Today we briefly discussed the three basic appeals of any argument: appeal to the audience’s emotions, the speaker’s credibility, and the author’s message itself. Tonight, find commercials or advertisements on the Internet (YouTube is a goldmine, but you may be able to find static ads elsewhere—just turn off your ad blocking plugins) and post a link in the comments below. You should include a brief explanation of how the ad works in light of the appeals we discussed in class. For example:

While O.J. Simpson’s plea for viewers to “snap that seatbelt” may have been persuasive at the height of his career as football’s golden child, the events surrounding his trial have since sullied any credibility he might have as a role model.

We will discuss your advertisements and explanations in class tomorrow. As always, email with questions.