Cannon 1

Matt Cannon
Ms. Caruso
English 1101-044
26 September 2011
Rhetorical Analysis
It`s simple enough to say that a banner has no purpose other than to hang there Ior
decoration. It hangs there, how can this portray any meaning? Banners are usually hung up,
rectangular in shape however they come in other shapes (square, halI circle, and triangular
similar to that oI a pennant), used Ior decoration, colorIul (depicting whatever colors the Ilag is
representing), and represent something much greater. For instance, the United States oI
America`s Ilag is similar to a banner in that it represents a country oI much greater importance
than the Ilag itselI. The banner I have selected Ior the rhetorical analysis paper Iills its purpose as
a banner extremely well.
The banner hangs, as every banner should. It has a hole where you have the ability to
hang it Irom a Ilag pole. A purpose every good banner should be able to accomplish is to hang
Irom a position where all can see. The Iact they have the ability to hang makes them great
decorative pieces to have. And the banner ultimately completes that job too, as long as the owner
oI the banner is an Ohio State Ian or alumni.
The Ohio State banner works also as a Ilag thus making it rectangular in shape. Banners
can come in all shapes and sizes making this duty Ior a banner simple. Since my said banner is
rectangular, my banner achieves its purpose very clearly. The material the banner is made out oI
too is a clear sign it`s a banner. II it was made out oI paper it would then become a poster.
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Cannon 2

There is no better example oI my banner IulIilling its purpose as a banner than it being
decorative. Right now my banner is hanging up in my dorm doing exactly that, decorating.
Banners purpose, especially in a sports Ianatic`s room is to display your team colors. The Ohio
State Ilag is the Iamous scarlet and grey whereas a UNCC banner would be green and white. An
Ohio state banner has the block o, the buckeye leaI, and buckeye nuts on it while a charlotte Ilag
would only have a pick axe. So the two banners may be diIIerent colors, shapes, display diIIerent
decorative designs, but the two banners could still equally perIorm its duty as a banner. The true
duty oI a banner is what it represents. Either an Ohio state banner and a Charlotte banner would
both clearly say 'hey I`m an Ohio State Ian or hey I`m a Charlotte Ian. Banners can mean
much more than just Ian hood Ior sports Ianatics. The previously mentioned United States oI
America Ilag and all the Ilags used by countries around the world represent pride in one`s
country. The people will do whatever it takes to deIend the symbols the Ilag represents. But a
Ilag is just a Ilag why save it? It`s just a Ilimsy cloth material that could be mass produced a
thousand times in a minute. So why do we take them so seriously? Because oI what they have
represented Irom the beginning oI our country. So my banner and the United States oI America
Ilag are made out oI diIIerent material the Ilag made Irom a greater one, the two are diIIerent
colors, diIIerent designs, and have much diIIerent representations, but iI you show my banner to
the right Ian he or she may be as riled up as anyone who you show a United States oI America
Ilag too. The banner has a diIIerent, personal meaning Ior everyone.
The Banner can`t represent all a school represents unIortunately. A banner is not made oI
brick, a banner cannot give you an education, and you don`t need to pay tuition to own a banner.
So owning the banner and going to the actual Ohio State University would IulIill two completely
diIIerent purposes, and each has to achieve their own purposes. My banner as we have already
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Cannon 3

discussed IulIills its purpose very well. The Ohio State University I would say does too, it`s
made oI brick as most schools are. It`s important to be made oI a sturdy material Ior a school
because it would be too costly to rebuild it constantly. The Ohio State University is known Ior
great academics. Academics are not necessarily needed to IulIill its purpose but it helps it stand
Irom the crowd more and be more well known. The Ohio State University also has great
athletics, again not needed to be a school but that can mean the world to somebody. Especially
Buckeye Ians.
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comparlng lL Loo?