1a. What activities does the advertisement list?
2a. What makes the Northern Fantasy cruise different from the Southern Adventure?
1b. Why would it be important to list these activities in an advertisement?
2b. What kind of interests would someone going on the Northern Fantasy cruise probably have? How would those interests differ from those of a person going on the Southern Adventure cruise?
3a. Categorize the four main sections of this advertisement by creating headings for each one.
3b. What information does the advertisement seem to feature? What information does it omit?
4a. How effective is this advertisement? What makes it effective or not effective?
4b. How does this advertisement compare to advertisements that have convinced you to buy something? What criteria do you use when deciding whether to buy a particular product?
Persuasive Writing. Determine how much of this advertisement is devoted to sound persuasive methods and how much contains propaganda.
1. Write the advertisement copy for a television commercial about a new soft drink.
2. Write a business letter to the Pacific Gem Cruise Line, requesting more information about their cruises.
3. Imagine you are on a cruise and write a postcard to a friend, describing your trip.
Connotation and Denotation. A denotation of a word is its dictionary definition. A connotation of a word is all the associations it has in addition to its literal meaning. For example, the words cheap and economical both denote "inexpensive," but cheap connotes shoddy and inferior while economical connotes a good value for the money. Writers of advertisements must pay close attention to both the connotations and denotations of the words they use.
Write simple explanations of the connotations and denotations of the word pairs listed below.
1a. proud denotation: connotation:
1b. haughty denotation: connotation:
2a. loneliness denotation: connotation:
2b. solitude denotation: connotation:
3a. smile denotation: connotation:
3b. smirk denotation: connotation:
4a. run denotation: connotation:
4b. flee denotation: connotation:
5a. spontaneous denotation: connotation:
5b. impulsive denotation: connotation:
Recognizing Problems with Modifiers. Review the Language Arts Survey 3.49, "Recognizing Other Problems with Modifiers." Then rewrite the following sentences, fixing any problems you find.
1. He was better at algebra than me, but he was badder at biology.
2. Them books are all overdue.
3. I read an article about exercising in a magazine.
4. I still feel badly about losing the race.
5. Looking outside, mobs of people surround the bride and groom.
6. The grocery store has the best produce on the corner.
7. Joyce skates good, but she can't ski.
8. Ray was more easier persuaded to join the team than I was.
9. Even after cooking all day, the meal tasted badly.
10. I keep a blanket, flashlight, and candy bar in case of an emergency in the trunk.
Researching the History of Advertising: Research Log. Use this log to keep track of the sources you use, the information you find, and your reactions to what you learn.
Internet sources:
Books and other print sources:
