Analysis of Adoption Ads: Print and Video, Sociology 101, Spring 2024

This report provides a sociological analysis of adoption advertisements, specifically examining a print ad and a video ad. The print ad, focusing on the AdoptUSkids campaign, is analyzed for its use of pathos, highlighting its emotional appeal and the message of finding permanent families for children. The report also studies a video ad for Foster Adoption Care, emphasizing the emotional support and the feelings of belonging experienced by adopted children. The rhetorical strategies employed in both ads, particularly the use of emotional appeals, are discussed. The report explores how these ads aim to influence viewers and encourage them to consider adoption, highlighting the impact of these campaigns on the lives of children and families. The analysis includes references to the sources used, providing a comprehensive overview of the ads' objectives and effectiveness.

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Running Head: Sociology
SOCIOLOGY

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Sociology
Print AD
Summary
The print ad of Adopt US kids by AD Council titled as “Adoption from Foster Care” under
Family and Community is represented with simplicity and focus is ore on the expressions and
feelings then on the other materialistic details. The print ad carries an objective of revealing
the smile that people could bring on the orphan teens (Adoption from Foster Care, 2020). The
message on the ad states that 30000 have been placed in permanent families who were photo
listed on AdoptUSkids.org since 2004. The teen aged boy in the picture with his new parents,
describes the content and satisfaction both of them have achieved through adoption.
Rhetorical Analysis
The print ad utilises the pathos rhetorical strategy to persuade the audience as the statement
on the ad that “30000 children once photo listed on AdoptUSkids.org have been placed with a
permanent family since 2004” directly marks the emotional aspect of adopting the US teens.
The message conveyed through the ad also reveals that the AdoptUSkids.org has been
creating some effective ads which has helped in adoption of huge number of kids. The
message incorporates an informative as well as an emotional ingredient which makes the ad
quite accurate and perfect. The intention of attracting the viewers and impacting them in a
productive way that is some beneficial action gets executed by the viewer is achieved through
the print ad. Use of pathos strategy in the print ad provides the viewers with a thought
popping up in their minds, as giving a smile to the kids through adoption could change the
world into a better place.
Video
Summary
The video carries a direct objective of revealing the happiness and satisfaction that could be
given to a child through adoption. The ad is for the Foster Adoption Care and the happiness
which they give to the family as well as to the adopted kids gets revealed through the smooth

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and soft music which portrays the mental satisfaction that adoption gives to the family as well
as to the child. Each actor in the ad conveys the emotions in a descriptive manner (At Home,
2020). In the beginning of the ad when the boy enters the house, his father gives a smile to
the mother which conveys his concern for the boy and he gives signal to his wife that the boy
needs to be provided with comfort zone and space to accept the new people and new family.
Rhetorical Analysis
The video carries a strong impact on the viewers as it rightly portrays the emotional support
that a child needs for being accepted and feel comfortable in the new house. At the end of the
video when the boy views his pic as a family member of his new family, he hugs his new
Mom and cries which reveals the depth of his pain of not having a family. Being accepted in
a new family as a member outbreaks his emotions and this makes him hug his mom and feel
satisfied. The tears reveals some pain as well as happiness.

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References
Adoption from Foster Care. (2020). Retrieved 24 March 2020, from
https://www.adcouncil.org/Our-Campaigns/Family-Community/Adoption-from-Foster-Care
At Home | Adoption from Foster Care | Ad Council. (2020). Retrieved 24 March 2020, from
https://youtu.be/IPCozaQbUvs