Government Funding for Medical Research: What's the right amount?

In the article "Race for Medical Cure Also a Contest of Funds", writer Daniel Q. Haney highlights the federal government's spending on varying physical illnesses, such as cancer and AIDS. The article, which was written in 1992, states that the government funded about $2 billion each for cancer and AIDS, despite the number of casualties from cancer being approximately 25 times higher to that of AIDS. The writer suggests that a major factor to AIDS receiving so much funding, aside from its "clear health emergency," has much to do with advocacy from "single-disease pressure groups." Several people with varying opinions on the matter are interviewed in this article, with particular emphasis on whether the funding used to find a cure for AIDS is too high or too low.

To Breach or not to Breach?

According to an article on Life & Health Library by Kim Oppenheimer and Greg Swanson, published in February of 1990, the law has required physicians to “breach confidentiality” when threatened with violence on others or the patient himself. This is required to protect the general public from harm. However, often patients are not well-informed as to which information will be disclosed and there are many gray areas. For example, should the physician disclose information on male “extra-marital” affairs to his spouse? In this case, one article implies that physicians attempt to withhold information from their spouse but suggest health checkups – kind of breaching, but not really. This is one of many responses to confidentiality breaching.

Organic vs. Conventional food

Eating organic and "natural" foods is often equated with a healthy lifestyle in advertisements ( see Kashi blogpost). This is a controversial topic, with some saying there are no conclusive health benefits to eating organic over conventionally grown food.

The article Nutritional Differences in Organic versus Conventional Foods: And the Winner Is... appears on Scientific American's website as a blog post. It sets out to clear up the controversy between organic vs. conventional foods, but ends up saying as of now the results are inconclusive because of extreme variability in the studies that are meant to evaluate health differences between organic and conventional foods.

None the less, In the article The Truth About Organic Foods on RedBook's website advises readers to go organic if the can afford it based on the advice on a website representing Farmers Markets. This is a biased source, because Farmers' Markets often sell organic produce.

Vitamin G. Daily Health and Fitness Blog, Should Diet Commercials be regulated like booze or tobacco ads. The writers stance is a little more than now. They believe that taking diet ads off the air wont cure eating disorders or bad body images, but overtime the regulation will increase more body diversity in commercial. Other hopes include decreasing the use of photo shop. With Regulation commercials will produce more responsible ads. "They're going to help create a sea change in the way little girls and young women feel about themselves. When you start tallying all the little different changes up, that's when I think you start to see a real difference." The article highlights that issue of strictness of commercial regulation.

Who should define Mental Illness?

Mental Illness is a term that is widely used to classify people who stray from what is normal. In the article, "Inside The battle to Define Mental Illness," Al Frances says that mental illness is, "virtually impossible to define precisely with bright lines at the boundaries." So we ask ourselves, Who should be the ones to define this interesting term? Frances argues in the article that the APA, or American Psychological Association, has the right to define this term but if there work proves to be "disastrous," he feels that it will lead to a change in who can define mental illness. It makes sense for the APA to define this term because it seems that this organization will have the most knowledge on the subject, but maybe others feel they have more of right to define this controversial term.

Is high fructose corn syrup considered a natural product?

According to a article on foodnavigator-usa.com titled "HFCS is not natural, says FDA," the FDA has not formally defined the term "natural" so that it can be properly placed on labels containing high fructose corn syrup. A representative from the FDA informed foodnavigator-usa.com that they object to placing the term 'natural' on products containing high fructose corn syrup. The article then goes on to inform readers that the FDA currently does not restrict the use of the term natural, except on certain products. But using the term 'natural' is misleading to consumers because the article also says that the term 'All Natural' is the third most frequent claim on products and the fourth most popular on beverages. So it is a controversial issue as to whether high fructose corn syrup is considered a natural product. This article describes some reasons why high fructose corn syrup should not be considered natural.

"Physical Education in America's Public Schools"

Childhood obesity has been an issue of concern in America for the past several years. In "Physical Education in America's Public Schools," from the University of Michigan website, Kathy Speregen outlines the history of the issue and emphasizes that it is a growing issue. She notes the effects and dangers of childhood obesity: "Children who are overweight or obese experience many symptoms which effect their learning in schools. Not only do weight problems lead to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, joint problems, asthma, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and diabetes, but children who are overweight miss as much as four times as much school as children of normal weight." These are just a few of the several ways obesity negatively affects children. Speregen offers some solutions to the issue. She asserts that state legislations are responsible for being proactive about the problem. Speregen claims: "Daily physical education has declined and the prevalence of being physically active during physical education classes have remained the same. Other ideas include a few states that are considering measuring each students Body Mass Index and/or requiring schools to send a health report to parents, similar to an academic report."

