Tips on Writing an Analysis Essay on Advertisement

• Academic Assistance

It goes without saying that advertising is an indispensable part of our life, as different sorts of products are advertised all the time. No wonder students are often assigned to write analysis essays on advertisement. However, they are more reminiscent of advertisement reviews presented in a special format. To avoid confusion, familiarize yourself with the regulations on how to write this kind of task provided below.

Analysis Essays on Advertisement: Specifics

An analysis essay is a structured piece of writing that presents a detailed examination of a subject to uncover deeper meanings, relationships, and insights. In the context of an advertisement analysis essay, the writer focuses on dissecting the components of an advertisement to understand how it appeals to its target audience. The essay is anchored by a thesis statement, which articulates the main argument or perspective of the writer regarding the advertisement’s effectiveness or the strategies used to engage the audience. The goal of such a paper is to provide a comprehensive understanding of how the commercial communicates its message and persuades the target audience, what it tries to achieve, and how well it does so.

When writing your analysis essay sample, you need to create a clear introduction that includes a thesis statement, body paragraphs each focused on a different element of the advertisement, and a conclusion that summarizes your findings and reflects on the significance of the made analysis. Remember to support your points with evidence from the commercial and to cite any external sources appropriately.

Steps to Follow When Writing an Analysis Essay on Advertisement

1. Choose an advertisement. Select an advertisement that is both interesting and accessible. It should be clear and relevant to your essay’s topic, and appropriate for your intended audience. Consider various mediums – TV, radio, print, online, or social media – to find a suitable ad.
2. Analyze the advertisement. Examine the ad closely, considering its visuals, text, and any other elements that contribute to its overall message and impact. Take notes on your initial reactions and thoughts.
3. Write your thesis statement. Craft a thesis statement that encapsulates the main argument of your essay. It should reflect what you believe the advertisement conveys and how effectively it reaches its target audience.

Example of a thesis statement: “The advertisement relays a message saying that a real man is not only attractive but also confident by smelling heavenly. Here, the emotional appeal aims to exert an impact on women who value self-assured men.”

4. Write an introduction. In this part, you should set the stage for your analysis. As the readership is not always well-informed about the advertised product, make sure that the ad includes a detailed description of the product and its history. An effective advertisement explains why the advertised product surpasses all other options in the market. Remember to begin this section with a hook to capture readers’ interest and end it with a thesis statement.
5. Prepare body paragraphs. Each body paragraph should focus on one aspect of your analysis. For example:

• Paragraph 1: Discuss the product and how it is presented in the advertisement.
• Paragraph 2: Analyze the target audience and how the ad appeals to them.
• Paragraph 3: Examine the message conveyed by the advertisement.
• Paragraph 4: Evaluate the strategies used to deliver the message and persuade the audience.

6. Write a conclusion. Your conclusion should restate your thesis statement and summarize the main points of your analysis. It should also reflect on the significance of your findings and possibly suggest areas for further research or consideration. Additionally, you should mention whether the objectives have been attained.

Example of a conclusion: The old spice advertisement is powerful, as it makes a favorable impression on audience persuading it that smelling great attracts people’s attention. The concept of sexuality appeals to both women and men. The old spice ad has all the ingredients for a successful commercial: a perfect attractive fit man will evoke women’s emotions, making them want their men to look and smell like the man from the advertisement. Undoubtedly, such an approach to creating ads will considerably enhance sales.

7. Revise and edit your essay. Review your essay for clarity, coherence, accuracy, and completeness. Ensure that it follows the proper format, structure, and citation style. Check it for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and other errors. Consider getting feedback from someone else to gain a fresh perspective.

By following these steps, you’ll be able to construct a well-organized and insightful advertisement analysis essay. Remember to support your analysis with evidence from the ad and to maintain a clear and logical flow throughout your essay. Let’s check all these steps in details.

Selecting an Advertisement

By carefully selecting an advertisement that meets these criteria, you set a solid foundation for your advertisement analysis essay. This initial step will guide your research and analysis, ultimately leading to a well-argued and insightful essay.

Criteria to Analyze the Ad

• The product or service being advertised. What is the ad selling? What are the features, benefits, and drawbacks of the product or service? How does it compare to other similar products or services in the market?
• The target audience of the commercial. Who is the advertisement trying to reach and persuade? What are their needs, wants, values, and preferences? How does the ad appeal to them?
• The message of the advertisement. What is the main idea or claim that the advertisement is making? What is the tone and mood of the advertisement? What is the intended effect of the advertisement on the audience?
• The strategies of the advertisement. How does the advertisement use various elements, such as language, images, sounds, colors, logos, slogans, testimonials, etc., to convey its message and persuade its audience? What are the strengths and weaknesses of these strategies?

