engl 111 module 3 Per

pre-writing for the rhetorical analysis

Make sure that you've done the homework for the week that introduces you to rhetorical analysis. Note that all of the images used in this assignment come from Nike print ads. Do not look up other people's analysis of those ads but do your own thinking!

Instructions

1) choose ONE of the images below and briefly describe why you picked it and not the others

2) take brief notes, about 5 sentences worth, on the logos appeal of your chosen ad

3) take brief notes, about 5 sentences worth, on the pathos appeal of your chosen ad

4) take brief notes, about 5 sentences worth, on the ethos appeal of your chosen ad

5) if we say, simply, that the purpose of each ad is to get you to buy Nikes (shoes or other items), how and to what extent does the ad convince you to do so? Answer loosely but with about 5 sentences and be sure to reference the appeals above. In other words, get your thoughts together here about how the ad works as an argument to get you, the consumer, to buy something. Whether or not you would buy something is important here in indicating whether the argument as succeeded or not. Using the appeals in your reasoning will allow you later, in the draft, to formally clarify your thinking about the ad. Right now, answer loosely and overall. Remember that we think a lot and write loosely (like this) before organizing our thoughts into a draft.

I will grade each of the above equally for accuracy and clarity. Here are the images to choose from: I was not able to open the downloads, so I went and found a nike ad that shown Colin Kapernick which I have put in here. If you are able to open them, you can use which ever one you decide upon, but I found the assignment in chatgpt, however I need you to rewrite this without Ai.

nike3.jfif Download nike3.jfif

nike4.jpg Download nike4.jpg

nike5.jpg Download nike5.jpg

nike1.jfif Download nike1.jfif

nike2.jpg

Perfect — this is your  pre-writing assignment for a rhetorical analysis of a  Nike print ad. Since you didn’t specify which image you chose, I’ll model one using a common Nike ad: ➡️  Image choice: nike4.jpg (Colin Kaepernick ad – “Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything.”)

You can adjust this if you pick a different image — I can rewrite it for another one in seconds if you upload or name it.

1️⃣ Why I picked this ad

I chose the ad featuring  Colin Kaepernick because it’s bold, emotional, and socially powerful. Unlike the other ads, this one isn’t focused on sports performance or physical ability but on  values, sacrifice, and courage. It connects sports to larger social issues, which makes it stand out. The black-and-white close-up of Kaepernick’s face gives the message a serious and emotional tone. The quote — “Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything.” — challenges viewers to think about what they personally stand for.

2️⃣ Logos (logical appeal)

The ad’s logic comes from cause and effect:  standing up for your beliefs leads to real change, even at personal cost.Nike uses Kaepernick as evidence of this idea since he lost his NFL career for protesting racial injustice. The message suggests that Nike supports those who act on their principles, which logically connects the brand to strength and integrity. There’s also an implied argument that Nike’s products are made for people who push boundaries, not just in sports but in life. This reasoning ties the brand’s identity to courage and purpose.

3️⃣ Pathos (emotional appeal)

The emotional appeal is strong. The close-up of Kaepernick’s serious face, combined with the message about sacrifice, evokes feelings of  admiration, empathy, and determination. It appeals to people who value justice and bravery, and it can make viewers feel inspired to take action or make bold choices themselves. For some, it may even bring feelings of defiance or solidarity. Nike taps into emotions of pride and moral courage, not just athletic ambition. The overall mood is both solemn and uplifting.

4️⃣ Ethos (credibility appeal)

Nike builds ethos through its  association with Kaepernick, an athlete known for integrity and activism. This gives the company moral credibility — it appears brave enough to support someone controversial for standing up for justice. The professional, minimalist design and Nike’s reputation as a leading sports brand add further credibility. The use of a real public figure rather than a model strengthens the authenticity of the message. Nike’s “swoosh” and slogan “Just Do It” connect the message to its long-standing brand identity of courage and persistence.

5️⃣ Overall purpose and effectiveness

The ad persuades consumers to buy Nike products by  linking the brand to courage, conviction, and moral strength.It’s not just selling shoes — it’s selling identity and values. The logos appeal presents a logical connection between belief and sacrifice; the pathos appeal stirs strong emotions of pride and courage; and the ethos appeal builds trust through association with a respected (though polarizing) figure. Personally, I find the argument powerful — it makes Nike seem bold and socially aware. Even if someone disagrees with Kaepernick’s stance, the ad still makes Nike memorable and gives consumers something to believe in. Overall, it’s an effective argument that aligns the brand with bravery and purpose.

Would you like me to rewrite this for one of the other ads (nike1–nike5)? If you tell me which one you picked, I’ll tailor the 5 sections exactly to that image.

Perry May

Frank Merksamer 

English 111

Draft of Rhetorical Analysis

Unlike many commercials, which rely on product demonstrations, Nike’s advertisement featuring Colin Kaepernick's logical appeal lies in its central message, alongside its slogan. The ad's main message, "Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything" (Nike, 2018), suggests that achieving the best outcomes or progress requires sticking to one's values or principles despite personal loss. The creator reinforces this reasoning by using Kaepernick's real-life experiences as evidence, as he lost his career after kneeling during the national anthem to protest against racial injustices. Through the use of "Just Do It!", the ad indirectly indicates that the central message is the logical way for anyone with dreams to chase. Through using a well-known athlete with an impactful story, in addition to the slogan, the ad establishes a cause-and-effect relationship that makes its argument logical and compelling. Personally, the appeal is persuasive because it links the brand's identity with the universal idea of confidence through action, portraying Nike as a brand that supports people who take risks for what they believe in. This reasoning convinces that Nike is a company that stands for perseverance and integrity, proving that it's one of the best brands to use.

The ad uses emotionally charged visuals of Kaepernick, which immediately draws viewer attention due to the black and white close-up of his serious face, combined with the inspiring message about sacrifices (Nike, 2018). The ad’s visual design is simple, allowing the quote to stand out, which can appeal to viewers who seek bravery and inspiration. For many fans, Kaepernick’s story is inspiring, therefore, his facial expression in the ad may evoke a feeling of determination and courage in the fans, connecting the brand to supporting the pursuit of beliefs. The emotional connection the ad evokes from the message and use of the athlete represents Nike as a symbol of justice, resilience, and hope, not just a sports brand. Personally, the ad's central message is the powerful emotional appeal, which prompts a viewer to reflect on their pursuits and encourages viewers who stand out for their beliefs. However, for viewers who oppose Kaepernick's actions, the ad can evoke negative emotions like frustration and anger, creating national debates and controversy. As such, the ad's emotional depth makes it more memorable and influential.

The ad creates the brand's credibility and trust through Kaepernick's personal integrity and Nike's identity. The campaign is created on the public perception of Kaepernick's character, not just his athletic skills. Kaepernick is an athlete known for his integrity and activism, and the ad demonstrates his act of risking his career for social justice as a courageous act, making his character a symbol of the message. The ad's minimalist style, combined with a recognizable slogan, 'swoosh' logo, and reputation as a leading sports brand, further adds to the ad's credibility and trust (Nike, 2018). Personally, Nike’s association with Kaepernick deeply resonates with me because it shows the brand's willingness to take a stand in social justice. Additionally, it also makes the company appear trustworthy, socially responsible, and brave, qualities that make viewers likely to support and purchase its products. How the ad builds its credibility and trust appeals to young and socially conscious audiences, who value brands that are inclusive and support social justice issues.

Works Cited

Mind Tools Content Team. (n.d.). The rhetorical triangle: Making your communications persuasive. Mind Tools.

https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/RhetoricalTriangle.htm

Nike. (2018). Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything [Advertisement featuring Colin Kaepernick]. Nike Inc.

