Question: For this assignment you will use all the rhetorical triangle skills you have so far! Your goal is to find a visual argument and give a complete analysis of it. Visual arguments can be found in the form of commercials, magazine advertisements, billboards, political ads, public service announcements, or even book covers. As long as the main emphasis is visual, you can use it. Just as an article or essay has a thesis statement (a main point) and supporting evidences, so can a visual argument. For example, if you watch a commercial the main idea is probably "purchase this product." The supporting evidences would be the reasons you should purchase the product. That is straightforward enough. But most visual arguments are not simply straightforward. Often they have underlying messages. You need to figure out what the argument is saying overtly, but you also need to examine assumptions it is based on, intended audience, humor, and other important factors.
I recommend looking at the ethos, logos, and pathos of the piece as well as any logical fallacies it presents. Just as much as words have clear arguments, images can have clear arguments. You are not expected to be an art critic here, but to apply the principles of writing to another medium. Some of your visual arguments may include words and I expect that you will examine and analyze those as well.
3-5 pages long, double spaced
• Follows MLA formatting and citation style
• Provides the link or description of the visual argument being analyzed
• I want to be able to easily access what you're analyzing so make it easy for me!
• Gives a brief description/summary of the visual argument
• Analyzes the visual argument's logos, ethos, and pathos
• Identifies and examines any logical fallacies present
• Discusses the way the visual elements (light, color, placement, etc.) influence the argument
• Discusses any additional elements which influence the argument (for example, sound)
• Follows standard writing forms (complete sentences and paragraphs, transitions, etc.)
• Provides a conclusion about the effectiveness of the visual argument based on the analysis