The following link is a live performance of the song "Something in the
way she moves" by James Taylor http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dnpY5unArc

The basic argument in this song is that James taylor feels fine. That is his claim. The reason for his claim is that he has been around "her." The implied statement, which he actually states in the song, is that anytime she's around him makes him feel fine.


Audience: The audience for this song is never mentioned directly by Mr. Taylor. It can be assumed that he is writing to someone he knows and who knows the "her" he refers to in the song. The formal audience he is addressing is probably very small. The larger audience is anyone who listens to james taylor's music.

Goal: James' goal is to express how this woman makes his life better by allowing him to feel fine when she is around.

How: A large part of the song is dedicated to describing the relationship he has with this woman. This leads to what i would call a logical argument of emotions. While his arguments make sense logically, they are more powerful because of the pathos they invoke.
The logical argument is based on evidence provided by Taylor from personal experience. Because the evidence is taken from his own relationship about which the song was written, they are clearly relevant to the argument.
The intimate nature of the song helps bring out the pathos. He describes how in his moments of weakness and self doubt, she is there to make him stronger and help him see the beauty of the world. As this is something that most everyone desires, the emotions it brings out help attach the audience to the song.

Effectiveness: I believe the song is effective in expressing his feelings about this woman. The argument is clear that she makes him feel fine, and the evidence is there to support it. The emotions it brings out are exactly what James Taylor wants his audience to feel.

Commercial Analysis

The following is a commercial for Nokia's new multimedia smart phone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdo_wEwBqXo

Argument: Buying the new nokia phone will make your life better because owning the new phone will simplify your multimedia lifestyle. It implies that by having simple access to all your multi media needs, your life will be better.

Audience: Young men, probably single, definitely in the 18-30 age range who heavily use multimedia connections.

Goal: To get the target audience to purchase the new phone

How: The logical argument in the commercial is that the phone simplifies your life by gathering all your multimedia tools into one platform. You don't need a tv, music player and computer. All you need is this one phone. This logic is appealing to the target audience who have grown up watching everything around them become more consolidated.
The pathos appeal is the cool and wow factors that the product brings. The target audience puts a lot of pride on having the most cutting edge, newest things and this product will help them to portray that image.

Effectiveness: I think that the commercial is effective in arguing its purpose. As evidence the comments on the youtube site where the commercial was place include many people saying that they want this product. It appeals to the target audience and portrays it in a way that is desirable to them.

Advertisement Rhetorical Analysis

The following is an advertisement for sprite:
The argument for the advertisement as an enthymeme would be as follows. Drinking sprite will make your summer better because drinking sprite will refresh you during the hot summer months. It is implied that being refreshed during the hot summer months will make your summer better.
The audience for this advertisement are school aged kids, most likely in middle or high school. The ad highlights the mythical sense that surrounds summer vacation for these children and emphasizes the need to make the most of that time. This age group is also the group that would have the most spending potential of school-aged children as middle and high school kids often spend time in their summers going to the mall, movies, or other hang out places that encourage spending money.
The goal of the advertisement is to get kids to drink more sprite.
the advertisement works with an appeal to pathos for these kids. As mentioned earlier, summer is almost a holy time for school children. They want it to be most fun, enjoyable time of the year as they get a break from school. Sprites highlights that with their reference to how drinking sprite will refresh your summer. The summer months are usually very hot, but the advertisement is very cool, temperature wise. The cool water splashing up around the bottle adds to the refreshing effect of the ad. It brings a hint of logos into the ad, saying that this product is cool and refreshing and you are probably hot and thirsty. Let us satisfy that need to be cooled down.
Is the argument effective? I think so. The bright colors grab attention and the image does bring about a desire to feel refreshed from heat and thirst. I think the appeal about summer would make kids in the target group want to drink sprite during the summer.