Inquiry, Topic and Rhetoric (Critical Analysis)
It is usually not enough to think about a topic as something that exists isolated by itself. Virtually every topic is also connected to texts about that topic, readers and writers involved with that topic, and broader issues.
For this assignment, you will analyze the rhetorical elements and effectiveness of an advertisement, commercial or Ted Talk. You will analyze the writer’s background, stance, purpose, and the broader issues (social, political and/or cultural) that emerge. You will also examine the type of genre and the media design.
Analyze an advertisement(s), i.e. TV or Internet commercials, print advertisements or a Ted Talk based on the below criteria and comment on its impact or effectiveness. Choose a text that lends itself well to an analysis, like a controversial subject or one that has apparent social, political, and/or cultural implications. Include a copy of the original work.
Your analysis should include:
a brief summary of the piece you are analyzing
a commentary on the writer and the writer’s background and stance
an analysis of the writer’s purpose
a discussion of the social, political, and cultural context of the text
an identification of the intended audience, including the writer’s attitude toward the audience
a description of the genre and media design, including the use of language, artistic, and technical devices employed by the author
an identification of rhetorical appeals in language and visual elements: logic, credibility, and emotions
a commentary of the effectiveness of the piece