Assignment 4: Analysis Paper (gun related)
Here's one of the 3 papers that's due on Tuesday. It's DONE! WOO HOO!
Edited for spelling and format.
quote:
Are You Tough Enough?
Sport shooters, target shooters, collectors, law enforcement personnel, private security companies, and the military all ask the same things out of their firearms: rugged dependability, reliability, accuracy, and precision. Regardless of whether it's just a day at the range, or if it's a tournament, or if some crazy, drugged-up, alcoholic psycho is trying to break into my house, I know that every time I pull the trigger, my weapon has to function. Lives can be lost by a pistol that goes click, instead of bang. Only the best will do, and companies that manufacture firearms have to convey that through their advertisements, regardless of the media they're presented in. The name of the manufacturer isn't everything in the world of shooting, but it means a lot. When people look at ads for firearms, they want to see something special: they want to see rugged dependability, reliability, accuracy, and precision. In other words, they want to see a quality firearm that will make them look tough when they shoot it.
Even before I turned 21, I knew that I wanted to have a pistol. I thought long and hard on the subject, analyzing technical data and specifications for many different makes, models, styles, and calibers. I knew that most semi-auto styles were based on John Moses Browning's Model 1911, chambered in .45 Caliber, Automatic Colt Pistol. I also knew that revolvers, regardless of make, are pretty much the same. I have never cared for revolvers because of the limited capacity, slower reloading, higher recoil and heavier weight than a semi-auto in the same caliber. These factors made me decide against getting a "wheel gun," as they're known in the shooting world. However it also brought up an important issue: affordable semi-autos don't come in the larger calibers that are available in most makes of revolvers, like .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum and .50 Action Express (AE), calibers that have the most knock-down power available in a pistol. This forced me to ask myself what can I get that has the smaller size of a semi-auto cartridge, but also enough knock-down power to defend myself and my family should the unlikely event occur? I discovered that there are many manufacturers of high-quality, affordable semi-automatic firearms that come in a wide range of small, but powerful calibers that fit my needs and desires.
Ever since learning about the original Model 1911, .45 ACP made by Browning, I have known of the simplicity and reliability of the design. The 1911 has been used by government, military, police forces, and private citizens around the world since it was introduced during World War One, and is still used to this day. Today, many companies manufacture licensed copies of the 1911, including Springfield Armory, which runs ads in American Rifleman Magazine, the monthly official magazine of the National Rifle Association. One of the Springfield ads that especially moves me shows a fully-equipped police Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) officer walking down a staircase. The man appears in the background of the ad, looking as though he has just been through a tense situation and looks very tired--as though he has just come down from a massive adrenaline high. He's wearing a load-carrying vest that is filled with spare ammunition, and slung across his chest is a tactical, short-barrel rifle. In the foreground, on top of the picture of the officer, is a picture of a Springfield Armory 1911A1 with a flashlight attached in front of the trigger guard, clearly outfitted to be a tactical weapon. The tag line on the ad reads, "You may never breach an entry to end a seven-hour hostage situation...but your Springfield has." The point of this is to ask the target audience, "Are you tough enough to handle a Springfield?"
But who is the target audience in this ad? For that, we have to look closer at the officer. He's a white man, probably in his late-20s or early-30s, which is the age group of the audience who would be most affected by this ad. Men in the same age group tend to want the "tough guy" image associated with them. They drive fast cars and big trucks, and dress in clothes usually worn by people who do hard, physical labor at their job. This ad is telling them to buy a Springfield so they can be as tough as a SWAT officer.
The ad was also printed in a magazine that is read by all genders and age groups, but especially by white men in their late-20s or early-30s. The magazine has a lot of ads and articles to inference this from. Some of the articles I have read in American Rifleman have focused on tests of new firearm models, research being conducted by US Military forces on replacements for their current weapons, and political happenings that affect firearm owners, all of which men in their late-20s and early-30s who read American Rifleman would be interested in reading. The reasoning behind because men in this ad's target audience are going to want to know what's new on the market, they want to know how military weapons are or are not holding up during combat, and anyone who reads American Rifleman Magazine is going to be concerned to know what's going on in the world of politics that applies to themselves as firearm owners.