High Cholestrol in America

The issue of high cholesterol in America is one that affects more than 98 millions Americans over the age of 20. So when looking at the controversy of what can Americans do to lower their cholesterol, my research led me to the American Diabetes Association. The ADA is "leading the fight against the deadly consequences of diabetes and fighting for those affected by diabetes".

The ADA recommends 5 steps that may lower your cholesterol: quit smoking, lose weight if needed, exercise, eat a low-fat and low cholesterol diet, and increase monounsaturated fats in your diet. The final recommendation the ADA makes is to talk to your doctor about prescription cholesterol-lowering medication.

Rebuild the Doctor-Patient Relationship

The article, "Rebuilding the Doctor-Patient Relationship," was published by Rob Mitchum on The University of Chicago Medical Center's blog. This article explains how the doctor-patient relationship remains important to everyone involved in the medical community. In the article, a medical student, Rebecca Levine, said, "In this increasingly technological world, we have many diagnostic and therapeutic tools that are very advanced. But that doesn’t mean we can lose sight of the most important aspect in medicine, which is our patients." The doctor-patient relationship cannot be lost in this new age of technological advancement, and this article explains how a healthy relationship between doctor and patient can be beneficial to everyone.

Should people eat organic foods?

According to this article in a personal blog by Chrys Ostrander, there are at least ten concrete reasons to eat organic foods. These reasons include environmental, personal health and overall energy saving benefits. She utilizes pathos in her argument by posting a picture of her own child eating a seemingly organic salad at the top of the page and making a specific appeal to parents. She says, "Children are, as a rule, more vulnerable to toxins than are adults...Children, we hope, do have many healthy years ahead of them." She believes that organic foods are safer, more nutritious and can actually prevent harm to the environment, such as soil erosion. She also combats the classic argument of organic foods being more expensive by saying that on a larger scale, the conventionally grown products are costing more money. She also makes several points related to the farmers. According to the author, organic farmers save energy, innovate on-farm research, and promote bio-diversity. This is just one example of an argument regarding whether or not people should eat organic foods.

A Professional's Opinion on the Battle of Who Should Define Mental Illness

According to blog post summary of Gary Greenbergs article "Inside the Battle to Define Mental Illness," published December 27, 2010, definitions of certain illnesses are starting to change according to the writer of the DSM-IV. The DSM-IV is the book of all mental illnesses; this book pretty much defines every mental illness that you can think of, and is used my many physicians and psychiatrists to diagnose mental illnesses. The writer of the DSM-IV, Al Frances, notes in this article that some of these mental illnesses are starting to be questioned by psychoanalysts. Since many physciatric patients are questioning these physciatrists/physician diagnosis, the authority of these proffessionals is declining. The article suggests that the DSM may soon be "revolutionized or rendered obsolete."

Stricter FDA Regulations on Drug Advertisements

Even though the FDA has implemented regulations on drug advertisements, it seems that most drug companies circle around these laws in order to promote the advantages of their drug, while distracting audiences from the possible health risks.

According to a report by Shreema Mehta in The New Standard, published in August 2007, states that although companies are required to submit their advertisements to the FDA, "the agency does not review them before they are released to the public." Actually, according to a report from a Government Accountability Office, the FDA only reviews a small portion of these submitted drug advertisements with an inconsistent criteria that is followed to determine whether it meets FDA approval.

With the challenges that the FDA has received regarding drug advertisements, the FDA is now going through Congress in hopes that they will begin to charge drug companies to help fund the FDA approval process. If this is passed, FDA is believing that they will be receiving $6 million from these drug companies. It is hopeful that with these additional funds coming into the FDA, that the process of approval will be stricter, making it harder for companies to find their way around the already standing laws and regulations.

Implementing Fitness in the Schools

Newshour Extra has designed a personal fitness plan that they hope to implement in the school system. The need for students to exercise a physically healthy lifestyle in the US is not being implemented the correct way. This fitness programs serves to improve this issue. The programs main goal is to provide an avenue for students to participate in and establish life long health and fitness habits.

There are a series of 12-15 classes for the students, each with a series of learning objectives that will be utilized in the activities. The overall goal of the entire course is that the students will create there own fitness plan to be implemented in their daily lives in the future.

Having a Healthier Diet!

