Demonstrate detailed research skills to support an argument.
You need to use research to show why a specific commercial is or is not convincing.
From whom to vote for, what to wear, how to sit, and what to buy, we are exposed to the workings of rhetoric on a constant basis. From the appeals (logos/ethos/pathos) to the many nuances of Gaze, we have explored how others have attempted to persuade us and those around us; however, it is often not enough to simply study, we must learn to study closely.
Your task will be to prove that a single commercial, a piece of persuasion, is in fact effective or ineffective to its target audience. You must utilize scholarly research to support your claims of why this piece of persuasion is effective or not by using at least ten (10) academic sources to support your argument. Do not simply tell me that yes, it is or is not persuasive. You may show me how this work is effective/ineffective in its rhetorical construction. How did this piece utilize the appeals effectively? How did it achieve identification in a strong way? How is its use of gaze powerful? Do not tell me that it is; show me. The commercial that you choose must be real, it must be for an actual product, and this commercial must have been in general circulation. You may use commercials from the past .
You will need to have a strong thesis with this paper, one that clearly argues that your chosen piece of rhetoric is in fact persuasive and why it is persuasive or not. As this is a research paper, there are things to consider.
You must have a works cited page accurately detailing in MLA format what sources you use.
Online only sources like websites, Wikipedia, etc, do not count towards the minimum requirements.
Do not spend more than a page describing your piece of persuasion; focus on showing me how it is persuasive, not describing the best commercial ever.A research paper is similar but not the same as an essay. You are trying to prove your thesis correct, but you have to do so through the use of many varied sources, not only through your own deductions and reasoning.
