Monday, November 3, 2008

Rhetoric in Advertising

Find an advertisement (commercial, billboard, magazine ad, etc.) and do the following:
  • Explain the purpose and audience of the advertisement
  • Analyze the rhetorical devices used (types of appeal and logical fallacies)

44 comments:

EmilyC said...

Okay...my ad is an ad from Seventeeen Magazine. This advertisment is directed towards teenage girls to buy a Neutrogena face wash. This advertisment uses logos to point out that more dermatologists recomend this brand. It also uses red herring because the advertisment says many things about the face wash but never says what it does to help your skin.

CameronR said...

My ad is an ad from Sports Illustrated. This advertisment is directd towards people who want to buy a heavy duty, all-terrain vehicle (The Hummer H3T). This advertisment uses Pathos to point out that the Hummer can supply all your outdoor needs, and also contains bandwagon when it says many people are already purchasing these great vehicles.

ericw said...

My ad is from an old People Magazine. This advertisment is directed young and older adults who drink coffee. It is a cup of Maxwell house coffee sitting on a saucer, with a smiley face in foam. It uses ethos and logos by giving facts of its makeup for logos and using its well known name as ethos. It also uses Pathos with the smiley face, trying to get you to relate smiles with coffee and Maxwell House.

It also uses glittering generalities like full flavor and best but they do not tell you how of why it is the best.

malic said...

Instyle magazine, the 2007 edition, enlists an article on Tiffany&Co. The article uses pathos to warm the hearts of the buyers. The loaded words, "brilliant cushion-cut creation," appeals to all women who want a new diamond necklace or ring. These are also known as glittering generalities. The "spirit, fire, and style in the heart and on the hand," express the feeling one recieves when wear put on the jewlry.

Unknown said...

My advertisement is a commercial (2007) with Sarah McLachlan for The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). The ad is directed to animal lovers trying to get them to send money to this organization. This ad uses pathos by showing all of the hurt animals and playing the song "Angel" by Sarah McLachlan. It also uses ethos by saying "You can help an animal by sending $18 dollars a month, only .60 cents a day." This ad touchs the heart of the viewer and makes them want to send such a small amount of money to help these animals.

NikkiM. said...

My ad is from some Teen magazine (2007). It advertises Free Team websites.
It talks about private and secure social network for teams. It gives you the places to look it up. Gives you things you can do on there, for example, team chat, photo's and video sharing, text and email messafing, message boards, and much more. It has pictures of girls. One of them a cheerleader, one a soccer player,basebal player, and a school girl. It's reaching out to different clicks saying hey were all doing this why dont you. Meaning this article has bandwagon. Glittering generalities- Private, Secure Social Network, FREE. gives you a place to go win a free apple ipod. Tons of Pathos is used but thats about it.

Unknown said...

This ad is from Teen Vogue for Clinique Almost Powder Makeup. It is full of pathos when it says, "skin looks, acts happier" and "perfection and the promise of great skin" (these are also glittering generalities), ethos when it says, "dermatologist tested", logos when it says, "15 SPF", "antioxidants...to protect skin", and "100% fragrance free". It even says "guaranteed" and "all this or your money back" which could be seen as a sort of bandwagon.

Kara said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kara said...

In part of the Obama campaign, a commercial is run, directed towards the wide audience of the American people as a whole. The commercial begins by showing the faces of children, predominately using a pathos rhetoric. An apparent logical fallacy used is ad hominem; he accuses John McCain of being uncapable of handling educational issues. Logos appears as he presents numerical data. He proceeds by, again, msking a personal attack towards Senator McCain, saying he will take money away from public schools which also applies pathos. He concludes his advertisement with obvious pathos; he and his family lying in a flower-filled yard, smiling and reading a book. This campaign strategy proved to be filled with logical fallacies, yet more than likely was appealing to many of the American people.

annae said...

My ad is from Family Fun magazine. The advertisement I chose, Vitamin Gumballs, is targeted towards parents who need to encourage their children to take vitamins. This advertisement uses logos by saying "Vitaball" vitamins contain "100% RDA of 11 essential vitamins." This advertisement also uses pathos by using words such as "pleading", "no fuss", "no begging", and "You'll love Vitaball as a kid, a teen and beyond." Pathos is also used in the picture with two kids blowing bubbles with their vitamin gumballs, so if by chance a kid sees the ad they will want their parent to buy "Vitaballs."

SnehaP said...