The ad copy is worded in a way to target a part of the audience that may not have been affected by the photo in the ad itself or by the tag line. It reads, "Even though elite tactical teams declare a mission successful when objectives are met and no shots are fired, nothing is more important to them than a firearm that functions reliably. For that reason, Springfield Armory is the choice of professionals from Quantico [Virginia] to locations classified. Whatever the reasons for your 1911 clearing the holster, your demand for reliability should be equal to that of the pros. Demand Springfield Armory." Let's take a closer look at that ad copy for a moment, and compare it to what the target audience of men in their 20s and 30s are most likely to be persuaded by. The ad copy says in the first sentence, "...elite tactical teams...." That phrase alone can draw in someone perusing through a magazine, even if they're not interested in buying a pistol. It suggests, correctly, that "elite tactical teams" use Springfield 1911s for their personal sidearms. The next phrase, "nothing is more important...than a firearm that functions reliably." Every person, especially this ad's target audience, who buys any type of firearm for any purpose wants something that's reliable. What better way to inform an audience that the weapon in the ad is reliable than to just say it outright? Continuing on through the ad copy, it says "...the choice of professionals from Quantico to locations classified." The ad is assuming that the target audience knows the significance of Quantico. For most people who would be interested in reading a magazine like American Rifleman, Quantico, Virginia isn't just another random location, but one of the most important United States Marine Corps (USMC) bases in the world. This part tells the audience that the USMC, one of America's top fighting forces, trusts the reliability of Springfield 1911s. The wording "...locations classified," adds a touch of mystery to the ad, suggesting that US forces that operate in secret around the world also trust Springfield 1911s. The moving nature of the ad copy in this advertisement works on the emotions of the target audience in very subtle ways, and basically says, "You're not nearly as tough as you think you are unless you own a Springfield 1911."
Owning a Springfield 1911 doesn't "make" a person tough, regardless of what their advertisements attempt to convince you to believe, but in the world of gun owners, owning a Springfield 1911 is bound to earn you just a little bit more respect. This is because Springfield is widely regarded as one of the best domestic firearm manufacturers, and their products have the quality, and the price tag, to support that claim. When I go to the range to shoot my Springfield 1911, I know that it will fire every single time I pull the trigger, and that it will operate correctly after each and every shot. If I didn't already own one, would this ad alone convince me to buy a Springfield 1911 over, say, a Kimber 1911, or a Rock Island Arsenal 1911, two of Springfield's competitors? No, it would not. Would it make me want to put the time into researching the Springfield 1911 to find out what sets it apart from its competitors? Yes it would. Being the owner of a Springfield 1911, I don't consider myself to be the stereotypical "tough guy," but I do consider myself to be a savvy buyer and the owner of a quality firearm every time I pull the trigger.
Works Cited
"Springfield Armory USA." Advertisement American Rifleman Magazine Jan. 2007: 21.
And here's the ad I analyzed:
Edited for spelling and format.
quote:
Are You Tough Enough?
Sport shooters, target shooters, collectors, law enforcement personnel, private security companies, and the military all ask the same things out of their firearms: rugged dependability, reliability, accuracy, and precision. Regardless of whether it's just a day at the range, or if it's a tournament, or if some crazy, drugged-up, alcoholic psycho is trying to break into my house, I know that every time I pull the trigger, my weapon has to function. Lives can be lost by a pistol that goes click, instead of bang. Only the best will do, and companies that manufacture firearms have to convey that through their advertisements, regardless of the media they're presented in. The name of the manufacturer isn't everything in the world of shooting, but it means a lot. When people look at ads for firearms, they want to see something special: they want to see rugged dependability, reliability, accuracy, and precision. In other words, they want to see a quality firearm that will make them look tough when they shoot it.
Even before I turned 21, I knew that I wanted to have a pistol. I thought long and hard on the subject, analyzing technical data and specifications for many different makes, models, styles, and calibers. I knew that most semi-auto styles were based on John Moses Browning's Model 1911, chambered in .45 Caliber, Automatic Colt Pistol. I also knew that revolvers, regardless of make, are pretty much the same. I have never cared for revolvers because of the limited capacity, slower reloading, higher recoil and heavier weight than a semi-auto in the same caliber. These factors made me decide against getting a "wheel gun," as they're known in the shooting world. However it also brought up an important issue: affordable semi-autos don't come in the larger calibers that are available in most makes of revolvers, like .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum and .50 Action Express (AE), calibers that have the most knock-down power available in a pistol. This forced me to ask myself what can I get that has the smaller size of a semi-auto cartridge, but also enough knock-down power to defend myself and my family should the unlikely event occur? I discovered that there are many manufacturers of high-quality, affordable semi-automatic firearms that come in a wide range of small, but powerful calibers that fit my needs and desires.
