Practice: Analyzing ads for theme, tone, mood, and purpose

Last updated almost 8 years ago

12 questions

Note from the author:

This formative gives students a chance to practice their analysis skills using popular commercials.

Analyze the following ads.
 1. Decide on one theme that you see in each one, then write it in the space provided. Rember that a theme is an overall message or repeated idea about an important topic. Write your theme statements as complete sentences, not single words. 

2.  Describe the tone and mood of each ad. Tone is the text's attitude toward its subject; mood is the feeling that the text creates in the reader. Use the list of tone and mood words to help you. It's right below the example.

3.  Evaluate: What is each ad trying to make us believe/think/feel about its product?

Here's Mrs. Doyle's example:

Theme:  Loving fathers protect their children, even if their protectiveness is sometimes over-the-top.

Tone: funny; admiring (of the dad); sympathetic (to the kids)

Mood: laughing, sentimental

The ad is trying to make us feel that if we buy a Hyundai with the "car finder" feature, we will be better parents or a closer family.

Ad #1

What's the theme?

What's the tone?

What's the mood?

What is the ad trying to make us feel, think, or believe about its product?

Ad #2

What's the theme?

What's the tone?

What's the mood?

What is the ad trying to make us feel, think, or believe about its product?

Ad #3