The advertisement I have chosen originates from Seventeen Magazine promoting the new Maybelline Mineral Power Liquid Foundation. The audience is women wishing to a have "healthy, flawless, natural coverage with a fresh look and feel." These glittering generalities are used to persuade women into purchasing the product without supported statements. The article includes logos when it states the foundation has SPF 18 suncreen and produces "30% improvement of smoothness in skin, 25% more luminosity, and 10% better skin clarity. The ad also includes pathos and logos by explaining how the product will produce "no pore-clogging, no oil, and no fragrance." The advertisement uses pathos and glittering generalities when it explains "The secret... our minerals are micro-refined for optimal affinity with your skin's tone and texture."

ashleyp said...

o.k., my ad is the daisy sour cream commercial.It is directed mostly to moms. throughout the commercial sings" do a dollop, do do dollop of daisy!" while showing scenes of family's, little kids, barbeques, ect. at one point it even says " daisy goes with families, daisy goes with everything!" this commercial plays on the emotions (pathos) and uses slipery slope, having people assume if you eat daisy sour cream then you and your family will be happy.

BethanyH said...

My ad is from an issue of Teen Vogue. This advertisement is directed towards teenage girls and younger women to buy Clinique lip gloss. This ad uses loaded words such as: impossibly, inconeivably, and unbelievably. This advertisement always uses logos saying this product is 100% frangrance free and allergy tested.

SydneyN said...

My ad is from a tv commercail. I can't remember the name of the car, but it has Brooke Sheilds and she is using bandwagon saying thateveryone is having babies so they can buy this type of suv. She also says its at an affordable rate which in some cases it can be emotional dealing with finances and logical dealing with the price of the vechile.

Unknown said...

I am using a commercial I saw on TV for Walgreens. Every Walgreens commercial mentions its "convenience", which is a glittering generality, and they all show happy people, which is very much so "pathos". They seem to twist logos in their favor too when they say look for one near you. How would they even know if there is one near you?

Justin L said...

My add is from the Internet. The add is directed to anyone, wanting to buy LED lights for their vehicles. This add uses logos by stating that it grabs other driver's attention by 90%. It also states a glittering generality-that G2 Fusion LEDs are the brightest in the world.

Unknown said...

My advertisement comes from www.cryo.se it uses the glittering generalities of, “Only the best is good enough,” and, “High quality cryogenic equipment,” to sell equipment and related services for industrial gases.

TylerA said...

While watching TV tonight I saw a advertising commercial that was selling Gold Fish. I started as a bunch of kids who did not have anything to do and then Dwayne Wade, point guard for the Miami Heat, comes into the picture and tells them to make a circle with there arms and play a game of human hoop. Then he goes off on the side of the screen with a bag of Gold Fish and tells how they are good for young children and support bone growth with a bunch of facts, LOGOS. The children in the background playing, PATHOS. And they help your children have fun, SLIPPERY SLOPE. Also could incorporate a little bandwagon with a famous basketball star.

brittneyb said...

My ad is a commercial on tv about Becky Ruppe, someone running for State Senate. It's directed toward Tennessee voters. It's an example of a personal attack, or ad hominem. In the commercial, her opponent is saying how she's trying to "hide her record" and that she raised taxes 4 times. Then goes on to say that he can create jobs and a better economy. :)

katarinaa said...

Ok, I just had to be different, mine is a commercial. Its one those animal adoption comercials. In these commercial the people use pathos to get to your emotions. You watch the commercial and cant help but think, "Oh my gosh that poor animal", then you want to adopt it or try to help find it a home. Well these commercials play on their audiences emotions so much, its definatly is pathos becuase it really does touch your heart even if you dont like animals.

kelseyh said...

My ad is an ad for Infiniti cars on the MSN homepage. This ad is directed towards driver's of all ages to influence them to buy an Infiniti because they are more feul-efficient and better for the economy. This ad uses logos, pathos and ethos to show the consectutive yearly awards they have won, the safety of the new features of some cars, and the effect that the cars have on the economy. The ad also uses ad homenim when saying that Infiniti cars are better and safer than others.

JordynW said...

My ad is from the Better Homes and Gardens Magazine. The advertisment is for halloween candies and fun crafts. This uses glittering generalities when it advertises to the readers that the magazine is "frightfully fun" or "spooktacular ideas". This words definatly would get the readers interested but doesn't tell them what the ideas are.

Chelsea said...

The ad that I found in People magazine is about the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. This ad mainly uses pathos saying "Ovarian cancer takes the lives of mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends." This appeals emotionally to especially anyone who knows or knew someone the this type if cancer. The ad also contains slipper slope in the phrase "Join the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund..to ultimately a cure ovarian cancer."

