english

In order to determine the appropriate purpose, audience, tone, and content in your own writing, you should be able to identify these aspects in other texts. For this discussion, I would like for you to turn to the world of advertising. Watch some commercials online or on television for the following products based on your individual pathway:

• AHCD: Movie trailers
• Business: Money lending services (e.g., J.G. Wentworth)
• Education: Online colleges
• Health Sciences: Prescription drugs
• IMCT: Delivery services (e.g., Postmates)
• Public Safety: Drunk driving PSAs
• SBSHS: Dating websites/apps
• STEM: Video game trailers

(Note: If you need more details about Broward College’s various career pathways, visit the “” webpage.)

Once you have done so, choose one of those ads and describe it for us in detail. Then, answer the following questions to help you determine the purpose, audience, tone, and point of view the commercial employs and the impact that these choices have on the advertisement.

• What is the overall purpose of the commercial? First, ask yourself whether its meant to inform, persuade, entertain, or some combination. Provide specific examples of images or quotations from the ad that support your claim.
• Who do you think the general audience of the advertisement is? Consider aspects like the audiences gender, age, social status/class, interests and hobbies, race and ethnicity, etc. Again, provide specific aspects of the commercial that reinforce your theory about its audience. Also, do you think that the ad reduces its appeal by leaving certain audiences out or applying only to audiences of a certain privilege? Why or why not?
• What is the commercials overall tone or attitude toward its audience? Consider the ways in which wording, actors, imagery, color choice, music, and/or subject matter are used to establish the feeling or attitude of the ad. As usual, provide specific examples. Do you think that the commercials choice of tone limits its audience? Why or why not?
• Lastly, what is the advertisements overall content? In other words, does the commercial incorporate music, imagery, statistics, testimonies, observations, personal anecdotes, illustrations, etc.? As before, provide specific examples. In your opinion, is the chosen content appropriate and engaging for the audience of the ad?