Reading Response #5

For my argumentative essay I chose to write about the topic of Gay marriage.  I chose this topic for a few different reasons. For one, I was quite pressed for time and so I needed to think of a topic that I actually felt ardent about and also a subject that I knew I could find a lot of information about.  I think that I used a lot of ethos, but not only ethos, in my essay and I think it is an essay that will make people really think about what I have to say.  And if someone in the audience group is completely against gays and the concept of gay marriage, I feel that my essay may give them a slightly new insight, possibly.  I also chose this topic because of the recent law that was passed in California- Proposition 8.  I think that with the changing of the times and as our society changes and molds into such a diverse culture- people should really give gay marriage a second look.  I feel that everyone deserves to be in a happy marriage and to be satisfied with his or her relationship.  I think that if I were an official or someone making the laws in the US, I wouldn’t have the heart to deny someone love or a relationship with someone they would like a future with.   My main argument is that sexual orientation should not prevent marriage.  I also argue that everyone should have a fair chance at love and a relationship.

I think that my audience in the essay is pretty broad because the subject is so broad and not limited to a certain age group.  There are young gay people, old gay people, gay teenagers etc. and the topic of gay marriage affects everyone because everyone wants a spouse and a family one day.   But the audience that I would like to target (with my advertisement etc) is a younger audience- like students in college or around that age.  I feel that students at this age are really getting a feel for their own opinions, starting to vote etc., and like to have their own judgments and feelings about things.  I also think that this audience is the most malleable in a since as well because teenagers are generally more easily influenced than say, adults.

I am thinking that I’m going to do a magazine article or something smaller of that nature and I want it to have little words for more impact.  I think that the picture should be the main focus and I already sort of have a plan for what I might do.  I think I'm going to get a picture of a gay couple like holding hands or sitting at a park or out to dinner or whatever (just enjoying themselves like any other couple) and then, I'm going to have in big bold words somewhere below- It’s their future too.  I think that this will appeal to teenagers and young adults because of course they have probably thought about marriage sometime in their life and expect to get married one day too.  But, when they see this ad they will really consider, “Wow, what if I couldn’t get married?”  For young adults, their future is something that they think about in all different aspects almost all the time.  I think below that bold sentence in smaller letters, I'm going to write something like- "For many gay couples, marriage is something that they will never be able to experience.  Support Gay rights for a more equal America."  

So my plan is pretty simple and I think it will be quite effective still.