Unknown said...

My ad comes from a California cheese commercial... it has happy cows talking to each other. It uses pathos because of its smiling and humor.

TuckerM said...

My ad is a commercial advertising an energy shot called 6 hour power. The ad uses pathos and loaded words when it says " this gives you extreme energy to do this"and then a man jumps off a cliff. They are mainly appealing to teenagers and college students who want to do extreme stuff or stay up late doing work. It also uses pathos when it shows a man about to fall asleep while doing homework but once he drinks a 6 hour power, he instantly wakes up and starts back to work.

CourtneyH said...

My ad is from a Family Circle magizine. The advertisment is directed towards moms with kids.The advertisment is for Gatorade, it focuses the almost the whole ad on given facts about dehydration. This is logos. The ad also has a little bit of emotinal appeal with pictures of kids playin sports and loaded words.

ashleyc said...

Teen People Magazine. Maybelline New York Mascara. This ad is directed toward young women that want amazing lashes. The name of their product is "Intense XXL volume and length microfiber mascara". This uses Pathos by the loaded words. Step 1: 50% longer, sexy lashes. Step 2: 10x the volume, for extreme drama and intensity. Both steps use Pathos by the loaded words and Logos with "50%" and "10x". They have a high fashion model (Adriana Lima) advertising their new product. They also use the memorable slogan, "May she's born with it. Maybe it's Maybelline" as Pathos.

Chloe G said...

The advertisement I chose is from the October issue of Parents Magazine promoting Eggo Breakfast Waffles. The ad is directed towards younger children who adore dreaming and long for new adventures. The little boy, Joey, in the advertisement is climbing a ladder to a tree house with an aluminum backpack and a blue light-saber secured to his back. The caption underneath his name says, “My dream: To have x-ray vision. My hobby: Embarrassing my big sister. My Eggo: Bananaroni Pizza… This ad focuses mainly on the rhetoric device, pathos by using a child to portray the happiness that comes along with eating these new waffles. By labeling the page, Joey’s Waffles, any child flipping through this magazine will feel the same since of wonder that Joey feels from climbing his ladder. This advertisement is sweet and simple, however it grabs your attention and, it even made me marvel at what kind of escapades Joey has experienced after a breakfast of waffles.

Katie P said...

I saw my advertisement in the mall on the back of one of the maps. This advetisement was telling people to be active. To accomplish this task it appealed to younger kids by using Mogley and Balloo from The Jungle Book. They made it appeal to younger kids because the majority of the younger generation is more overweight than earlier generations. When appealing to the younger kids pathos was used because it showed to them that exercise can be fun. The advertisement also used logos because it had a pyramid on the lower right hand corner showing the balance of exercise needed to be healthy.

skylarf said...

My ad is from statefarm insurance shown on tv. This ad is directed toward adult viewers or teenagers who own a car or a house. This advertisement uses logos because it uses statistics of wrecks and other accidents in America to prove that statefarm insurance is the best insurance for the people.

charlottel said...

The ad I chose is from Toys R Us. The ad was sent to us in the mail with a gift card in it.The ad is directed to parents and uses pathos as the main rhetoric device. The add includes loaded and flattery words like "For our Most Bestest Guests" and "10 dollars off Exclusively for our best guest" and "extra special offers"

teddyt said...

I was watching tv and a Mcdonald's ad appeared on the screen. It displayed people from all sorts of backgrounds dancing with a sandwich between their hands. This is an example of pathos, with the sight of people dancing happily with a sandwich and the music playing softly hums lyrical words of love between human and McRib. Also, the many people dancing with the McRib is called plain folk, since it shows people, each dressed and aged differently all dancing to the common sandwich of pleasure.

Rachelh said...

My add is from a JCPenney cover. This add is trying to get women to buy kitchen cookware. It uses pathos by saying "every day matters." This makes it sound like they are very loving and kind, and your day really matters to them. In reality, they don't care about your day and just want to sell you a pan. This add also uses logos by using numbers to show the "great" deal you are supposedly getting.

TannerG said...

The ad I chose is an advertisement for Nike shoes and apparel from "Runner's World" magazine. This ad shows thousands of people lined up to start a race all wearing Nike apparel from head to toe. This ad uses pathos as it makes it look as if every runner on the planet wears Nike and succeeds. It also uses pathos in its caption as it says, "...You'll be making history." It uses the logical fallocies bandwagon and plain folks as it appears that everyone uses Nike even common people who just run for themselves.