According to Easy Tips for Planning Healthy, Maya W. Paul, Melinda Smith, and Jaenne Segal give their top 10 researched tips for having a healthier diet. This article was published on a nonprofit website called HELPGUIDE.org that provides expert advice for health related issues. This article gives 1o tips for planning a healthy diet and "sticking to it." They start off by discussing ways to set up yourself for success. Tip 2 says that moderation is key! It is important also no only what you eat, but how you eat. It is stated to, "Fill up on colorful fruits and vegetables" and "Eat more healthy carbs and whole grains." Fats are allowed but make sure to enjoy the healthy fats and avoid the unhealthy fats. Protein needs to be put into perspective, and understand all of the benefits that come with proteins. It is essential to add Calcium rich foods to your diet for strong bones. Limiting sugars and salts is crucial to having a healthier diet. Make sure to plan quick and easy meals ahead so that you are able to stay focused and unstressed about eating healthy. If you are choosing to try and have a healthier diet, these tips are sure to lead you in the right direction. They are all very well researched facts and by using them you will overall benefit your diet.

Childhood Obesity Prevention

According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, seventeen percent of the nation's children are overweight. While many argue that every individual has the freedom to live and eat as they please, the problem of childhood obesity is causing an array of serious health problems within the youth and is costing the U.S. an estimated $150 billion per year in treatment for obesity related illnesses and conditions. Currently, the impact of prevention efforts seems to be somewhat ineffective, and the only way to fix this is to involve everybody. The US Department of Health and Human Services has provided checklists for parents/guardians, teachers, and the community in order to take steps to provide a healthier future for our nation's youth.

FTC Argues for Mail-order Drugs to Keep Costs Down

According to a report by Lynne Taylor in the PharmaTimes, published in August of 2011, the New York State Assembly has passed the Anti-Mandatory Mail Order Pharmacy Bill (Bill 5502-B). This Bill, “which would allow patients to choose where to buy their prescription drugs would” also have negative consequences according to the Federal Trade Commission: it would “reduce competition, leading to higher costs and, potentially, reduced consumer access to medicines.” The National Community Pharmacists Association wants the bill to become law, but the Federal Trade Commission argues that this law would drive up costs for New Yorkers who need prescriptions, since the bill limits access to cheaper mail-order pharmacies. The FTC believes that mail-order pharmacies provide the consumer choice and competitive costs that can keep drug costs down for patients. This is just one position on the controversial of question of how to reduce prescription drug costs.

1988 McDonald's Salad Commercial

Do you think McDonald's salads are healthy? Believe it or not but, McDonalds has been advertising their salads for over 20 years in a manner to portray them as the healthy choice. In this 1988 McDonalds ad, these salads are portrayed as the healthy choice for active lifestyles through the use of many visual and audio stimuli. Whether this salads are actually healthy is debatably as different individuals may have different idles of what is healthy and some point to the McDonald’s Nutrition Guide as proof that the salads aren’t that much better than the other meals. Regardless, McDonald's ad portrays these salads has healthy and the ad can be broken down into three component mediums: the voice over jingle, the display of active individuals, and the images of fresh fruits and vegetables.

First, the voice over jingle in this ad is a strong medium of persuasion in this ad. The McDonalds ad starts with a women’s voice giving the command to “Listen”, this grabs the reader’s attention and after a few seconds of a visual montage gives the command to “Listen to the taste”. This is a strong use of logos as the logical argument to listen to the taste of the salad as a way to lead the audience to the conclusion about the appetizing nature of the salad. This also conveys that their salad is just as appetizing as another other foods. This is important because with any food product the way it tastes is important to the consumer and will be. In addition, the ad jingle repeats the phrase “good times” with the added phrase of “fresh all day at my place” when referring to McDonalds locations. This is a pathetic appeal as it conveys a sense of harmony and enjoyment when eating the salad and referring the McDonalds’ as “my place” gives the added benefit of making the store locations more inviting and home feeling. This is significant to the ad as making a “healthy” food product enjoyable would be viewed favorably by an audience looking to make healthy food choices.

