Content Analysis

The content of my webpage is geared toward a college age audience who has the desire to volunteer and become active in the community. I used a number of rhetorical devices in both the text of the Alternative Breaks (AB) website and the design. I tried to appeal to the logos, pathos, and ethos of the potential audience to hopefully draw in as many interested individuals as possible.

Logos, Pathos and Ethos: building effective content

Through logos, an appeal to logic, I tried to make AB trips sound like a bargain. I tried to emphasize the fact that the fee for the trip included all expenses (food, housing, and transportation) and participants had to opportunity to grow and learn about a new place. Logically, the benefits outweigh the monetary cost when all aspects of AB trips are presented.

Through pathos, an appeal to the emotion, I used pictures from previous AB trips that showed both the fun the participants have and the impact they have on others. By using pictures that demonstrate actual work participants do and the people they work with, visitors to the site will see the impact they can make by going on an AB trip and pursue a seat on one of the trips. The picture sidebars down each side of my page are snapshots of various trips that outline what really goes on during the trip. From cooking to cleaning to having fun, all aspects of an AB trip are included in these sidebars. I also have included a picture of an entire trip hamming for the camera that further showcases the fun of AB.

With ethos, a persuasive appeal, I included reviews of the AB program that went beyond the basic details into the real affect of the trip on participants and site leaders. Telling potential participants how great the program is first hand hopefully persuades them into joining a trip. Hearing statistics or facts about something may peak someone’s interest, but hearing first hand accounts can really convince someone of something. Hopefully between these reviews and the pictures on the page, people will really realize that they can make an impact by joining Alternative Breaks.

Changes to be Made

I hope to further enhance what I’ve tried to do with logos, pathos, and ethos by including more pictures on the page. I hope to design a portion of the website that is a “photo album” for the organization that can be accessed through the AB site. To do this I need to update my navigational bar and create a page that includes design elements from the main site that organizes pictures from previous AB trips. I also hope to include more reviews of the program to try to persuade more people into joining Alternative Breaks. I intend to refine the text on the site to further emphasize the most important parts of the AB program. Using design techniques, I will break up the text and make more apparent the goal of the site and of the organization.

Conclusion

The content of my Alternative Breaks website has been carefully planned out. Using the rhetorical devices I learned about through previous web design I have been able to target an audience and deliver a product which informs and persuades new, previous, and current members to stay active in Alternative Breaks.