Directions:
Look at the two websites. Read the About Us page for each, and then browse the websites, watch some videos, read some articles. Then, choose one website and determine the following:
- The purpose of the website.
- The audience of the website.
- The main argument/thesis of the website based on the target audience.
- The rhetorical (ethos, logos, pathos) methods and evidence the website uses to prove its argument to its target audience.
Once you have made these determinations, please write out your own thesis like the one we wrote on Thursday for the Crichton speech. Include the website's thesis, then your determination of whether or not the website succeeds or fails based on the target audience, and then add how the website uses or misuses the rhetorical elements to succeed or fail in their argument. You may also go with the "yes, but," or "no, but" approach. Refrain from making blatant judgments, either positive or negative.
Classmate reply by Friday, midnight:
Rather than making suggestions for the argument itself, make suggestions for how your classmate might strengthen words and phrases to create a stronger thesis.
On the www.peta.org website it shares the view of an organization trying to break the chains in animal treatment. Through videos of maltreatment and science based knowledge, peta uses both logos and pathos to get others to join their cause. Nevertheless, the images of cruel treatment towards animals may be overwhelming to some, and even unbelievable. For those who stomach through the violent and gruesome videos, the cause can clearly show through and bring out a need to take action for more ethical treatment of animals.
ReplyDeleteI think maybe the last sentence could be reworded to be more clear, and therefore more effective. The first half especially is a little confusing. Otherwise, a very clear, and accurate thesis.
DeleteHey Qade44, the peta website was hard to take on, I couldn't stick with it to make a judgement, so kudos. Your Thesis is direct and encompassing to their purpose, in the spirit of the exercise to strengthen words and phrases I would suggest that in your last sentence where you say, "the cause can clearly show through and bring out a need", you skip the "show through and bring out". So it reads, "the cause can clearly bring out a need to take action to for more ethical treatment of animals". Ok, cu.
DeleteIn the last sentence I had an obvious grammatical error in that I added "to", before "for", sorry. kev
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThe Humane Society's web page has an objective to educate the american public about animal rescue and care, animal advocacy, and pets and shelters. Through a variety of well written reports and heartening videos, the web page shows the Humane Society's commitment to safeguard animals in distress using numerous means. From their success with animal rescue operations and public campaigns to expose and prevent cruelty, their ethos lends credibility to the logos of the web page. The pathos comes naturally with the Humane Society's mission and leaves an impacting impression. Overall, the Humane Society's website shows in detail that despite their best efforts, cruelty towards animals is still a problem that necessitates public attention.
ReplyDeleteThe purpose of the Humane Societies website is to educate, inform,
ReplyDeleteand raise funds for the advocacy of animal rights. People with sensibilities toward animals would be the main viewers. It promotes
better laws to protect animals. In addition to campaigning to reform agricultural industries, the Humane Society provides animal
rescue and emergency response, investigating animal cruelty, and caring for animals through wildlife rehabilitation.
Its ethos is established from its longevity and purpose. Established in 1954, its total assets in 2012 were 249 million.
176 million went to operating and supporting expenses, resulting
in a four star(highest) rating for transparency and effectiveness.
It has a proven track record which implies logos. Animals are cute. That has pathos written all over it. Any negative stories would draw a massive response. The website succeeds in its approach by presenting itself as a positive and effective force in
the fight for animal rights.
Mark, Your thesis has variety of strong points that will give the audience clarity on the subject you are referring to. However, when you explain the ethos and pathos in your thesis your sentence comes off as answering questions verses connecting to the rest of your thesis. The thesis just need a little more clarity.
DeleteThe Humane Society of the United States is an animal rights group established in 1954. It's purpose is to educate Americans about the widespread animal cruelty occurring every day in the US. Articles and videos, like that of Chilly, the life-saving bulldog of Virginia are filled wrought with pathos. It is the persuasive appeal of choice for most animal rights groups, because it generally works. Showing scenes and pictures of mistreated animals is a fairly effective call to action. The audience of the website is animal rights activists, and other people who feel enough empathy toward these animals to do something about it. Their thesis is that every animal deserves a happy life, and they do their best to make sure this is what happens. The website succeeds in that they certainly have raised awareness, funds, and advocates to prevent animal cruelty.
ReplyDeleteAs I read through your thesis there was one sentence that did not make sense to me. It started from the word occuring in the second sentence and ended at pathos. The way it was worded seemed awkward and confusing. I think one way to help in writing is to read it out loud when you are finished writing it. This helps to catch those sentences that may seem out of place. I hope this helps.
