Nope, not the Bermuda Triangle. It’s the rhetorical analysis triangle! For those of you who don’t know what this is, you can check out this link, check out the triangle below, or continue reading.

Source: Pinterest

In CTW 1, we did a rhetorical analysis of an advertisement. I thought I would revisit that concept today with an ad I saw a couple of weeks ago on the door of a bathroom stall at my school.

Source: NKenned

But, before we start, let’s talk a little more about this rhetorical triangle thing. 

Here Are Some of My Notes From Class

• Logos
  • focuses on the clarity of the argument and the logic of its reasons and support
  • appeals to reason and evidence (science)
• Ethos
  • relates to the credibility of the writer (who wrote this, why should I listen to them?)
  • demonstrated through credentials, the tone and style of the message, how the writer considers alternative views, and the writers investment in his/her claim
• Pathos
  • Focuses attention on the values and beliefs of the intended audience (sad dying dogs and cats commercial appeals to our love for animals)
  • appeals to the audience’s emotions and imaginations (excitement or fear of the unknown)
• Kairos
  • About timing, about finding the right moment and context to speak or write on a topic (joke at a funeral)
  • Holistic trait, characterizing whether the appeal is made at an opportune time and place

Now that you understand, let’s try it out on the flyer

1. Logos – The flyer uses the statistic “1 in 2 sexually active young people will get an STD by age 25” to encourage young people to get tested for STDs and increase their awareness of the commonality of STDs.
2. Ethos – The speaker here is the CDC or Center for Disease Control and Prevention, which is a federal public health agency. Sounds pretty reputable to me.
3. Pathos – This whole ad is directed at sexually active young people, so it makes sense that they advertise at a college (cough cough, college students). Their statement that “most won’t know it” plays on our fear of the unknown. It makes us wonder if we actually are the 1 out of 2 who has an STD by 25. The exclamation “Really?!! (That has to be a mistake right??!)” typifies the expected reaction from these college students and emphasizes that the stats are right and there is no mistake.
4. Kairos – I saw this advertisement on the door of a stall in the bathroom that is within our school dining hall/cafeteria. This is a perfect place for an ad like this because it reaches a lot of people since this is probably one of the most used bathrooms on campus. It is also an ideal place because it gives people a chance to actually read the ad; STDs can be an awkward subject, so by putting it in a bathroom stall where no one interrupts you or sees you looking at it, the stigma is removed.

I hope you enjoyed my rhetorical analysis of an advertisement! Until next time.