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Before reading this essay, click on the links to the right. The first link will take you to instructions that explain how to use the Paper Bank. The second link offers basic suggestions for how to go about writing this type of paper. The comments found in this sample essay focus on how the author emphasizes the main impression of the ad throughout the paper as well as how the author organizes his description of the ad. |
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Describing an Ad
The ad that I have chosen to describe is for the Canon EOS RebelX camera. I will primarily just describe the actual images, but in addition I will also try to give the impressions that the ad gives to me. The ad more than anything else, conveys a sense of individualism.
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Here the author states his central main impression. Good. Notice how he restates this impression throughout the essay.
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The ad features Andrè Agassi finishing a forehand stroke with a yellow and black tennis racquet. Andrè looks to be about thirty years old.
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It is a good idea to begin with an overview before detailed description, just as the author does above. The author then moves from the general to the specific.
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He has blondish-brown hair, which is held back with an Asian style headband. The headband is covered with blue designs on a white background. He needs the headband because he has a very large shock of hair. He has very dark eyebrows above his brown eyes, which are focused on where the ball used to be. His nose appears to be slightly wide, but that may be more due to his mouth being in a sort of a grimace, in this particular photograph. He has very white, straight teeth. Andrè has long sideburns that meld into a several days old growth of beard.
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Notice the spatial order from top to bottom. Also notice the detail and precise word choice. Careful organization and word choice help create a good description paper.
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The racquet that Andrè is holding is metal. The frame is mostly yellow, but there is also a black part that is about six inches long, that curves along the bottom left portion of the face. There is another black portion that is opposite the first one. The strings are white except for the racquet maker's trademark. The trademark is black and consists of a boomerang shape above a circle. It takes up the top half of the strings. The handle looks to be black leather with a red band at the top of it. Andrè is wearing a blue, white, and green tennis shirt. The shirt has several patterns, with the predominant one being blue and green stripes on a white background. His left short sleeve is basically a navy blue with a turquoise patch on it. The shoulder is almost all white. A. has his two shirt buttons undone, and it is open. Andrè's hands are gripping the racquet one over the other. His hands are plain except for the gold ring on his right little finger. The ring is a gold band with a perpendicular piece on top.The main impression that I get from the images described above, is one of intense concentration that has led to a high level of competence without having given up one's individuality.
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The highlighted sentence above reiterates the author's main impression. This repetition helps remind the reader of your overall purpose.
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A big jaunty red X separates Andrè picture from the text. The X is leaning back on its left leg. It reminds me of the old Grateful Dead symbol where the hipster is swinging his pocket watch as he walks, with the "keep on truckin'" slogan below.
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This is a great section because it truly captures the action and flare of the visual image. Once again, careful phrasing and word choice will make your description come alive for your reader.
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The text starts with a slanted "EXPRESS YOURSELF!" at the top. The X is in red, all of the other letters are in bolded black. The impression I get from this line is one of excitement, action, and bravado.
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The highlighted sentence above reiterates the author's main impression. This repetition helps remind the reader of your overall purpose.
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The next line is level but is also is in bold print, and it conveys a sense of order and conformity. There is a single blank space and then the text begins in earnest. The first line of the first paragraph encourages individuality, by not being dull and by doing whatever you want. The second line introduces the product. The rest of the paragraph lists features, and ends with an emotional appeal. The next paragraph starts with another appeal to individuality, and then describes the autofocus feature.
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The use of the transitions "first line," "second line," "rest of the paragraph," and "the next paragraph" establishes a pattern in the text. These transitions offer visual cues for your reader so he or she can imagine what the ad looks like.
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The paragraph following explains the focus dial. Immediately to the left of the text is a picture of the dial. It has lettering and icons on it. The next line describes the light metering system. The last paragraph lists the lenses. The bottom right leg of the red x separates the text from a picture of the camera itself.
The camera is photographed from a position above and to the right. It is a frontal view. The camera is black except for the white lettering and the one lone red X. There is also a red button which I believe is the lens release. It has a flash attachment on top. The film cartridge goes in on the right side of the camera. There are three buttons to the left of the lens. There is a dial to the right on top.
Below the camera are the words "EOS" in white, above "REBELX", which is also in white, except for the X., which is in red. About an inch below that is the name of the company in red, and their slogan below that is in white. Canon's slogan is " So advanced...it's simple", which suggests a tension between opposing values which has been reconciled positively.
This kind of tension is also evident throughout the whole ad, both in the pictures and text.
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The highlighted sentence above returns to the overview, but at a whole new level.
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The values that are in opposition are technology and humanness, and just as their slogan is able to find reconciliation, so does the ad. Not only is Andrè a unique individual , but he is also very good at what he does. The ad has a pattern of appealing to one's emotions and then to one's reason. It alternates like that throughout the whole text and even within the picture's images.
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In the paragraph above, the author makes good observations about tension and opposing values. Strong content along with strong organization will help produce an interesting paper.
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There is an implied cultural myth, I believe it is the "Hero's Journey" . The connection that I see is that in the H.J., the hero goes on a search and the thing that he finds is himself. What I'm trying to say, is that the hero realizes that the most important thing is that if he is true to himself, he can achieve anything. I think this ad does a very good job of presenting the product and making it seem exciting all at the same time.
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Nice reference to the storyline. In the conclusion, the writer begins to connect the individual and the product. The essay begins to break into analysis here. Having looked carefully at every detail, the writer is ready for the next step which will be to interpret the message.
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