Second, the montage of active individuals plays an important part to the overall effect of the ad. The display of individuals riding their bikes, being outside in workout cloths, and eating the salad with a basketball at hand all establishes a situated ethos as individuals that live active life style will tend to know what healthy food choices to make. This is important to the ad because it gives the McDonalds salad also a sense that it is truly healthy because individuals that are active and look healthy are eating the salad. There is also a pathetic appeal as individuals eating the salad seem to be happy and enjoying themselves like the family at the end of the ad and the women clacking her umbrella against the fence. This gives the added presumption that eating the salad will make you happy along with being healthy which would entice a viewing audience that is not happy with what they are eating to consider a McDonalds’ salad in order to feel happy and healthy

Lastly, the use of fresh fruits and vegetables images as transitions between scenes of the ad provides important rhetorical appeals to the ad. More specifically, the tossing of wet tomatoes, peppers, and lettuce establish a sense of invented ethos with the salad as it conveys that wholesome and nutrient dense ingredients are used in making the salad. This adds to the overall credibility to the salad that it is healthy as the ingredients look healthy. This aspect also provides a logical appeal as the images of the fresh fruits and vegetables lead the audience to the conclusion that the same fresh fruits and vegetables are used in the salads they are purchasing as a result these salads are fresh and healthy. This important because it attracts health based consumers to McDonalds for their on-the-go salad needs.

In the end, this 1988 McDonalds ad used audio and visual stimuli to express their rhetorical argument about how healthy their salads are. The air date of this ad also shows that healthy food phenomenon isn’t just a recent occurrence but has had a few decades to develop to what it is today. Although one could argue whether these salads are actually healthy, McDonalds likes to portray them that way to attract the newly forming health consumer base. Ultimately it’s up the consumer to decide if what McDonalds has to offer is healthy by their individual standards.

Cheerios Advertisement

The Cheerios ad above is the most basic and easily understandable advertisement regarding a product whose main message is its benefits to your health. The ad is very simple so the uses of rhetoric can be easily seen and observed for analysis. This advertisement is found on many Cheerios cereal boxes and because of the message of lowing cholesterol we can conclude that the intended audience is an older person with high unhealthy cholesterol levels. The ad is a brightly colored ad with high contrast images including, the Cheerios brand name, and the description of the cereal being “Toasted Whole Grain Oat Cereal, the “you can lower your cholesterol 4% in 6 weeks” message, and a bowl of cereal in the shape of a heart in the background. You can also make out the smiling faces of what looks like a father and his son. By using these images the Cheerios Company is able to use logos, ethos, and pathos to make the argument that their cereal improves your health by lowering your cholesterol and indirectly states that someone who is in better health is happier.

The logos appeal is one that is easily found and can almost be said as common sense. The message saying “you can lower your cholesterol 4% in 6 weeks” is a great example of syllogism. Since the intended audience knows that high cholesterol can eventually cause cardiovascular and heart disease, which is the leading cause of death, then a cereal that promises to lower these fatal levels then they can conclude that if they buy and eat the cereal then their cholesterol levels will decrease.

The ethos appeal deals with whether or not the Cheerios Company is worthy of our attention, and because of the professionalism of the advertisement the intended audience may find Cheerios worthy. The hope of the Cheerios company is that some of the intended audience will conclude that if they have the money and resources to create a professional advertisement that is as clear and concise then they have the money to do proper research and thus a trustworthy source. And in this way they succeed. If this advertisement didn’t look professional then I wouldn’t want it but since it does I have an inclination to buy it and I’m not even part of the target audience.

Lastly the pathetic appeal deals with the audience’s emotions. The most generic example of this is the color choosing of the ad. Yellow is a very happy bright color that has proven to make people feel happier. Accompanying the bright yellow color is the heart shaped bowl that is used to promote feelings that are commonly associated with the heart; these including love, compassion, happiness, ext. Both of these parts of the advertisement is important in making a persuasive advertisement but it’s the picture of what looks to be a father and his son in the background that provides the greatest pathetic appeal.

In conclusion, because of the good use of logos, ethos, and pathos this Cheerios ad is both persuasive to its target audience and a good example of rhetoric appeal. The health benefits of this advertisement are so clearly stated and along with the bright colors and pathetic appeal the advertisement is extremely persuasive and effective in reaching their target audience. So much so that those outside the target audience, people including myself, find it persuasive as well. I find myself craving Cheerios now.

Muscle Milk Advertisement

Muscle Milk is a very well known protein drink among people who exercise and want better health for their lives. I drink muscle milk daily and found this ad on the internet. I figured it would be an appropriate advertisement to talk about promoting a healthier lifestyle. Muscle Milk is known to help you get stronger and evolve your body to a more pleasurable body type for your liking. Their slogan, “Drink. Evolve,” leads one to believe that if you drink this popular protein drink, you will see noticeable body changes and have a healthier lifestyle.

