SPIRIT SPLASH

The text I selected was found in a UCF Game Day Official Program and the page was entitled Campus Spirit. The magazine is marketed towards faithful followers of UCF Athletics. The text was an entire page of the magazine, but was not the typical advertisement found in a magazine with extra imagery or paragraphs of fine print. Its simple and refined appearance allowed the selected text to integrate itself seamlessly into the overall Athletic driven content.

Excite incoming UCF students or transfers to partake in a school tradition. Attract high school students to inquire more about the university. Build passion and knowledge about the university directed toward UCF Alumni and Athletics fans. Offer a unique view of the university annual tradition, instead of common Academic/Athletics statistics.

In the text selected, UCF and their marketing department are the rhetors in this rhetorical situation. UCF is attempting to advertise the uniqueness of the university by emphasizing a tradition that is original and a trademark of campus life when you are a Knight.

Spirit Splash on the Friday before Homecoming Weekend at UCF is the only day out of the year where students are allowed to enter the Reflection Pond.

High School students searching for prospective schools Incoming UCF students and transfers UCF Athletics fans

The definitions of the constituents that make up rhetorical situations vary in Keith Grant-Davies article Rhetorical Situations and their Constituents. Grant-Davie identifies and analyzes four constituents (Exigence, Rhetor, Audience, and Constraints) and then compares and contrasts his analysis against other experts analysis, mainly Lloyd Bitzer. The main definition in question:

Exigence According to Bitzer, it is a defect or obstacle that is waiting to be done, while Grant-Davie delves deeper into the potential meaning, "problem or need that can be addressed by communication while also asking these three questions: "What is the discourse about?, "Why is the discourse needed?, and "What is the discourse trying to accomplish?

The need for UCF to continue tradition at the school. The need for UCF to create positive and unique publicity to attract high school students and potential transfers across the country.

Extra imagery would cloud the message. Limit extra wording to enhance atmosphere of singular image. The action shot evokes more emotion, allowing for limited excess detail or enhancement of the text.

Out of the three persuasion methods used in rhetorical situations (logos, pathos, and ethos), pathos, or the use of emotion to persuade the audience, is most prevalent in the text. The excitement of the scene, almost resembling a rave in water, is used to connect emotionally with the younger audience and make them think: I want to be a part of that! The large mass of people concentrated in the pond, while the splashing is centered in the picture, persuades the audience to believe that Spirit Splash is exciting and the cool thing to do. Several crowd surfers can be seen as well in the frame, increasing the atmosphere of the text, and adding to the emotional appeal of Spirit Splash as a whole.

The text I chose was unique due to the magazine using a subconscious advertisement. The rhetorical analysis allowed me to study the exigence, audience, rhetor, and constraints, as well as other intricacies of the text in this rhetorical situation. The ad Campus Spirit in the UCF Game Day magazine entailed much more detail and hidden meaning instead of just a picture of an event, and studying rhetorical analysis through Keith Grant-Davie and his article Rhetorical Situations and their Constituents allowed me to discover and find the hidden meaning.