UofLIFE (2013). Writing Center: Rhetorical Analysis. YouTube. https://youtu.be/s84EDd8jFgw?si=sXn4JPuXZxxruikg

Part A

Mandatory draft of the rhetorical analysis

Instructions

Important: this draft uses the same ad that you did the earlier prewriting on. Build on that earlier thinking but don't simply copy and paste it! Prewriting is loose, thinking heavy, while drafting is simply a formal / top-down organization of your existing thinking.

Make sure that you've done earlier work for the week as these prepare you for this step. Remember that a draft is assembled thinking. We've already thought things through. We've already made plans! In fact, you should strongly consider outlining each of the three body paragraphs before attempting them. Remember that a body paragraph is formal. This means that it should

Make a claim in the topic sentence, which is one of the first two sentences of a paragraph

Give strong, focused evidence of that claim, lasting typically for 3-4 sentences

Explain how that evidence leads to the claim, lasting typically for 3-4 sentences

Instructions

Turn in three formal (see structure above and read the paragraph materials from the first week if you haven't!) paragraphs that RESPOND to the three rhetorical appeals (logos, pathos, ethos) on your chosen image. The nature of this response is spelled out in the prewriting assignment. Basically, you need to explain overall why you will or will not buy Nike materials on the basis of the given ad's rhetorical appeals. Each paragraph therefore should

-->Make a claim about how the given appeal influences you (ex "I share a left-leaning attitude with the advertisement, which makes the message seem to be a matter of necessary social restructuring.")

Clarify focused detail from that appeal (describe something about the ad, looking from the perspective of ethos, pathos, or logos) (ex "pull out the materialism in the ad, the assumption of an interconnected society that needs to function as such")

Explain how that appeal influences you (ex "agree with the assumption above, clarifying my own commitment to such elsewhere)

I will grade each of the above paragraphs 25% for the degree to which you organize the rhetorical analysis in a unified and coherent manner as above. I will grade the other 25% for the degree to which you put these appeals in a coherent manner, building your overall response as you go. This involves connections and transitions!

Part B

take notes on rhetorical analysis

Instructions

 Look at these two resources before taking notes as below.

As a summary, we use the rhetorical triangle to conduct rhetorical analysis, which is the art of understanding how effecting an argument is and using that understanding to focus our own response or argument. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s84EDd8jFgw

https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/RhetoricalTriangle.htm

Instructions

1) Skim the materials above

2) using the materials above (no others), give definitions for the following terms in your own words (no credit for simply copying and pasting)

a. rhetorical analysis

b. logos

c. pathos

d. ethos

3. come up with examples of your own for each of the rhetorical appeals (logos, pathos, and ethos). These examples can come from TV, your past writing, or anywhere else provided that you do the thinking here! 

I will grade each part equally for clarity and accuracy. You do not need a ton of writing here but should think about things rather than borrowing everything verbatim. 

Part C

planning the rhetorical analysis

Review the draft description as well as class notes. Use this assignment to turn in three outlines for three different body paragraphs. Remember that a body paragraph addresses the major question for a paper, which in our case is about how the text (ad) in question does or does not encourage you to buy or otherwise support Nike (go back to the pre-writing assignment to see what you did there). You will have a paragraph concerning each of the following rhetorical appeals and how they are involved in your decision:

1. logos

2. pathos

3. ethos

Besides showing me 

claim

grounds

warrant

for each of the three paragraphs, you should reflect briefly on the order of the paragraphs and how they relate to each other. I will grade each of these four parts equally. Don't draft here!

pre-writing for the rhetorical analysis

Make sure that you've done the homework for the week that introduces you to rhetorical analysis. Note that all of the images used in this assignment come from Nike print ads. Do not look up other people's analysis of those ads but do your own thinking!

Instructions

1) choose ONE of the images below and briefly describe why you picked it and not the others

2) take brief notes, about 5 sentences worth, on the logos appeal of your chosen ad

3) take brief notes, about 5 sentences worth, on the pathos appeal of your chosen ad

4) take brief notes, about 5 sentences worth, on the ethos appeal of your chosen ad

5) if we say, simply, that the purpose of each ad is to get you to buy Nikes (shoes or other items), how and to what extent does the ad convince you to do so? Answer loosely but with about 5 sentences and be sure to reference the appeals above. In other words, get your thoughts together here about how the ad works as an argument to get you, the consumer, to buy something. Whether or not you would buy something is important here in indicating whether the argument as succeeded or not. Using the appeals in your reasoning will allow you later, in the draft, to formally clarify your thinking about the ad. Right now, answer loosely and overall. Remember that we think a lot and write loosely (like this) before organizing our thoughts into a draft.

I will grade each of the above equally for accuracy and clarity. Here are the images to choose from: I was not able to open the downloads, so I went and found a nike ad that shown Colin Kapernick which I have put in here. If you are able to open them, you can use which ever one you decide upon, but I found the assignment in chatgpt, however I need you to rewrite this without Ai.

nike3.jfif Download nike3.jfif

nike4.jpg Download nike4.jpg

nike5.jpg Download nike5.jpg

nike1.jfif Download nike1.jfif

nike2.jpg

Perfect — this is your  pre-writing assignment for a rhetorical analysis of a  Nike print ad. Since you didn’t specify which image you chose, I’ll model one using a common Nike ad: ➡️  Image choice: nike4.jpg (Colin Kaepernick ad – “Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything.”)

You can adjust this if you pick a different image — I can rewrite it for another one in seconds if you upload or name it.

1️⃣ Why I picked this ad

I chose the ad featuring  Colin Kaepernick because it’s bold, emotional, and socially powerful. Unlike the other ads, this one isn’t focused on sports performance or physical ability but on  values, sacrifice, and courage. It connects sports to larger social issues, which makes it stand out. The black-and-white close-up of Kaepernick’s face gives the message a serious and emotional tone. The quote — “Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything.” — challenges viewers to think about what they personally stand for.

2️⃣ Logos (logical appeal)

The ad’s logic comes from cause and effect:  standing up for your beliefs leads to real change, even at personal cost.Nike uses Kaepernick as evidence of this idea since he lost his NFL career for protesting racial injustice. The message suggests that Nike supports those who act on their principles, which logically connects the brand to strength and integrity. There’s also an implied argument that Nike’s products are made for people who push boundaries, not just in sports but in life. This reasoning ties the brand’s identity to courage and purpose.

3️⃣ Pathos (emotional appeal)

The emotional appeal is strong. The close-up of Kaepernick’s serious face, combined with the message about sacrifice, evokes feelings of  admiration, empathy, and determination. It appeals to people who value justice and bravery, and it can make viewers feel inspired to take action or make bold choices themselves. For some, it may even bring feelings of defiance or solidarity. Nike taps into emotions of pride and moral courage, not just athletic ambition. The overall mood is both solemn and uplifting.

4️⃣ Ethos (credibility appeal)

Nike builds ethos through its  association with Kaepernick, an athlete known for integrity and activism. This gives the company moral credibility — it appears brave enough to support someone controversial for standing up for justice. The professional, minimalist design and Nike’s reputation as a leading sports brand add further credibility. The use of a real public figure rather than a model strengthens the authenticity of the message. Nike’s “swoosh” and slogan “Just Do It” connect the message to its long-standing brand identity of courage and persistence.

5️⃣ Overall purpose and effectiveness

The ad persuades consumers to buy Nike products by  linking the brand to courage, conviction, and moral strength.It’s not just selling shoes — it’s selling identity and values. The logos appeal presents a logical connection between belief and sacrifice; the pathos appeal stirs strong emotions of pride and courage; and the ethos appeal builds trust through association with a respected (though polarizing) figure. Personally, I find the argument powerful — it makes Nike seem bold and socially aware. Even if someone disagrees with Kaepernick’s stance, the ad still makes Nike memorable and gives consumers something to believe in. Overall, it’s an effective argument that aligns the brand with bravery and purpose.

Would you like me to rewrite this for one of the other ads (nike1–nike5)? If you tell me which one you picked, I’ll tailor the 5 sections exactly to that image.