Last semester I got the wonderful opportunity to go to Spain for a study abroad. It really was a great experience for me, I learned so much. I loved seeing all of the ancient cities, cathedrals, museums, tapas bars...well, I loved seeing pretty much everything. One thing that really impressed me about Spain and the culture was the importance they placed on family and friend interaction. All of the towns and cities, no matter what the size, were filled with lovely parks and plazas. One of my favorite plazas was one in a little city on the outskirts of Madrid called Alcala de Henares. This plaza was definitely not one of the largest that Spain had to offer, but it was very charming and friendly. All throughout the plaza there were beautiful rose gardens, and the paths were covered with those cool trees that are all connected together so that they create the best shade. The plaza was filled with benches where all of the elderly townspeople would sit with their canes and sunflower seeds socializing. Young parents would kick soccer balls around with their small children. while the "abeuelitas" chased young toddler grand kids around. Everything just seemed to move a little slower in Spain. People weren't rushing around all of the time, working, and moving, they spent lots of time with the people that they cared about. There was this amazing sense of community there which is unlike any I have experienced before. This was especially apparent during the huge dances that they would have in the middle of the plaza, and all of the fun activities, fairs, and parades. Oh, I loved it! I came home wishing that we followed the Spanish tradition of valuing our family and friend time to the extent that the Spanish people did. It is a huge part of their culture, and you can tell by how they have built their cities.

Star Wars Ad.

This is an advertisement for a Star Wars weekends at Disney-MGM studios.

Argument: If you are a Star Wars fan, you need to visit MGM studios.

Audience: People with money enough to travel. People who love Star Wars and theme park type places.

How the Argument is Made:

Ethos: Credibility of Disney and MGM studios. Both are very successful and have had significant impacts on entertainment. Very realistic looking Star Wars stuff-official looking.

Pathos- Trying to motivate people through humor (star wars character at the airport). Characters seem very realistic. Exciting to the viewer to see characters that they think are cool and interesting in a real place.

Logos: I really have no idea. From a logical perspective star wars characters should NOT be in airports...

S-for audiece, yes. Shows all important information for the Star Wars weekends, ad would possibly work for Star Wars fans.

T-I do not know. Probably typical for this type of ad I'm sure.

A-Well, there won't be real characters there (fiction), but it is accurate because it is a big star wars "extravaganza"...

R- revelvant to people really into star wars and that can afford to visit places like this (Disney MGM studios).

My cousin invited me to go skiing with her this weekend. She has an extra pass for this year, and wanted me to come and enjoy the last week of open ski parks. I am pretty excited to go, although I must admit...I am a terrible skier. I actually used to believe that I was pretty good. In three ski trips (two in Kentucky and one at Canyons) I had not fallen once! Then this winter during a big snow storm we headed to Snow Basin. I thought Snow Basin was pretty cool, but goodness, it had some runs that were tough for me! One thing that made it so difficult for me was the type of snow. At canyons I had only practiced going down tracks that had snow that was packed. At Snow Basin there happened to be several feet of powder. I think that most skiers say that powder is ideal for the sport... but as a beginner I found it to be quite difficult to maneuver in. I remember falling down once, and then finding that the whole back half of my ski was stuck straight down in the snow...I had to have my cousin in law help pull me out. I am sure that I would still be there on that mountain if they had not given me a hand...I was really stuck. Anyway, I think skiing is really cool, so I am trying to get better and braver at it. I think that bravery and skill should rise at about the same level...if one goes up without the other, usually there is trouble! One thing that I love about skiing is how tired and hungry you are when you are done. After you ski food tastes so good, and it is nice to be able to guiltlessly chill out in front of a movie or something...after a day of falling down mountains-veg time is well deserved!

Smoking ad

The above picture shows two doctors looking through microscopes, and the blue box tells about how they will stop at nothing to those pesky "microscopic enemies of mankind!" Below it states that there was a survey done of several doctors and surgeons, and that a majority of them chose camels as there preferred cigarette.

Argument: Intelligent doctors choose camels, you should too.

Audience: Typical American that could afford them. People that trust in the credibility of doctors.
How the argument is made:

Ethos- Going on the credibility of doctors. Doctors are respected, they can also be trusted, so it must be ok. Could be using the credibility of the magazine itself.

Pathos: Doctors are both smart (using microscopes...), young, and healthy...so is the lady also shown on the ad. Everyone looks to be really happy about smoking those camel cigarettes. Bright colors, and graphics = draws the eye, makes things look really good.

