Effects of Advertising

Review the synthesis essay prompt on the effects of advertising, then critique the sample thesis statements below. (These, btw, have come from essays written by students in your class.)

Prompt: Write an essay in which you develop a position on the effects of advertising.

1) Although the effects of advertising may seem positive, sometimes the effects are also negative.

2) While advertisements can often have positive effects on viewers, they can have negative ones as well.

3) Because of the sheer power that advertising can have over the human mind, it can be used for both positive and negative outcomes.

4) It is fair to say that advertising in today’s society has a positive effect.

5) Advertising is beneficial to everyone in society as it gives individuals from the general public useful knowledge that can be used to promote the welfare of the community.

6) Advertising can be incredibly effective and powerful in promoting causes and beneficial products, while at the same time be negative for forcing ideals upon its audience. Advertising, despite its causes, is beneficial and necessary towards creating a stable and free flowing society and economy.

Take a closer look at a thesis and body paragraph, written by one of your classmates:

While many people find advertising to have a negative effect on America, the purpose,success, and advantages of advertising can clearly evince the positives of this part of American culture.

The purpose of advertising is simple: get a certain targeted audience to buy into a product or service, through education. This mission allows people to become well-informed about the positives of a product, as well as the potential negatives of a rival product. This product can range from a particular brand of toilet paper to a political candidate. The fact of the matter is that it doesn’t matter if a billboard in Manhattan, New York, arguably the advertising capital of the world, is stating that “Charmin Ultra is softer than the leading brand” or “Senator Obama says it’s time for a change”, the purpose of advertising, to educate, is certainly positive (source D). University professor Maria Culpa sums it up best when she stated, “…we need the information in ads to buy the necessities in life…” (source C)

 

 

 

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