Their main argument says that if you drink their product, you will go from being a beer bellied “Tailgater,” to a ripped up, nice bodied, “Tail getter.” In other words you will go from not living a healthy lifestyle and drinking a lot of alcohol at tail gating events, to a person who is leading a healthier lifestyle and getting more women because you will have a nicer body. Because of this you can tell that this advertisement is highly directed towards men. This advertisement would probably not be very appealing to the women in any sense because they are talking about men getting women and also inferring that the men will get more ripped when they talk about changing body styles from the “tailgater,” to something more appealing to women.

This advertisement does a poor job using logical appeals. The ad does not provide the audience with any type of logical appeal. It does not use any examples or back up any of their claims with statistical information, they just rely on the audience to try their product to see the results. This might take away from the advertisement but since the ad is more directed towards men, the thought of transforming their body might be enough to get them to try the product.

This advertisement establishes ethos through the name of the product, “Muscle Milk.”This product is a very popular protein sports drink and is known nationwide. Many people have heard of this product and it is very well known so I feel that the name itself establishes a lot of ethos because of all of the major sports teams that use these products.

Lastly, the advertisement uses pathos by appealing to the men’s emotions to have a better body style and get all the women they want. I feel like the phrase, “From Tailgater to Tail Getter,” uses pathos to hit those typical male emotions to have a healthier body and attract a lot of women. I feel like this was a good use of pathos to attract the men to try their product.

In conclusion, I feel like this advertisement is very appealing to men. Women would probably shy away from this product because of this very masculine centered advertisement. I feel like they used a couple of the rhetorical strategies very effectively, but they could have done a little more to the plain ad. I also feel like this ad invokes the audience to believe that you don’t have to do anything else but drink their product and you will have a healthier body type but in reality you have to do a lot of training if one wants to change their body composition. Overall I thought this ad was pretty effective.

Works Cited

Tres Sugar. “Muscle Milk, the Drink Douchebags Reach For First!”, tressugar.com. 2009. October 16, 2011.

INTEGRIS Sleep Disorder Commercial

INTEGRIS Sleep Disorder Commercial

Oklahoma’s largest health care corporation known as INTEGRIS produces this commercial. The commercial advertises for people with sleeping problems to seek help at the Sleep Disorder Center of Oklahoma. I have had many sleeping problems since my start of college; therefore I felt it would be easy to find an ad that related to something I personally struggle with. The INTEGRIS sleep disorder commercial successfully incorporates the use of logos, pathos, and ethos into the ad to make people buy in to their health care corporation.

I will start off by explaining what logos this commercial uses to convince the audience that INTEGRIS is truly Oklahoma’s best Sleep Disorder treatment center. The commercials first statement starts off with a Medical Doctor at the Sleep Disorder Center telling the audience that we all need to get a good nights sleep, but that most people are not. The doctor then uses logos by telling some statistics when he states “80 percent of sleep disorders go undiagnosed.” This statistic could make one feel that they might possibly have some sort of sleep disorder with a percentage so high. A little bit later in the video the doctor claims that INTEGRIS is Oklahoma’s “long time leader in sleep medicine; So why suffer?” This statement would cause an audience member to believe that INTEGRIS will be able to cure any sleep disorder that you may have. The ending statement that the doctor makes is the real go getter. He wraps up the commercial by saying, “Sleep well. Your life depends on it.” A claim such as this would cause a person to think very highly of the importance of sleep and to get help immediately.

Next I will talk about some of the pathos that can be seen in this commercial. The commercial starts off by showing a man comfortably falling into his bed to get ready for a good nights sleep. The next clip shows him tossing and turning, walking around the room, and sitting on the edge of his bed in complete frustration. These scenes might closely resemble some of the long frustrating nights of sleep many people have to endure with sleeping disorders. The medical doctor then tells the audience how INTEGRIS is the leading program in Oklahoma for sleep medicine, so why suffer. The clip that follows shows the man sleeping like a baby with his wife at his side. This use of emotional appeals would cause the viewer to see the difference before and after treatment with INTEGRIS.

Finally I will explain the use of ethos seen throughout the INTEGRIS commercial. The doctor speaking throughout the video can be seen as credible because of his title as a licensed Medical Doctor at the leading health corporation in all of Oklahoma. Another form of ethos can be seen when the statement Oklahoma’s Longest Accredited Sleep Center” pops up on the screen in all capital letters. Finally just the fact that INTEGRIS is Oklahoma’s largest health corporation gives the commercial credibility for viewers.

