[Company Name]

Memo
To:

Professor Larsen

From:

Eric Saavedra

cc:
Date:

September 4, 2014

Re:

Rhetorical Analysis

The ice bucket challenge videos have become an internet sensation. Everyday thousands of new
videos are being posted on social networks like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. The
videos consist of mostly of the younger generation in participation. However, middle age adults
and some seniors are taking part of this new sensation. The videos follow the same purpose and
genre plot. These videos are being conducted for Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. This disease
effects the cells in the brain and spinal cord. Many times leaving the person paralyzed. Since
the videos have begun, the audience videos have grown.
The audience of these videos have spread throughout the world. Everyone from small children
to the elderly watch these videos. People are watching these videos because they are very
entertaining and are for a good cause. You see them on all social media sites as more and more
people post them on there. These videos can only be viewed as a video recording. Usually
someone records the person nominated on a cell phone due to its easy access. However, you do
see some people using actual video cameras to film the video, but the dominant source is cell
phones. Due to its restrictions on how the video can be performed, you see the same general
plot.
The ice bucket challenge video will usually start by someone recording the person nominated
for the challenge. Most people use cell phones to record due to its easy access. The person
nominated will state his or hers name and why they are doing this video. The person will move
on to discuss who nominated him or her. The person nominates a few people of his or her
choosing and gets the ice water poured onto them. After the water is dumped, the video
concludes with usually a funny reaction by the person. Most videos follow this plot. However,
some videos will not follow the typical genre plot. George Bushs ALS ice bucket challenge
video doesnt follow the same genre plot you normally see, but it does follow several rhetorical
patterns and appeals.
George Bush begins his video by stating who nominated. He was nominated by Woody
Johnson, Jenna Bush, Coach Jim Harbough, and Roy McElroy. He moves on to discuss that he

is doing this video for the ALS Foundation to help find a cure. However, he says its not
presidential to do the video so he is going to write the check instead. As he is writing the
check, his wife, Laura Bush, comes up behind and dumps the water on him. She does that
because that check is for her and her hair. When the water is dumped on him, he screams out
really quick. The video moves on to nominate Bill Clinton for his birthday. The video
concludes with Bush giving the website for the ASL Foundation for more information. This
video is slightly different because usually the nominated person will take the challenge. In
George Bushs video he decides to write the check. George Bush is surprised attacked by his
wife with the ice water. In other videos, the person sees it coming. This video also is different
because usually these videos ends with the ice water being dumped on the nominated person. In
the George Bush video it concludes with him nominating people and then giving the
foundations website. Overall this video follows somewhat of the same plot, but it does mix it
up a little bit.
George Bushs video follows several of the rhetorical patterns. The first one you would
recognized is Narrative. You see Narratives at the very beginning of the video when he explains
why he is participating in this challenge. You also see it when he gives the reason why he wont
do he challenge. He doesnt want to participate in the challenge because it isnt very
presidential to do so. You also see Narrative when Laura Bush explains that the check
George Bush was writing was going to be for her hair. You will next see the video using
Definition. You can make the argument that he defines what presidential is since he uses that
excuse to no doing the challenge. The overall video follows a certain definition if you observe it
very closely. The video is defined as stating why someone is doing the video, the nominate
people, then have the water poured on them. There is a lot of Description in this short video.
Laura Bush uses description to describe what her check is for. It is also used when Busch
describes Bill Clintons gift being cold and wet since he nominated Bill Clinton for his
birthday. You can also make the argument that this video gives a description to who George
Bush is. This video shows he is formal since he tried to avoid the challenge, likes to keep up
with you because he actually made the video, and fun because he actually took the challenged
and was a good sport about it. You see some Cause and Effect in this video. You can argue that
writing the check is the cause of him looking presidential and the effect is Laura Bush
pouring the ice water on him. You can also say that writing the check is the cause of him being
nominated and the effect is having him participate in the video. It is very hard to find
Classification/Divide in the video. The only evidence of this is George Bush classifying him as
presidential. By classifying him as presidential, he is holding himself as a very high person.
He is also thinking of his reputation as many Americans would see this video. Since he is a
former president, he does have the ability to classify himself as that. The video doesnt use
compare and contrast in any form. He doesnt compare his video with any others. There is no
solid evidence supporting Compare and Contrast. This video uses these patterns to persuade
people to participate, but it also uses rhetorical appeal as well.
His video uses Rhetorical appeal in order to grab the audiences attention. The video uses Ethos
by having George Bush as a credible source. You can trust George Bush so you know what he
says is true. He is a credible source because he was our former president from 2000-2008. This
is a very high achievement because not many people get to become president. He was at one
point very likable person by the American people. You can also make the argument that this
video helps his credibility and image because he is doing this video for a great cause. Laura
Bush is also a credible source because she was the first lady when Bush was in office. She also
did a lot of charity work as the first lady. She would help a lot of foundations and charities. This
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also helps her credibility because she is continuing helping charities in some way. There was
some evidence of Pathos in the video. You could argue that this whole video is Pathos because
he really cares about the cause and wants other to join. This video uses laughter as Laura Bush
dumped the ice water on him as a surprise. You dont see many videos like this because most
know when the water is going to hit him. George Bush got surprised attacked by his wife. This
is what makes it funny because he never saw it coming. This video use logos for information.
He gives information about the website you can go to for the ALS foundation. He also gives
information about why he is doing this challenge. You could say this whole video is
informational because he is giving information about who nominated him, why he wont
participate in the challenge, and his own nominations.
George Bushs ice bucket challenge video follows similar conventions to most videos you
would see on the internet. It differs from most videos because he wasnt going to participate it
originally. He ended up taking part of the challenge after Laura Bush dumped the water on him.
You never see this very often because usually everyone sees it coming. This video is truly
unique but it still follows the same rhetorical patterns and appeals. It uses these to persuade the
audience to participate and help a worthy cause. With so many people doing these videos, it is
no wonder it has become an internet sensation.