Logos- If I choose camels I will be going along with all of these amazing people (happy woman and smart doctors).

Sufficient: Does not mention anything about the cons of smoking...perhaps these cons had not been discovered yet.

Typical- Yeah, this is how a lot of cigarette adds work...although the info is probably a little skewed.

Accurate-not really. Smoking the cigarette really won't make you smarter or happier. Cons of smoking not mentioned in this article.

Relevant- Relevant to audience.

My dad is named Dave, and he is in the army. He often used to intimidate my friends because he wears a tough army uniform, and has one of those high and tide haircuts. Of course, once they get to know him the realize that he is a perpetual twelve year old, he becomes popular in no time. He is a lot of fun, and a real softy, especially for his three daughters...trust me, he can still play the authoritative parent card though....sometimes to the point that causes me to want to jump up and say "yes sir major Jensen!" (He of course hates this...thus the appeal!).
Anyway, the other day I was thinking about my wonderful, funny dad, and I remembered the time that he let us die his hair bright blond...why he did it I will never know! One thing that you should know about my dad is that he has really dark, almost black. I think most of us girls know what a box of cheap blond hair dye can do to this color type. For family night we all helped dye dad's hair, and the result was astonishing. He looked like a fuzzy baby chicken! It was so funny! He did not freak out or anything, he just laughed a little. It must have been interesting to see him walk into his army base building the next day...I wonder what his fellow soldiers said to him. I'll bet they teased him a bit...that is just what happens. My dad of course did not care a bit, he just smiled, and kept his head high. Oh, I sure love my dad...although I don't think he will ever let us dye his hair again...ever!

Ok, here is another attempt at a topic, and all of the stuff that goes with it. At this point I just have to go for it. My paper is already well underway, and I am kind of at that point of no return...which means absolute havoc if I change it again...too late! Here is what I have got...

Watco using "Snow World" virtual Reality technolog in burn victim treatment centers on the quality of care the facility is able to give their patients?

Enthymeme: The implementation of Snow World virtual reality technology in burn victim rehabilitation centers will improve the quality of care provided by the facility by offering an additional form of pain control that is not only effective for many varieties of pain and disorders, but is a form of pain control that is free of negative side-effects.

Anything that allows the rehab facility to offer pain control that is effective for many types of pain and has no negative side-effects will improve the quality of care provided by the facility.

Audience-Head of rehab-facility administrator-regional director...those are the three people that I have to convince.

pros-
-none of the typical medication side-effects
-can be used by lots of therapists/many types of pain management
-less stress and perception of pain improves rate of healing.
-makes it easier for patients to continue with difficult therapy,
pain causes many to quit early=more future complications.
Cons
-$50,000 plus. Very expensive.
-Traditional forms of therapy already proven effective, more credible.
-Are types of burn victims that the machine does not work for-not for everyone.
very young, very old, and medically unstable.
-credibility of a video game...?

Advertisement

Yesterday was a beautiful day--it was so warm that I spotted a few ice cream trucks puttering down the roads selling ice cream to little kids. Here is what I noticed about the argument that the ice cream salesperson was presenting.
Argument: It is a nice warm day, come buy some ice cream!
Audience: Kids of course.
How the argument is made:
Ethos- Certain ice cream brand names. Official little business called "grandpa's ice cream."
Pathos- The music was happy and loud enough for all kids within a ten block radius to hear it...very persuasive. The truck was brightly colored, and the menu was right at kid height with the specialty ice creams (expensive ones) larger and more brightly colored than the rest. Inspired trust in both kids and parents because the company name was "grandpa's ice cream." Grandpas are sweet and friendly, so of course people would want ice cream from a grandpa. There was actually even a little old grandpa-like man driving the van...it was pretty funny. The appearance inspired trust.
Logos- The argument seems pretty logical to children...it is hot, ice cream vans are fun, my parents have money, we get to chase after it....lets go!!! The arguments for parents and other adults, not so convincing...expensive ice cream from a loud slow driving source that I have to chase after....I can just go to a normal store and get ice cream for way cheaper, and it won't have to come in some weird Cartoon character shape...
S-seems to work, so I suppose it is sufficient for the intended audience.
T- yes... typical.
A-accurate-yes, especially since they only generally come out on hot sunny days.
R-Very relevant to kids, especially when ice cream trucks are so fun, and ice cream is so good.