The Meth Project

In a college setting, drugs are a part of everyday life. For many students, this is the first time that they can “experiment” with substances of abuse, without the fear of parental repercussions, or societal judgment. This facet of college life is very well understood, and taken full advantage of by some. Amphetamine, prescribed as Adderall or Vyvanse, is a socially acceptable “study drug,” used without hesitation for its ability to promote energy and focus. Regardless of the many health risks associated with prolonged amphetamine use and its high addiction potential, even the smartest students turn to the drug just to gain an academic edge. The related drug, methamphetamine, induces the same effects as amphetamine, but on a colossal scale, culminating in a powerful, euphoric rush. This drug, however, is understood to be a hazard and socially unacceptable. This begs the question, why is meth, a substance akin to amphetamine, not abused by college students? The answer is not simple, however, it is in part due to the influential educational campaigns surrounding the risks of methamphetamine use.

The Meth Project is a methamphetamine use prevention program, whose “…core message, Not Even Once®, speaks directly to the highly addictive nature of Meth.” The goal of The Meth Project is to educate young adults about the inherent dangers of meth use, in order to arm them with the knowledge necessary to make informed decisions about the substance. The Montana Meth Project started off the campaign, producing television spots and other public service announcements, warning young adults about the potential adverse affects of meth use. This television ad, entitled Shadow, was part of the Montana campaign.

I believe that the appeals to pathos found in the television spot contribute to a majority of its efficacy, especially due to the intensity of the scene. The advertisement is extremely effective: so much so, that it is haunting; the slogan, Not Even Once®, lingers on the mind, even long after the ad is over. Though the spot lasts a mere 31 seconds, it feels like minutes. The brilliance lies in the advertisement’s ability to take advantage of the unexpected. Everything that occurs in the scene is completely unexpected: the son’s delusional thinking and abnormal behavior, his subsequent violence, and the resulting paranoia-induced rampage. This promotes a chilling tone and jarring atmosphere, evoking feelings of anxiety and discomfort, thereby leaving the audience perturbed (to say the least). The latter exemplifies one of the many, successful pathetic appeals employed by the ad. Other appeals to pathos include the intense emotions portrayed by the actors in the scene. Their actions and reactions create an emotionally tremulous atmosphere, encouraging the audience’s sympathy. The climax of the scene promotes the highest level of pathetic appeal, when the boy chases after his mother with the bat, screaming, “Who are you?!…I’ll kill you!” In some audience members, fear may even be evoked, which further polarizes the negative feelings surrounding the scene. Additionally, the age and relative socioeconomic status of the boy and his mother allow the audience to relate, promoting even more sympathy. These emotional appeals contribute to the audience’s conclusion that methamphetamine use, even once, is a very negative decision, with very severe consequences.

Although appeals to pathos are the most intense, without appeals to ethos, the ad would lend no credibility. The advertisement is clearly against methamphetamine use, and this is bolstered via the association with The Montana Meth Project. Another ethical appeal arises from the production value of the TV spot. The quality of the advertisement promotes believability, and therefore, credibility. The inclusion of a website address furthers the ad’s credibility, as a source for more information provides access for any audience query. If any of the advertisement’s claims or the purpose of The Montana Meth Project comes into question, access to more information about the subject is clearly provided. Based on the nature of the advertisement and its production, it maintains strong credibility.

The ad employs logical appeal, convincing the audience that use of methamphetamine can lead to scenes of delusional violence. This allows the audience to the draw the conclusion that meth use should be avoided. The main source of this logical appeal is derived from the narrator. When juxtaposed to the chaotic scene, the narrator’s blasé statement promotes the former conclusion: “This isn’t normal; but on Meth, it is.” The matter-of-fact tone, combined with the association of this behavior with meth use, promotes the logical conclusion that using meth is inherently wrong.

Combining the appeals of pathos, ethos, and logos, we can get a sense of the effectiveness of the advertisement as a whole. Without any one of the appeals, the young adults watching this ad would not be fazed by its message. The powerfulness of the advertisement’s message is promoted by the specific alteration of the audience’s emotions, beliefs, and logic. Herein lies an answer to the prior question concerning our negative perception of meth use, but blatant acceptance of amphetamine use: the educational campaigns regarding the dangers of meth use are very efficacious, whereas, the dangers of amphetamine use are not even publicized. Drugs promote a real danger to our health and society, depending on their action and addictive potential. Shocking, realistic advertisements, like those produced by The Meth Project, are very effective at imparting the message of a drug’s potential harms, providing young adults the knowledge necessary to avoid drug use, if ever the situation arises. Hopefully in the future, we as a society will reevaluate what drugs are deemed acceptable, aided in part by jarring ad campaigns. Clearly, there is room for improvement, as drugs like alcohol and Adderall continue to run rampant, only promoted by society’s indifference, and lack of serious intervention.