Ever since learning about the original Model 1911, .45 ACP made by Browning, I have known of the simplicity and reliability of the design. The 1911 has been used by government, military, police forces, and private citizens around the world since it was introduced during World War One, and is still used to this day. Today, many companies manufacture licensed copies of the 1911, including Springfield Armory, which runs ads in American Rifleman Magazine, the monthly official magazine of the National Rifle Association. One of the Springfield ads that especially moves me shows a fully-equipped police Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) officer walking down a staircase. The man appears in the background of the ad, looking as though he has just been through a tense situation and looks very tired--as though he has just come down from a massive adrenaline high. He's wearing a load-carrying vest that is filled with spare ammunition, and slung across his chest is a tactical, short-barrel rifle. In the foreground, on top of the picture of the officer, is a picture of a Springfield Armory 1911A1 with a flashlight attached in front of the trigger guard, clearly outfitted to be a tactical weapon. The tag line on the ad reads, "You may never breach an entry to end a seven-hour hostage situation...but your Springfield has." The point of this is to ask the target audience, "Are you tough enough to handle a Springfield?"
But who is the target audience in this ad? For that, we have to look closer at the officer. He's a white man, probably in his late-20s or early-30s, which is the age group of the audience who would be most affected by this ad. Men in the same age group tend to want the "tough guy" image associated with them. They drive fast cars and big trucks, and dress in clothes usually worn by people who do hard, physical labor at their job. This ad is telling them to buy a Springfield so they can be as tough as a SWAT officer.
The ad was also printed in a magazine that is read by all genders and age groups, but especially by white men in their late-20s or early-30s. The magazine has a lot of ads and articles to inference this from. Some of the articles I have read in American Rifleman have focused on tests of new firearm models, research being conducted by US Military forces on replacements for their current weapons, and political happenings that affect firearm owners, all of which men in their late-20s and early-30s who read American Rifleman would be interested in reading. The reasoning behind because men in this ad's target audience are going to want to know what's new on the market, they want to know how military weapons are or are not holding up during combat, and anyone who reads American Rifleman Magazine is going to be concerned to know what's going on in the world of politics that applies to themselves as firearm owners.
The ad copy is worded in a way to target a part of the audience that may not have been affected by the photo in the ad itself or by the tag line. It reads, "Even though elite tactical teams declare a mission successful when objectives are met and no shots are fired, nothing is more important to them than a firearm that functions reliably. For that reason, Springfield Armory is the choice of professionals from Quantico [Virginia] to locations classified. Whatever the reasons for your 1911 clearing the holster, your demand for reliability should be equal to that of the pros. Demand Springfield Armory." Let's take a closer look at that ad copy for a moment, and compare it to what the target audience of men in their 20s and 30s are most likely to be persuaded by. The ad copy says in the first sentence, "...elite tactical teams...." That phrase alone can draw in someone perusing through a magazine, even if they're not interested in buying a pistol. It suggests, correctly, that "elite tactical teams" use Springfield 1911s for their personal sidearms. The next phrase, "nothing is more important...than a firearm that functions reliably." Every person, especially this ad's target audience, who buys any type of firearm for any purpose wants something that's reliable. What better way to inform an audience that the weapon in the ad is reliable than to just say it outright? Continuing on through the ad copy, it says "...the choice of professionals from Quantico to locations classified." The ad is assuming that the target audience knows the significance of Quantico. For most people who would be interested in reading a magazine like American Rifleman, Quantico, Virginia isn't just another random location, but one of the most important United States Marine Corps (USMC) bases in the world. This part tells the audience that the USMC, one of America's top fighting forces, trusts the reliability of Springfield 1911s. The wording "...locations classified," adds a touch of mystery to the ad, suggesting that US forces that operate in secret around the world also trust Springfield 1911s. The moving nature of the ad copy in this advertisement works on the emotions of the target audience in very subtle ways, and basically says, "You're not nearly as tough as you think you are unless you own a Springfield 1911."
