Rhetorical Analysis

I chose an ADHD medication advertisement. The ad portrays a young boy with red hair and freckles who is smiling in a classroom setting. It describes a typical day at school before and after the medication. A typical day before the medication starts with the child forgetting his homework, it then states how the child interrupts the teacher, and lastly how the child eats alone. A typical day with the medication starts with taking “Concerta”, it then states how the child pays attention in class, and then how the child interacts with his classmates, and lastly how he focuses on his homework. At the bottom of the ad it states “Concerta can help your child get on the path to success in managing ADHD. Once a day will help your child focus at school and at home.” It also states that it has improved school interactions as reported by teachers and parents.

This advertisement is targeted to parents who have children with ADHD. It persuades you to purchase this medication by comparing a child with and without the medication. It is deceiving by stating the child will pay attention in class, interact better with other classmates, and focus on homework. Maybe by taking the medication it may improve their symptoms, but it won’t make your child the ideal student. Comparing this ad to my own child, who does not have ADHD, would make me feel uncertain of weather he would need this medication as well. My son has forgotten his homework more than once and has difficultly focusing on schoolwork, but that doesn’t mean my son has ADHD and needs medication. It is just simply because he is not interested in school.

In my own personal opinion, I think teachers do not have the patience for a child with behavioral problems and so quickly blame it on ADHD. When this is brought to the parents attention instead of trying to correct the behavioral issues they turn to medications such as, “Concerta” to “fix” their child. Children then become dependent on medication and sometimes when they become adults they tend to turn to drugs and alcohol. In conclusion, I do believe the advertisement is effective in selling their product, but it is also deceptive.