George Mason University Still the Most Shocking Second A Day Film Analysis

This topic gives you practice in analyzing how texts are shaped to persuade audiences to take an action, the very thing you will do in your advocacy letter. While you will be analyzing a video, the same strategies apply for analytic thinking and writing.

Watch the video included below carefully. It is very brief. As you watch, analyze (break down into parts) how the video responds to its rhetorical situation (audience, purpose, and context).

In your initial response to the prompt, do the following:

• Identify the issue and purpose of the video. Explain your answer.
• Identify the target audience for the video. Be specific since the stance of the video is quite clear. Explain your answer.
• Identify the context for the video (historical, political, social, etc.). You may have to do some Googling to identify this.
• Analyze how the video works to achieve its purpose. What examples, evidence, and/or language does it use to urge the audience to take an action?