Reference no: EM13849455

English 112 Product Blog

Your next major assignment for English 112 is to write a BLOG making observations about ONE category commonly found in just about every grocery store in America (chips, crackers, shampoo, etc.). The purpose of this assignment is for you to think critically about the powerful ways that advertisers use color, images, and language to sell their products, and ways that we are influenced by these advertising tactics.

Begin by signing up for a product, and then go to a grocery store where you can find a variety of this product. (I'm not a Walmart fan, but the Walmart store @ 135th and State Line will offer many varieties of whatever product you choose.) Take pictures/notes on the product(s), paying close attention to:

Colors used to promote and catch consumers' attention

Language and images on packaging (slogans, etc)
"Store Brand" options, noting pricing and ingredient differences/similarities
Varieties available (low-fat, flavors, etc)
Price variations
Packaging
Also, look online to note ways that this product is advertised in print and/or television.

Your blog will consist of two separate entries, each approximately 500 - 1000 words (1 - 2 pages in length). Do not simply list your summaries of what you see on the shelf; instead, make observations and ANALYZEhow advertisers encourage consumers to buy this product. For example, your first blog might introduce the product to your audience (other college students) and note shelf placement of the most popular products, the packaging colors, and images used to catch the consumers' eye.

Be sure that your two blogs FOCUS on the critical thinking aspects of advertising that we've been discussing in class. When appropriate, support your ideas with any outside sources to give credibility to your observations, making sure that you cite all outside sources. Again, when appropriate, also comment on the rhetorical fallacies used to attract consumers.

Remember that the purpose of your blog is to educate other college students who might be vulnerable to advertisers' convincing tactics. Your task is to become an expert on this product, uncovering advertising tactics used to persuade, and making judgements on the value of generic and other variations on your product.