Ensure "TuneUp"

Has anyone seen the Ensure television commercial? The Ensure “Tune-up” was on television in 2009. Unlike other products promoted by Ensure, this product focuses on the immune system. The Ensure bottle in the refrigerator is plays the role of a police. He keeps the unhealthy food out of the fridge. The commercial is conveying to the audience that Ensure is watching their diet. This commercial educates and influences the way people think about health. This is proper nutrition helps support a healthy immune system. Through the use of logos, ethos and a bit of pathos, the Ensure commercial focuses on the nutrition factor of Ensure in order to sell the product and make the argument for its consumption.

Many vegetables including broccoli, carrot, and asparagus are shown in the fridge; these veggies provide a source of antioxidants, vitamin D, A and K. Fruits such as pears, apples, tomatoes also contain nutrients. These particular products contain fibers, vitamin C and many other vitamins. It is proven by science that these antioxidants and vitamins are beneficial to human health. “The Ensure police” promotes these healthy products via a logical appeal. If Ensure contains the same nutrients as fruits and vegetables, then why do people not drink it more often? This particular situation intends to get the audience to reason with their particular food choices. Drinking Ensure is like eating fruits and vegetables, which strengthen the immune system. According to Medline Plus, the immune system gains strength from minerals and vitamins; these substances synthesize proteins which are responsible for creating the cells in human bodies. As a result, it is evident that this commercial uses logos in order to sell the product; this aspect is what attracts consumers to the products.

On the Ensure bottle, the “immune balance to strengthen your immune system” is emphasized in the yellow circle. The brand name Ensure establishes ethos with the consumers. If consumers already hold a connection with these other products, then they may be willing to buy this new Ensure product. Although Abbott is mentioned or seen in the commercial, quickly saying this would add credibility to the product. Something else to notice is how the logo “Abbott A promise for life” powerfully creates credibility for the commercial. Abbott is a global health care company. As stated in Abbott website, “[we] devoted to discovering new medicines, new technologies and new ways to manage health.” Therefore, the Abbott logo on the bottle strongly conveys to consumers that this product is highly recommended and well tested by brightest scientists and technologies. Although the consumer may not completely know if this is true, this logo does a good job and making consumers feel good for trying this product.

In the commercial, the milk is pouring into a cup. It creates a delicious and appealing look for the product. This is a memorable image that will make people think of when they are hungry and/or thirsty. This is a connection to when many people are drinking milk; it simply evokes that thought of when people are at home. It is difficult to get consumers to dislike this. As a result, this aspect resorts appealing to the consumer’s emotions in order to sell the product. Near the end of the commercial, the Ensure police talks to the cupcake, “You’re better be grain,” This creates a sense of humor, a intelligent way to remind people what is healthy and what not. In a sense, this gets the audience to consider what is right and wrong. After presenting to logical case of why healthy eating is proper, it would be incorrect for the audience to eat a cupcake. It is assumed that the cupcake will not provide the essential nutrients that fruits and vegetables provide. As a result, the consumer should feel guilty for choosing a cupcake over Ensure. This is an effective tool because by appealing to the consumer’s morals, they will be more willing to use Ensure. In the last part of the commercial, the slogan of “Ensure Nutrition in Charge!” is reinforced once again by the dominant voice of the Ensure police. Again, this is a last method of appealing to the consumer’s emotions. With this comment, the product hopes that the customers feel protected when consuming this product.

Ensure commercial for its new Immune Balance formula is very effective in convincing adults to purchase the product. It demonstrates that each Ensure bottle contains vitamins and minerals that helps build up a person’s immune system. As a customer, I would consume this product. The commercial is convincing in telling me why it is effective, and it makes me feel guilty for not drinking this product. Not only that, the Ensure bottle is convenient because it is portable and can be consumed at anytime. It looks delicious, and it provides complete balanced nutrients for those who are always busy and do not have the time for a healthy meal. I think a pitfall to this commercial is that Ensure is not necessary keeping people from eating unhealthy food. Towards the end of the commercial, it is mentioned that Ensure is offered in chocolate flavor. According to what was presented, chocolate is not a healthy food. If the cupcake was criticized, then should not the chocolate also be banned? In a way, this lessens the credibility of the commercial. However, it is hard for the consumer to notice this because the commercial worked an argument where the nutritional component of Ensure is vigorously promoted.

