Choose an advertisement. Any sort of commercial, news ad, or radio ad will work.

Choose an advertisement. Any sort of commercial, news ad, or radio ad will work.
2. Take a moment to jot down your initial thoughts about the advertisement you chose. What catches your eye? How does it make you feel? These first impressions are important for understanding how the advertisement works. Are there examples of ethos, pathos, or logos that you can point to?
3. Consider who the advertisement is speaking to. Think about the people it’s trying to reach – their age, gender, interests, and values. Write a short paragraph explaining why you think this advertisement is aimed at this particular group.
4. Learn more about the product or service being advertised, the company behind it, and what’s happening in the world around us. How do these things impact the way the advertisement is created and received? Write a brief paragraph explaining how the context influences the message.
5. Figure out why this advertisement exists. Is it trying to convince you to buy something? Teach you about a new idea? Make you laugh? Write a paragraph explaining what you believe the advertisement’s purpose is.
6. Think about how understanding audience, context, and purpose can make you a more effective communicator. How can you apply these ideas to your own writing? Jot down your thoughts and ideas.