Unknown said...

My ad is a commercial I saw a little bit ago for a local political office (not to be disclosed). This ad mainly used ad hominems and ethos to make their candidate look better.

adamp

cassiec said...

My ad is from Seventeen magazine as well. It is directed towards teenage girls, urging them to buy shoes from Journeys shoe store. In the ad it shows to girls laughing and listening to music, looking very happy. It uses pathos by showing the girls smiling and having fun.

Bryce Patton said...

My ad is from a issue from Guitar World magazine. The ad is directed at guitarists and is trying to pursade them to buy a korg digital rack tuner. This ad uses alot of ethos becouse its whole background is of the swedish virtoulso guitarist yngwie malmsteen playing guitar. It uses logos becouse it tells the guitarist that becouse of its harware it is more accurate then anytuner ever. It has glitterning generalities becouse it says the tuner is "accurate{which is strange since all turners ar}" and is affortable{which is also strange since it costes $100}. This ads main fallacie is that it implies that if you buy this tuner then you to can play like yngwie.

natew said...

Alright uh...just like five seconds ago saw a commercial for Maxwell House Coffee. The guy in the commercial was going around asking people about it. So it really has nothing except for the use of pathos...sorta...when the people tell you about how much they love the coffee. And is has the ending where the container is turning around so the label faces you and basically it's screaming, "this is the best coffee drink it" so it could kinda be bandwagon.

Elissag said...

My ad is from Popular Photography advertising the Olympus E-3 digital camera. It is directed towards serious photographers looking for a serious camera. This ad uses logos talking about the dimensions of the camera and lenses. Glittering words is used when it says, "ultimate image quality, the world's fastest autofocus, and superior durability." Ethos is used when it says "the Olympus E-3 is the performance camera YOU'VE been waiting for." Finally, it uses ethos in a story from the narrator about using this camera and he says, "This camera is the tool that fits my hands and life best.

hunterh said...

The ad I'm writing about is from National Geographic and is about Delta Faucets. Although the ad is standard fare for faucets, it's written to appeal to National Geographic readers. "Magnetic North Has Guided Travelers for Centuries" is the first line . . . making it seem to be another travel story in the magazine. Instead you read more and find out about Delta's magnetic docking faucet. You then find out the magnetic docking faucet is the solution to "an age-old problem." Just what the problem is, it doesn't say, so this faucet being the solution is a pretty broad generalization.

AndyR said...

The advertisement that I decided to use was from Newsweek. The advertisment was for Chevy automobiles using ad hominem on toyota and honda saying that they offer more lines of automobiles with 30 mpg or better than toyota or honda. They used pathos because the picture is green with a tree in it, symbolizing the company cares about the environment. They also used ethos because they know people are starting to go green and are trying to make cars that fit peoples lifestyles, and their trademark motto is an american revolution. This reveals that they are trying to idealize the image of a patriot and average american, and saying this is the brand of car for you. Unless your not american...

jamesussery said...

Well, i suppose i will pick the commercial on television about those little 5 Hour Energy Shots. It is a commercial with Osi Umenyiora from the New York Giants. He is advertising the enrgy drink saying it gives him the "boost" he needs to get pumped up before a game. The funny thing is, he is hurt this season and not even playing. So the commercial is just a fake to try to get young athletes to buy the product all because a professional athlete supposedly uses it. The commercial uses band wagon to try to get people to joni in along with the celebrity using this product.

I just picked that commercial because i think its funny that he is hurt but he still drinks the drink to "get pumped" for the games he doesnt play.

Jacob said...

Kaylah
My ad is from Seventeen magazine. The ad is for Max Factor lip gloss Lipfinity 3D. The ad is focused of Ethos. This is because all that really is on the ad is a picture of Gisele Bundchen wearing the lip gloss. Since she is a famous fashion model, they want you to think "since she is a model, she must know about beauty and the best beauty products."

TreyN said...

The ad i chose is the ad for diet mountain dew. It shows a man standing, holding a diet mountain dew and he tells you a true, strange fact(example: men are more likely to be hit by lightning than women). Meanwhile in the background it shows this fact actually happening. Then he says, " Find that suprising? Well diet mountain dew tastes just like regular dew". This uses logos because it uses facts and leads you to believe that if that fact is true, maybe diet mountain dew really tastes like regular dew. It also uses pathos because the things going on in the background pretaining to the strange fact are always good for a laugh!