Write Your Thesis Statement

Writing a thesis statement for an advertisement analysis essay is a crucial step in your essay writing process. A thesis statement is a concise and clear summary of your main argument or evaluation of the advertisement. It should state whether you think the advertisement is effective or not, and why. Here are some tips on how to write a thesis statement for an advertisement analysis essay sample:

• Identify the product or service, the target audience, the message, and the strategies of the advertisement. These are the main components of any ad, and they can help you formulate your thesis statement. For example, if you are analyzing a Nike ad that features a famous athlete, you can identify the product as Nike shoes, the target audience as sports fans, the message as “Just do it”, and the strategies as celebrity endorsement, motivational slogan, and dynamic visuals.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of the advertisement based on your criteria and evidence. You should have a clear and specific opinion on whether the advertisement achieves its goal of persuading, informing, or entertaining its audience. You should also support your opinion with evidence and examples from the ad itself or from other sources. For example, you can say that the Nike ad is effective because it appeals to the emotions, values, and aspirations of its target audience, and you can provide examples of how the ad does so.
• Write your thesis statement in one or two sentences at the end of your introduction. Your thesis statement should be concise, clear, and coherent. It should also be debatable, meaning that someone could disagree with it and provide a different perspective. For example, your thesis statement could be: “The Nike ad featuring Serena Williams is an effective advertisement because it uses a celebrity endorsement, a motivational slogan, and dynamic visuals to appeal to the emotions, values, and aspirations of sports fans.”

Thesis Statement Example for an Advertisement Analysis Essay

“The advertisement constructs a narrative that equates the essence of masculinity with a distinctive fragrance, suggesting that the quintessential man is defined not only by his visual appeal but also by an air of robust confidence. Targeting an audience that cherishes the archetype of the self-assured male, the advertisement strategically employs emotional appeal to influence the purchasing decisions of women who are drawn to this ideal.”

This thesis statement sets the stage for an advertisement analysis essay that will examine how the ad targets its audience and uses emotional appeal to convey its message.

Introduction of an Advertisement Analysis Essay

Remember to maintain a clear and concise style throughout your introduction, ensuring that each sentence leads logically to the next.

The Body Section

As it has been stated above, each of the body paragraph should focus on one aspect of the ad, i.e. the product’s presentation, the target audience’s response, the underlying message, or the persuasive strategies employed. This means that you should not try to cover everything in one paragraph, but rather divide your analysis into different sections. For example, you could have a paragraph that discusses how the product is shown in the ad, such as its features, benefits, or appearance. Another paragraph could examine how the ad appeals to the emotions, values, or needs of the potential customers, and how they might react to the ad. A third paragraph could explore what the ad is trying to communicate, such as its purpose, goal, or claim. Finally, a fourth paragraph could evaluate the techniques that the ad uses to persuade the audience, such as logos, ethos, pathos, or rhetorical devices. By focusing on one aspect of the ad per paragraph, you can provide a clear and coherent analysis that supports your thesis statement.

Conclusion of an Advertisement Analysis Essay

Remember, your conclusion is the last part of your essay that the reader will see, so it should be memorable and convincing. It’s also a chance to leave the reader with something to ponder over, perhaps a question or a thought about how advertising influences our daily lives.

Revise and Edit Your Essay

Revising and editing your essay is a crucial step in the writing process. Here’s a guide to help you refine your analysis essay:

Step 1: Big Picture Review

• Purpose: Ensure your essay fulfills its intended purpose. Revisit your thesis statement and confirm that each paragraph supports it.
• Organization: Check the logical flow of paragraphs. Make sure you’ve defined terms and provided necessary background information before delving into details.

Step 2: Paragraph-Level Evaluation

• Coherence: Each paragraph should have a clear topic sentence and all sentences should contribute to the paragraph’s main point.
• Unity: Assess if all paragraphs and points fit together smoothly to support your overall thesis.

Step 3: Detail Polishing

• Grammar and punctuation: Correct any grammatical errors and ensure punctuation is used correctly.
• Clarity: Clarify any ambiguous statements and ensure your meaning is clear.

Additional Tips

• Take a break: Distance can bring clarity. Take a break before revising to look at your work with fresh eyes.
• Peer review: Have someone else read your essay. They might catch errors or provide valuable feedback you might have missed.
• Read aloud: Reading your essay out loud can help you catch awkward phrasing or run-on sentences.

Remember, revising is not just about fixing errors, but also about improving the clarity, coherence, and overall quality of your writing.

Final Thoughts

In the intricate dance of analysis, we have traversed the realm of advertisement, dissecting its layers with surgical precision. Our journey has revealed the multifaceted nature of advertising, from the allure of its visuals to the subtlety of its messaging. As we draw this exploration to a close, we reaffirm our thesis: that to truly comprehend an advertisement’s impact, one should engage in a holistic examination of its components.

In summary, the analysis essay sample on ad stands as a testament to the power of critical thinking. It challenges us to look beyond the surface, to question, and to understand the profound influence of advertisements on society. As we conclude, let us carry forward the insights gleaned from this exercise, applying them to the broader discourse on media, marketing, and the human condition.

Related Blog Posts from category "Academic Assistance"

How to Get Ready for the Forthcoming Exams

10 Things You Can Do to Fail Your Exams

Advice for Better Productivity

Pros and Cons of Hiring Someone to Write Your Essay

How to Become a Professional Technical Writer