Rhetorical Analysis
1. Begin with an introduction that provides a clear and vivid description of the ad. This introduction should lead up to a thesis statement that predicts on what the essay will focus.
2. Think of ways the ad speaks to you as the reader or viewer. Are you a part of the target audience? Does the ad speak to you? How seriously do you take the ad? To what human needs does the ad appeal? (see list of 15 posted on the Online Classroom)
3. Describe ways in which the advertiser makes use of logos and pathos. What ethos
does the advertiser attempt to project? Is there an ethos already surrounding the
advertiser?
4. You should use a portion of your essay to analyze the audience for whom the ad is
intended. Be sure to profile this audience specifically: nationality,
age, economic status, occupation, family situation, political affiliation.
5. Be sure to identify rhetorical fallacies that may be present. How do they work in
the ad? Are they persuasive?
6. Body paragraphs should be coherent and well organized.
7. Your conclusion should sum up the analysis, close the issue, and look to the future or to a wider range of issues.