Rhetorical Analysis Essay – Childhood Obesity

Rhetorical Analysis Essay – Childhood Obesity

French Ministry of Health: Children’s Obesity

Undoubtedly, it is crucial to understand that childhood obesity is one of the most serious medical conditions that have negative ramifications on the Health of adolescents and children. This situation is especially troubling given that children have begun developing problems that were traditionally considered adult problems, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. However, the situation is even more complex because obesity in children often reduces their self-esteem and culminates in depression. It is also vital to understand that not every child has extra weight. Some children generally have bigger than the normal average frames of body, and kids usually carry diverse body fat amounts in various development stages. Therefore, one might never know what their child looks like should weight be a health concern. The BMI (Body Mass Index) provides a weight guideline concerning height and is the credited measure of obesity and overweight. One of the effective strategies in reducing childhood obesity is the amelioration of the eating and exercise behaviour of the whole family. Taking measures to treat and prevent obesity in children helps protect their health. The French Ministry of Health took the initiative to sensitize the general public on avoiding junk food that increases the chances of persons getting obese in their childhood through an effective print advertisement with an ice cream cone with a fat belly at the top of it. The cone has been simple but is creatively and inoffensively effective. With this notion in mind, it suffices to maintain that regardless of the fact that this advertisement by the Ministry of Health has been largely efficacious in addressing the right audience and followed the principles of ethos, it should have taken care to ensure that the other two techniques of persuasion; pathos, and logos have been used efficiently, to ensure it is largely effective to the audiences across the country. Our assignment help will hone your writing prowess for papers that will awe your professors.

Besides, given that the French Ministry made this print advertisement for Health, it is crucial to note that the intended audience for this advertisement is the general public of France. As such, given that the government has taken the initiative to sensitize the general public on this issue, it can only imply that child obesity is on the rise in France, albeit slowly. In the early 2000s, the surveillance of the child obesity and overweight that was experienced saw a large expansion and offered the opportunity to document public health issues through using the standardized procedures in this country. Today, France has just less than one child out of about five who is overweight, and about 3 to 4% are said to be obese (Castetbon, 114). Just like in other developed nations, France’s situation looks manageable. However, it hides a large difference across social groups. The given number of concerns is still very high regardless of the favourable statistics, highlighting the need to take preventive actions. Obviously, in France, the third estate members, who comprise the vast majority of the people, are the most affected. As such, it explains why the Ministry of Health has taken the prerogative to sensitize the larger public. The fact that the audience is the vast majority of the people in France, the likelihood of their being less informed about the ramifications of child obesity among their social grouping is what justifies the fact that the Ministry of Health’s initiative to use what the public knows best and use it to advance their caution to the public.

Also, when the notion of ethos comes to mind, it is clear that this advertisement has used ethos. The advertisement clearly follows the appeal to ethics and ethical imperatives, given that it refrains strongly from offending the audience. In this case, the Ministry of Health gently reminded people about the dangers of feeding their children junk food such as ice cream. By saying, the fact that it comes straight from the Ministry of Health justifies the source’s credibility concerning the caution it voices. It also appeals to the parents in the ethical imperative to encourage them to do the right thing and save their children’s lives and self-esteem. As such, it suffices to maintain that the advertisers used ethos.

Furthermore, it is imperative to understand that it relates to the appeal towards emotion when addressing the notion of pathos. In this case, the essence is to convince the audience of a given argument by creating a response that is emotional to a widely convincing story or an impassioned plea. In this case, the ice cream advertisement does not meet or address the notion of pathos. The advertisement fails to appeal to emotion or evoke an emotional response. It seems to make fun of a serious situation. The cream is made into a belly. And the shape of the cream does not help address pathos at all. With this notion in mind, it suffices to maintain that pathos has not been efficaciously used.

Lastly, it is also crucial to understand that logos touches on the appeal to logic. So saying is one way of appealing to the audience with reason and using figures and facts (Fowler 58). In this case, it suffices to say that the Ministry of Health failed to persuade the audience with facts. It offers a broad warning to its audience but fails to provide the facts and figures to really win the audience over. A simple depiction of ice cream shaped like a fat belly does not reflect the dangers of obesity and overweightness that have affected significant numbers of people. As such, it suffices to maintain that logos is not effective in this situation.

In conclusion, it is clear that ethos is the most efficiently used technique of persuasion, while the Ministry of Health uses pathos appeal and logos. Also, regardless of the fact that this advertisement by the Ministry of Health has been largely productive in addressing the right audience and followed the principles of ethos, it should have taken care to ensure that the other two techniques of persuasion; pathos, and logos, have been used efficiently, to ensure it is largely effective to the audiences across the country.

Works Cited

Castetbon, K. “Recent prevalence of child and adolescent overweight and obesity in France and abroad.” Archives de pediatrie: organe officiel de la Societe francaise de pediatrie 22.1 (2014): 111-115.

Fowler, Robert L. “Mythos and logos.” The Journal of Hellenic Studies 131 (2011): 45-66.

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Rhetorical Analysis Essay – Childhood Obesity

In previous assignments, you learned to recognize the visual representations of ethos, pathos, and logos and analyze how these rhetorical appeals are used to persuade. Now, you will develop a 750-1000 word rhetorical analysis essay on a print advertisement or video commercial of your choice. The ad can be for any product or service that includes all three rhetorical appeals (ethos, pathos, logos). Your analysis must also take into consideration the advertiser’s intended audience. An analysis is basically a critical look — you will be assessing what effect the advertiser intends to have on the audience and whether you feel the advertiser will have the desired effect. Is the attempt to persuade using each rhetorical appeal effective? Or not? Why or why not?

Choose an Advertisement or Commercial

If you have chosen a print ad, provide the image from the ad at the top of your essay before the title. If you have chosen a commercial, embed the video into your document above the title of your essay.

Essay Development

Your essay will include a clear thesis and well-developed key ideas with topic sentences and supporting examples. The essay will also follow the conventional organization of the three elements of introduction, body, and conclusion. Follow the paragraph formula below:

Paragraph #1: Introduction and Thesis Statement. The introduction introduces the topic, creates interest for the reader, and provides the thesis. The thesis (or main idea) will address whether you feel the advertisement is persuasive — this deduction will, of course, be based on your assessment of ethos, pathos, and logos. The thesis statement must be the last sentence in the introduction paragraph.

Paragraph #2: Intended audience: Using information about where and when the advertisement/commercial was published, the ages, sexes/genders, and races of any models or actors, and the layout and colour palette of the advertisement / commercial, discuss who the intended audience is. Tell your reader at least three things about this audience; consider the audience’s values, knowledge, and demographics.

Paragraph #3: Ethos. Describe for your reader how the advertiser uses ethos. Give concrete examples from the ad. If you feel ethos is effectively used, explain why. If you feel it is ineffective, explain why.

Paragraph #4: Pathos. Describe for your reader how the advertiser uses pathos. Give concrete examples from the ad. If you feel pathos is effectively used, explain why. If you feel it is ineffective, explain why.

Paragraph #5: Logos. Describe for your reader how the advertiser uses logos. Give concrete examples from the ad. If you feel logos is effectively used, explain why. If you feel it is ineffective, explain why.

Paragraph #6: Conclusion. In your final paragraph, take a moment to discuss the overall effect of the ad with regard to ethos, pathos, and logos. Which rhetorical appeal was used most effectively? Why? Which was used least effectively? Why? In other words, reiterate your thesis.