prepare a visual analysis of an advertisement of their choice. Essays must be submitted in .rtf or .docx format. Essays should be 1400 words in length and follow standard formatting guidelines for MLA style (12pt. font, double-spaced, one-inch margins, etc.). In addition to the ad you're writing about, you must also include AT LEAST ONE SCHOLARLY SOURCE and document it in MLA format with in text (parenthetically) citations and a works cited page. Two sample student essays (analysis) are posted in the course unit and an additional essay appears in the textbook (Lunsford et al., "MLA Style," p. 601-617). You should also consult the "Writing an Analysis" roadmap on p. 262-271.
As Lunsford et al. explain, a visual analysis may focus on an advertisement, a photograph, or a political cartoon, but the focus of such an essay is always how writers, artists, and designers communicate their message. Your task is to focus on the parts of the advertisement and how the artist/advertiser uses them to persuade the audience to respond in a particular way. You'll need to show how the author uses different elements—such as color, text, cultural or social values, and other devices—to influence his or her audience. Whatever ad you choose, you'll need to focus on the CONTEXT (or situation) in which it was created and the TEXT (what's actually written or shown). Ask yourself who created this ad and why—was there some specific event or situation the author wanted to address? Also, consider how the author tries to influence the audience—what strategies does he or she use? Are they effective? As you develop your draft, ask yourself:
Is it clear what question I want to answer with my analysis?
Does the introduction grab the reader's interest? Is the point of the analysis (thesis) clearly stated?
What evidence have I included (such as quotations, summaries, or paraphrases)? Do I need more?
What insight have I gained from this analysis? Is it stated explicitly in the essay?
How have I organized my ideas? Do I use transitions to show each paragraph supports the thesis?
Have I included any other perspectives or counterarguments on this subject?
What tone and style have I used in this essay? Are they appropriate?
Does the conclusion address why the analysis matters? Does it answer the "So What?" question?