Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Preliminary Thoughts Blog Post

 What I am thinking about analyzing in my first paper is one of BP commercials that I have seen on T.V. or one of the commercials made by the Government about the same topic: the oil spill. I found the commercials of both parties to be really misleading and lacking in the facts department. What was and still is being reported on the news about the oil spill and the investigation still going on about it, completely contradicts the commercials made by BP and the Government. BP insists that they are making great strides in the clean up process and that they are doing all they can to get the gulf back to the way it was for the people who live there. The Government insists that their fast actions and decision making saved the Gulf from a lot more oil that could've washed up on the shore. To me this is ridiculous. How can the Government possibly know what could've happened? And in the news, there were several reports that stated that Obama held off on sending several available skimmers. Also, other countries reportedly offered to help us with the clean up and our Government refused. These are all issues that I hope to effectively discuss and present using the rhetorical strategies in each commercial.


In both commercials I think the strongest rhetorical appeals are pathos and ethos. The position of the employee of BP speaking to the public can persuade some people that he knows what he is talking about and is telling the truth. Some people assume that a big company like BP must be right on the matter of clean up in the gulf. Also Obama narrates the Government commercial, so his position convinces a lot of people to believe whatever he is saying. Pathos is also addressed in both commercials. The speakers both say they are doing all they can and that they genuinely care about the people of the gulf. The viewers are tempted to feel compassion and understanding towards both parties.

My main roadblock that I need to overcome in writing my paper is organizing my arguments and thoughts and making sure I present them in a logical way.

2 comments:

  1. I agree with you that the BP oil spill is crazy and ridiculous. Their comments contradict the governments and they both are confused as to what they can say. I think it's great you're writing about such a present topic.

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  2. This is a really rhetorically charged topic, and I think it's a good one to use for this paper.

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