DeletePETA's website offers an insight into the world of animal cruelty. PETA provides information on the types of abuse animals endure, and how the organization tries to stand up for the animals through either protesting or pursuing a legal route. PETA uses pathos and ethos by having famous people such as former President Bill Clinton, Bob Barker, and four former Miss USA winners, all of who believe strongly in PETA's cause, to spread their message around in hopes others will listen and help. PETA uses pictures and videos in their website on the various ways animals are being abused as a way to compel their audience to support the cause. Overall, the website provides examples of recent animal cruelty cases, and ways to help participate in whatever cause the organization is currently pursuing.
ReplyDeleteThe website does fulfill its purpose in getting the message out about animal cruelty; however, it uses way too much emotion which can take away from the main purpose.
Really good thesis and analysis, the only thing I would suggest is maybe delving a little more into why you think it's using too much emotion? How does it take away from the main purpose?
DeletePETA's website exposes the types of cruelty some animals are forced to endure while promoting better, humane treatment for animals. They argue why people should not use animals any way they please. The site is filled with information in the form of videos, images and text. PETA uses many famous faces to help spread the word on their cause. They also offer advice on how one can help the cause by changing their lifestyle up a bit. Their audience would most likely be those that care greatly about animals and how they are treated. The site does succeed due to the amount of information they offer, however by using so many celebrities to promote their cause they seem to use too much bandwagon, which could take away from their argument.
ReplyDeleteI'm not quite sure how to change it, but when I read the first line it sounds like the animals are forced into cruelty to promote better humane treatments. Maybe it's just me.
DeleteI like how you pointed out the ethos without using the word or credibility, but by saying who. Also, I like how you pointed out the over usage of celebrities and how it weakens their cause.
Good job Nikki!
The purpose of the website,humanesociety.org, is to educate individuals of the importance to provide a safe haven for animals, whether, domesticated or wild. The website effectively uses ethos and pathos to strategically persuade its viewers to appreciate the government funded safe haven for animals that have been abandoned, abused, and injured. The website is successful because it uses the images of animals that are in need, which appeal to individuals that are animal lovers.
ReplyDeletePossibly by explaining what ethos and pathos are used you could add to the strength of your thesis, however your points are very clear.
DeletePETA is a non-profit organization founded in 1980, in order to bring awareness to animal rights in hopes to stop cruel treatment to animals. PETA provides videos of abused animals, articles of the wrongful consumptions of animal products, as well as resources to avoid aiding in animal abuse. This organization successfully shows those who are compassionate towards animals, that animals are not ours to eat, experiment on, clothe ourselves with, or use for entertainment. Although PETA successfully touches the emotions of their audience, they weaken their augment when generalizing all people by using the word we through out the articles. By constantly using the word we, they are accusing everyone of cruel treatment to animals.
ReplyDeleteMagdelyn, the comment below is my response to your thesis, forgive the clumsiness of my computer skills. later
DeleteYeah this thesis is smart with a lot of pretty sentences. In the first sentence if you stopped at "animal rights," then bam, sold. I get you wanna talk about cruel treatment to animals but you describe this behavior in your second sentence. Sure the wording is different and illustrates a another point; but listen, "PETA is a non-profit organization founded in 1980, in order to bring awareness to animal rights."
ReplyDeleteAlthough if I read "hopes to stop cruel treatment to animals" over and over again it sounds reasonable - C U, Kevin
The humane Society web page is what truly interest me. The General audience for this page is animal lovers, and animal activist. The purpose of this page is to reach out to animal lovers and activist to protect animals and wildlife. It also uses examples of pathos when the designer shows pictures of animals looking sad with a rejection of farm bill quote at the bottom of the picture.The biggest that hits you as soon as the page comes up is donation, which i think the designer should put it at the bottom, because as soon as the word money circles in one mind, people tend to exit the page instead of reading it in its entirety.
ReplyDeleteI agree with making the donation part less evident. It does put more emphasize on collecting money versus the society's message.
DeleteThe purpose of PETA's webpage is to bring attention to the abuse of animals in food processing, clothing, entertainment and labs. The audience is animal lovers. Thesis of site is that animals have rights and deserve to have their best interests taken into consideration, regardless of whether they are useful to humans (direct quote). The site uses pathos heavily its shows a link titled "PETA supports gay adoption" reaching out to the gay portion of their target audience. It bombards the viewer with pictures of cute animals with big eyes to appeal to the animal lover inside.
ReplyDelete