Organ Donation Rhetorical Analysis

The image by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services asking people to become organ donors sends a powerful message and tells viewers that they can potentially save lives by donating their organs. It accomplishes this by using a serious and somber tone to convey its message as well as using logos and ethos to appeal to the viewer. The tone used to convey the message is a very serious one, as made evident by the stern expression on the male modeling for the picture, as well as the lack of color. The image does not ask any questions, instead choosing to instill its message with facts and a command, relying on the viewer to both use their logic to think about how their actions could impact others, and to listen to the advice given by the ad which comes from a trusted source. Through this analysis, one can gather that the advertisers are using logos and ethos to appeal to the viewer. When all this is considered, the message given through the straight, black and white font has a deeper impact,
While it is understandable that the topic of death makes people wary, being able to save someone’s life is something that everyone would be happy to do, even if it is accomplished posthumously. This is what the image is trying to appeal to: If one person has the possibility to donate up to 8 organs, that means that there is a chance that they will be able to save eight lives (Organ Donor Statistics). In some cases, such as kidney or liver transplants, the donor does not even need to be deceased, allowing them to share the gift of life rather than transferring it. One benefit that cannot be argued nor outright explained is the peace of mind one receives upon knowing that their body will be used to help others when it can no longer serve itself. This is what drives the people who are already registered donors, and what will drive people who wish to become