirect audience as well?
What is the larger argument of the advertisement?
List any rhetorical appeals being used in the ad and explain how they are used.
List at least two informal fallacies BY NAME that are used in the advertisement and explain (you may use the handy-dandy "Informal Fallacies Cheat Sheet" from earlier in this module to help you review the fallacies).
What stylistic elements does the advertiser use to appeal to its audience?
These questions should help you develop an idea of what direction to take as we prepare for Paper #2 in the weeks to come. The essay itself will be formal, requiring standard written English, MLA formatting, and appropriate tone. This activity is informal, though. Answer these questions with as much detail and you can. Then, bring your answers to our upcoming class meeting ready to share your progress so far.
Write a rhetorical analysis essay about a Pantene commercial arguments in the essay about effectiveness for its targeted audience, and must have two credible sources
The advertisement I have chosen for my analysis is a Pantene commercial from the 2000s. This particular ad features a confident woman with shiny, beautiful hair promoting the brand's new shampoo and conditioner products.
The direct speakers in the advertisement are the woman promoting the Pantene products. She directly addresses the audience, speaking about the benefits of using the shampoo and conditioner. The indirect speaker is the voice-over narrator who reinforces the message of the woman and provides additional information about the products.
The target audience for this advertisement is primarily women of all ages who are interested in hair care products. The indirect audience could also include men who are looking for quality hair care products. The larger argument of the advertisement is that using Pantene shampoo and conditioner will result in healthier, shinier hair that is more attractive and easier to style.
Some of the rhetorical appeals used in the advertisement include ethos, as the woman promoting the products is portrayed as confident and trustworthy. Additionally, logos is used as the advertisement presents logical reasons why the Pantene products are superior to others on the market. Pathos is also used to appeal to the emotions of the audience by showing the woman with beautiful hair and implying that using the products will lead to similar results.
Two informal fallacies used in the advertisement are the appeal to tradition fallacy, by suggesting that Pantene has been a trusted brand for many years and therefore must be the best choice, and the bandwagon fallacy, by implying that everyone is using Pantene products and that not using them means missing out on the benefits.
Stylistic elements used in the advertisement include bright colors, upbeat music, and fast-paced editing to create a sense of excitement and desirability around the products. The use of a confident and attractive spokesperson also adds to the appeal of the advertisement for its target audience.
In my upcoming essay, I will analyze the effectiveness of these rhetorical strategies in persuading the target audience to purchase Pantene products. I will also discuss the credibility of the sources used in the advertisement and how they contribute to the overall message. Overall, the advertisement successfully appeals to ethos, logos, and pathos to convince consumers to choose Pantene for their hair care needs.