Campaign Analysis: Tips From Former Smokers

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had established a commercial campaign called Tips From Former Smokers to help spread recognition of the side-affects smoking has on the human body. Terri Hall was a former smoker, who suffered from throat cancer due to her addiction to nicotine. She encourages individuals to stop before it is too late before all of “this” (Terri Hall) happens to you. Terri is referring to her statement “this” because she endured a surgery that would change her life forever, a laryngectomy. She had her larynx removed, which resulted in a stoma, which was placed in her throat in order for her to communicate. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) wants to give a simple message that can change or save someone’s life; Quit before its to late, anyone can stop. The campaign commercial particularly gained the audiences attention through numerous rhetorical devices such as ethos and pathos. The CDC may not always be respected but their messages to their audiences always stay true and meaningful. The audience’s attitude is directed toward Terri most importantly and then the message of the commercial. Terri is phenomenal; she portrays a character that many people in her position can relate to. The overwhelming emotions she prompts the audience to feel are effective by allowing her to convince smokers to quit before it’s too late. She allows the audience to see her for who she truly is. Terri allows the audience to witness her condition and to hear her raspy, rough voice. Terri’s purpose for educating her audience on the reality of smoking is to essentially prevent outcomes that mimic that of her own. Terri’s condition deteriorated her mind, body, and soul; leaving the ones who loved her to suffer beside her. Not only does Terri experience the heartfelt pain but her family and friends do as well. They saw first hand how her condition deteriorated her mind, body and soul. Terri Hall’s story invoked a sense of respect from her audience for her determination to keep fighting all the trials and tribulations. Her strength encourages smokers to quit smoking. Through the rhetorical inclusion of ethos, the audience of Tips From Former Smokers can emotionally connect to Terri’s personal message and the commercials tips to stop smoking. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention campaign commercial uses facts to brace their message. The message that smoking can cause harmful affects on the body is supported through the visual image of Terri. Terri smoked her first cigarette at the age of 14 and at the age of 52, she survived ten cancer diagnoses and, most astonishing, 48 chemotherapy treatments. Terri Hall’s appearance is the perfect example of what smoking can do to the body. At the end of every video Terri produces, the CDC makes sure there is a link to websites that have additional information about smoking and how one may quit their habit. Making use of the facts the Centers for …show more content…
“Smoking causes immediate damage to your body” (The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention). The main purpose of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is to visually show the audience the health risk of smoking and by doing so they could suffer the same health risk as Terri Hall. This message relates to Terri’s everyday struggle to function day to day. Not only does it give the viewers something to relate to but it also very persuasive. The CDC is a credible resource of the Tips From Former Smokers campaign commercial. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s main goal is to promote healthy lifestyles through the control and prevention of disease. Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States. A satisfying statistic that supports the CDC’s argument to stop smoking is that “Cigarette smoking causes more than 480,000 deaths each year in the United States. This is about one in five deaths” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Many probably thought that breast cancer was the leading cause of death in the United States but throat or lung cancer is; “Smoking causes about 90% of all lung cancer deaths in men and women. More women die from lung cancer each year than from breast cancer” (Centers for Disease Control and