basic questions for rhetorical analysis

Who is the Author/Speaker?:  The speaker in these Fruit Loops commercials is a typical speaker that has been heard in many Kellogg’s cereal commercials.

Ethos: What perspective and biases does the author bring to the text?  not only by the bright and colorful backgrounds, but through words from the alien, that Kellogg’s fruit loops cereal is the best cereal filled with the ultimate fruit flavor, and from the panic toucan and his nephews have when it is stolen, Kellogg’s is saying that Fruit loops are full of fruity flavor and full of nutrition . What does the author do within the text to establish credibility?  Toucan Sam is Kellogg’s fruit loops icon.  He is vibrant and when children see him, they associate him to the cereal.  Kellogg’s also establishes credibility because when showing the website for the children to get involved, they make sure they emphasize to ask parents for permission before getting on it.

What is his/her intention?  To persuade children to want this cereal, and for parents to allow their children to have it.  What does he or she hope to accomplish?  Kellogg’s hopes to keep the children’s attention by getting them involved in finding Toucan and then the stolen cereal through a website offered, and through extending the story line.  In the end they want the children to try the new cereal as a result of the fruit monster…but to keep buying fruit loops cereal.

What is the message?  That fruit loops is tasteful and good for you.  Can you summarize the argument?  The authors argument is that fruit loops is so good that even an evil alien from another planet will do anything he can to get its yummy taste…but in actuality fruit loops is so good that it can change the alien from evil and shellfish to a kind and sharing alien.                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Logos: What reason’s and evidence does he or she provide to prove this claim?  Using the alien desperate for the fruit taste of the fruit loops gives the audience the understanding that if an alien wants them, they must be good.  What basic claim is the author making?  That fruit loops is full of delicious fruit flavors no one can resist.  How appropriate and convincing is the author’s reasoning and evidence?  Using the bright colors and story line is very convincing.  Children look at the commercials as being fun and interacting, and because they love the commercials, they want the cereal. 

Who make up the audience?   The commercials are not only directed towards the children, but to the parents as well.                                                                                                                                            Who is the target audience?  The children.  Are there secondary audiences? The parents are also another audience.                                                                                                                                                                Pathos: What does the author do to appeal to the audience's emotions, values, or experiences?  The author using the bright and vibrant colors to catch the attention of the children, it also gives the children a chance to get involved with what will happen by offering their website, and the use of the alien grabs the children’s attention.  Children are shocked about him coming to find the cereal, and by the last commercial they see the newly remodeled alien because of the cereal, and are excited to go get the new cereal.  By saying “It is the fruity part of the nutritious breakfast” Parents see that not only is this a cereal their children will love, but it is healthy too.  What is the audience's attitude towards the subject matter?   They want it!  How does this attitude affect the way the author presents his or her message? Kellogg’s knows the purpose of a commercial is to sell the cereal.  Because children are the target audience, Kellogg’s  want to make this about the kids.  They want to do something to get their attention, and by this commercial, they have dome just that.

What is the form/structure/medium in which it is conveyed?

What is the structure of the communication; how is it arranged and organized?  It is arranged in a story, its like a miniature cartoon that keeps the kids waiting and wanting to see the rest of what will happen.   What is the sentence structure like in the text? It’s a conversation between Toucan, his nephews, and this alien.  Does the writer use fragments or run-ons? Are there any patterns in the sentence structure? The patterns formed are when the alien said “the ultimate flavor of fruit loops”  “the ultimate taste”  Can you make any connections between the patterns and the writers' purpose? The writer’s purpose is to sway the audience in believing that fruit loops cereal is FULL of the ultimate fruity flavor…With the alien saying it, it must be true.

Which persuasive and rhetorical devices are used to accomplish the purpose?

How does the author or speaker appeal to reason? to emotion? The author intetwinds his words to connect with the children, and to get them worked with anticipation.  What kind of style and tone is used and for what purpose? The tone is very energetic, it puts a thought of panic with the children at first on whats happening, then as the commercials play out the children calm down.  The panic is there because toucan has been kidnapped by the alien, and children want to do everything in their power to save him.  When they know they did what they could to save him, they are excited now.  In the third commercials children get panicked again when the alien steals the cereal.  The children don’t want the cereal to be gone forever, but when it is saved, they are once more calmed down.