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Vilmarie Santiago Morales

Prof. Ellen Pratt
INGL3103-036H
October 27, 2014
Whats the worst that could happen?
Whether its by peer pressure or curiosity, teenagers or young adults have a certain
desire to try illegal substances. In some way we have made it seem acceptable to try them.
Many artists incorporate them in their song or use them in videos as a popular thing to do.
But there are studies that prove the serious negative effects they have. So if they are bad for
us, why do people consume them anyways? The image I analyzed makes the audience ask
themselves questions like that one. The advertisement is by the well-recognized drug
campaign Above the Influence. As they establish in their site, their goal is to help teens
stand up to negative pressures, or influences. The more aware you are of the influences
around you, the better prepared you will be to face them, including the pressure to use
drugs and alcohol.
The ad presents what are slugs, sitting at a kitchen table pouring small amount of
salt. What may capture your first attention is the way these slugs are incorporated in the
image. They are life-sized slugs not cartoons, which are dressed in human clothes. Clothes
that would represent a young adult or teenager. From that we can infer the audiences are
them. Another detail is the container of salt being poured. The small amount of it and for
each slug represents a logical analogy. Salt is dangerous to snails as drug are hazardous to
humans. If we know what the outcome will be, why do we choose to convey in it anyhow?
With this in mind, the viewer comes to the point to analyzing the image and learning the

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message behind it. The image objective is to create awareness of the dangerous
consequences cocaine or any other drug can come to be if used.
In relations to the color of the image we can see two that are most important. The
kitchen is white resembling peacefulness. Also its cleanness and order indicate purity. In
the other hand, the color grey stands out as well. The presence of the drug is poisoning
the environment around it. Such effect shows viewers the connection between the negative
things illegal substances have not only in our body but surroundings.
The image has a phrase in the corner which the letters are colored white and next to
it the logo of the campaign. The phrase expresses, Whats the worst that could happen? A
short phrase but with a powerful and effective message. Viewers immediately can
understand and the same time analyzes the ad. Since this ad audience is young adults they
dont use long text with fact. They use a small phrase and a powerful image to grasp their
attention.

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Work Cited
Above the Influence. About. Web. 21 October 2014
http://abovetheinfluence.com/about/

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Peer Editing Worksheet: Rhetorical Analysis

Writer: Vilmarie

Reviewer: Nelson

for the writer:

1. If you were to sum up your main point (thesis) about this text, what would it be? Remember, it
should be the rhetorical strategies used in the text, not about the product itself. Please mark it
with a star on your draft. If it isnt there, come up with one and write that on the draft.
Thesis: The image objective is to create awareness of the dangerous consequences cocaine or any
other drug can come to be if used.
2. What in particular do you want the reviewer to check?
Nothing in particular, everything if possible.
_______________________________________________________________________
For the reviewer: Write answers on the back of this sheet if necessary.
1. Does the opening section contain an overview of the topic that orients the reader? _______
Does it look like the writer has focused the topic narrowly enough to deal with it adequately in 4
pages or so?
It has a content overview and yes. The author has focused enough on the topic and there details.
2. Is the thesis clear, adequate, and supported by the data and arguments provided? If not, how
could it be improved?
Yes. I consider it adequate and supported.
3. Is there enough content? Of the eight questions listed on the assignment sheet, are enough of
them answered to make an interesting analysis? What else might be covered to make the analysis a
solid meal for the reader?
The content I see it solid and well explain.
4. Comment on the organization and coherence of each paragraph and of the draft as a whole.
Are the transitions adequate? Mark on the draft where you see any problems with coherence or
organization.
The essay is well organize. I see no problem with it.
5. Is there a good balance between describing the text and analyzing it? That is, does the essay
just report what is in the text, or does it do that AND discuss how the text makes an argument for its
audience? (Note: it would also be a problem if there are only analytical statements without
supporting details from the site.) How might the balance be improved?
By what I read of the essay, is well balance. It well explain in all kind of way. I see no problem with
it.
6. Is the essay properly formatted using MLA style? Is there too much quoting or paraphrasing
from the text or other texts that support it?? Mark on the draft any problems you see here,
particularly missing citations. Note: If all of your info is from the site, just be sure you use quotation
marks for their exact words. If you do outside research (e.g. about the companies that are on the
defensive, you will need to say where your information is from. If you dont know how to do a
bibliography, just cite them informally for now.)
The essay by what I look of, is properly format. You just forgot the work site.

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7. As a reader, are you left with any questions about the issue that should be further clarified or
supported? Be as specific as you can.
No, I dont have any question related to the essay.

8. What do you like best about the essay?

What I like best of the essay is the way it explain everything. The way is compose.