Visual Rhetoric Project

Michael Jinkins

Background Info

• This add was published on a website called txtresponsibley.org that is against texting while driving, as part of their campaign against texting while driving.

What is the Purpose?

• The purpose is to inspire people not to text while driving by comparing it to something that everybody views as negative, drunk driving.

Who is the Intended Audience?

• The intended audience is anyone who texts while driving and anyone who will listen to their message that texting while driving is very dangerous.

What is the Focal Point?

• The focal points are the images of the car wreck. They are made to be the focal points because they create a connection between the negativity of drunk driving and the negativity of texting while driving.

Does omitting half of the image change the meaning?

• Omitting half of the image does change the meaning. It takes away from the argument that texting and driving is just as bad as being drunk and driving, giving texting while driving less of negative connotation.

Logos: What is the logical appeal?

• The ad includes a statistic that says texting while driving is just as dangerous as driving while intoxicated. This creates a connection to the audiences since of logic.

Ethos: What is the ethical appeal?

• The logo appeals to the audience’s ethics because it gives credibility to the image, because txtresponsibley.org is a reputable source.

Pathos: What is the emotional appeal?

• The ad appeals to the audience’s emotions because getting in a wreck pulls at the viewers heartstrings because it creates a sadness that makes the audience not want to get into a wreck.

Sources

"Texting While Driving Dangerous Statistics Pending Legislation - Text Messaging and Car

Accidents Traffic." Txtresponsively.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Oct. 2012.