In the June 2004 edition of Shape Magazine there is a one-page, full-length photo, located toward the back of the magazine, showcasing a woman with a big smile on her face. She is opening her fur coat to display not only a hot pink bikini, but what seems to be her new, chiseled, tan body. As a member of the target audience, women who are willing and able to get in "shape," my initial reaction was to view the article as simply another one of the monthly weight-loss success stories featured in the magazine. However, when looking at the article carefully, I notice the words "special 3-page ad report" in tiny print at the bottom of each page of the spread. On the opposite page, one observes, written in very large print, the trailer, "you can have an itsy-bitsy bikini body," situated just above a picture of a bottle of diet pills with a tape measure tied around its middle.
             In an eye-catching and clever manner, this advertisement attempts to achieve credibility simply by posing as a standard article that may be featured in a magazine such as Shape. However sly this may seem, it is certainly a very effective means of capturing the attention of the reader. The design and layout of this ad for HYDROXYCUT® aim to persuade the reader that the diet pill produces dramatic results that are attainable by "you", the average person trying to lose weight. To convince the subject, the ad appeals to pathos with a personal success story, ethos when the reader discovers that the new HYDROXYCUT® is sold at many prestigious nutritional centers, and logos by including statistics and numerical research throughout the article.
             Strategically placed in the June edition of Shape Magazine, the bikini in the picture and the beginning paragraph claiming, "including new HYDROXYCUT® in your fitness plan can help you lose weight and look beautiful this summer," definitely appeal to women and how...