Abbott. Abbott Laboratories, 2011. Web. Oct 2011.

http://www.abbott.com

"Immune system". MedlinePlus, 2011. National Institutes of Health. Web. Oct 2011. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/

Revision

Has anyone seen the Ensure television commercial? The Ensure “Tune-up” was on television in 2009. Unlike other products promoted by Ensure, this new formula milk works on the immune system. The Ensure bottle in the refrigerator is plays the role of a police. He keeps the unhealthy food out of the fridge. The commercial is conveying to the audience that Ensure is watching their diet. This commercial educates and influences the way people think about health. This is proper nutrition helps support a healthy immune system. Through the use of logos, ethos and a bit of pathos, the Ensure commercial focuses on the nutrition factor of Ensure in order to sell this milk bottle and make the argument for its consumption.

Many vegetables including broccoli, carrot, and asparagus are shown in the fridge; these veggies provide a source of antioxidants, vitamin D, A and K. Fruits such as pears, apples, tomatoes also contain nutrients. These particular products contain fibers, vitamin C and many other vitamins. It is proven by science that these antioxidants and vitamins are beneficial to human health. “The Ensure police” promote these healthy products via a logical appeal. If Ensure contains the same nutrients as fruits and vegetables, then why do people not drink it more often? This particular situation intends to get the audience to reason with their particular food choices. Drinking Ensure is like eating fruits and vegetables, which strengthen the immune system. According to Medline Plus, the immune system gains strength from minerals and vitamins; these substances synthesize proteins which are responsible for creating the cells in human bodies. As a result, it is evident that this commercial uses logos in order to sell the product; this aspect is what attracts consumers to the products.

On the Ensure bottle, the “immune balance to strengthen your immune system” is emphasized in the yellow circle. The brand name Ensure establishes ethos with the consumers. If consumers already hold a connection with these other products, then they may be willing to buy this new Ensure product. Although Abbott, a global health care company, is mentioned or seen in the commercial, quickly saying this would add credibility to the product. Something else to notice is how the logo “Abbott A promise for life” powerfully creates credibility for the commercial. As stated in Abbott website, “[we] devoted to discovering new medicines, new technologies and new ways to manage health.” Therefore, the Abbott logo on the bottle strongly conveys to consumers that this product is highly recommended and well tested by brightest scientists and technologies. Although the consumer may not completely know if this is true, this logo does a good job and making consumers feel good for trying this product.

In the commercial, the milk is pouring into a cup. It creates a delicious and appealing look for the product. This is a memorable image that will make people think of when they are hungry and/or thirsty. This is a connection to when many people are drinking milk; it simply evokes that thought of when people are at home. It is difficult to get consumers to dislike this. As a result, this aspect resorts appealing to the consumer’s emotions in order to sell the product. Near the end of the commercial, the Ensure police talks to the cupcake, “You’re better be grain,” This creates a sense of humor, a intelligent way to remind people what is healthy and what not. In a sense, this gets the audience to consider what is right and wrong. After presenting to logical case of why healthy eating is proper, it would be incorrect for the audience to eat a cupcake. It is assumed that the cupcake will not provide the essential nutrients that fruits and vegetables provide. As a result, the consumer should feel guilty for choosing a cupcake over Ensure. This is an effective tool because by appealing to the consumer’s morals, they will be more willing to use Ensure. In the last part of the commercial, the slogan of “Ensure Nutrition in Charge!” is reinforced once again by the dominant voice of the Ensure police. Again, this is a last method of appealing to the consumer’s emotions. With this comment, the product hopes that the customers feel protected when consuming this product.

Ensure commercial for its new Immune Balance formula is very effective in convincing adults to purchase the product. It demonstrates that each Ensure bottle contains vitamins and minerals that helps build up a person’s immune system. As a customer, I would consume this product. The commercial is convincing in telling me why it is effective, and it makes me feel guilty for not drinking this product. Not only that, the Ensure bottle is convenient because it is portable and can be consumed at anytime. It looks delicious, and it provides complete balanced nutrients for those who are always busy and do not have the time for a healthy meal. I think a pitfall to this commercial is that Ensure is not necessary keeping people from eating unhealthy food. Towards the end of the commercial, it is mentioned that Ensure is offered in chocolate flavor. According to what was presented, chocolate is not a healthy food. If the cupcake was criticized, then should not the chocolate also be banned? In a way, this lessens the credibility of the commercial. However, it is hard for the consumer to notice this because the commercial worked an argument where the nutritional component of Ensure is vigorously promoted.