Owning a Springfield 1911 doesn't "make" a person tough, regardless of what their advertisements attempt to convince you to believe, but in the world of gun owners, owning a Springfield 1911 is bound to earn you just a little bit more respect. This is because Springfield is widely regarded as one of the best domestic firearm manufacturers, and their products have the quality, and the price tag, to support that claim. When I go to the range to shoot my Springfield 1911, I know that it will fire every single time I pull the trigger, and that it will operate correctly after each and every shot. If I didn't already own one, would this ad alone convince me to buy a Springfield 1911 over, say, a Kimber 1911, or a Rock Island Arsenal 1911, two of Springfield's competitors? No, it would not. Would it make me want to put the time into researching the Springfield 1911 to find out what sets it apart from its competitors? Yes it would. Being the owner of a Springfield 1911, I don't consider myself to be the stereotypical "tough guy," but I do consider myself to be a savvy buyer and the owner of a quality firearm every time I pull the trigger.
Works Cited
"Springfield Armory USA." Advertisement American Rifleman Magazine Jan. 2007: 21.
And here's the ad I analyzed:
0
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I believe your instructor is not too bright.
How is she in general ??
Doug0 -
quote:Originally posted by Doug Wilson
I believe your instructor is not too bright.
How is she in general ??
Doug
She's a Ph.D. and she's exceptionally intellegent in her field.0 -
I hope you come back later after the paper is graded and let us know how your instructor handled this subject. So many educators are liberal and would freak out when the subject is even brought up in a classroom setting.
They are taught to look for gun nuts and notify authorities if they feel threatened. Their definition of a "Gun Nut" is anyone who enjoys the shooting sports. It will be interesting to she how she reacts to your topic.0 -
Just writing a college essay on hand guns right now might cost you a couple letter grades. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by cartod
Just writing a college essay on hand guns right now might cost you a couple letter grades.
If I cared, I wouldn't have written it. My point of view is "this is my opinion and if you don't want to hear it, then don't read it." But she's the one grading the paper, so she HAS to read it.0 -
Well if she hits the alarm bells call us and we will come and bail you out of the slammer.[:D] 0 -
quote:Originally posted by sig232
Well if she hits the alarm bells call us and we will come and bail you out of the slammer.[:D]
That roght thur is funny [:D]0 -
Good luck! While in college in the 60's I naively took on a controversial subject in Freshman English and discovered the hard way about liberal professors,[:0] which were an unknown species to me at the time. It might be possible that you have an open minded liberal professor, but that is a contradiction in terms![:D] 0 -
i think bobski is correct (yes even comma usage [;)])
just because something sounds "right" or "smooth" does NOT make it grammatically correct.
either way, good content. what was the topic of the paper?
if you think about it, tell us what criticism the prof had for ya (both good and bad[:)])0 -
quote:Originally posted by Zulu7
I posted it because of the subject matter and because I feel I did a damn good job on it.
As far as changing from third to first person, that is OK on this paper. Instructor said so.
Sorry, your instructor shouldn't encourage that type of writing. It's poor at best.
As far as the comma after "and", it remains a debated subject. However, bobski shouldn't lecture anyone on proper grammar after reading his posts. English 102? This paper will work for that class. The writing won't cut it beyond that level.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Zulu7
quote:Originally posted by bobski
a comma follows 'and' when listing the last item in a list.
.........their equipment: rugged dependability, reliability, accuracy, and(,) precision.
too may or's. improper use of a comma. sentence too long.
........Regardless of whether it's just a day at the range, a tournament, or, if some crazy psycho is trying to break into my house, my weapon must function every time I pull the trigger.
want me to keep going?
25.00 per page.
[8D][:D]
Commas do NOT follow the 'and'. My prof would eviscerate me alive if I did that. She's a stickler for commas.
If the instructor has such a fetish with commas perhaps an essay about the second amendment and the debate about the placement of the comma would have been appropriate.0 -
I thought it was a good essay about nothing. The guy produced a couple pages of BS about an advertisement. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by MN Hunter
i think bobski is correct (yes even comma usage [;)])
just because something sounds "right" or "smooth" does NOT make it grammatically correct.
Where commas are concerned, what sounds right is usually whats correct. In any case, I've written enough english papers to know my way around commas intimately. I can tell you with absolute, 100% certainty that commas do not come after the and according to current grammatical guidelines.0 -
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quote:Originally posted by Captplaid
I thought it was a good essay about nothing. The guy produced a couple pages of BS about an advertisement.
FINALLY SOMEONE UNDERSTANDS!!!!!!!!!!0 -
thanks for sharing z-man! too many people here race to see who can piss the most over whatever is posted! 0 -
This guy might be the next writer for a redneck version of Seinfeld, a redneck show about nothing at all. 0
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