This analysis essay, on graffiti artist Banksy’s Bulletproof Dove, uses a traditional five paragraph essay format. (I don’t encourage the format since it can sound mechanical, but it worked adequately in this instance.) Its thesis clearly displays both the what and how of the rhetoric’s function. Paragraphs are driven by clear topic sentences (top-down organization), and although I might like stronger transitional phrases, perhaps tying back to the thesis, it does display strong summaries for the analytical paragraphs. The importance of context to the piece’s meaning also is clearly addressed in the first two main points.
The Dos Equis ad analysis displays great voice and nicely contextualizes the rhetoric, while highlighting the “news” or “so what?” of the analysis. It transitions between paragraphs well and effectively uses implicit topic sentences with a culmination organizational pattern (as opposed to top-down organization driven by explicit topic sentences). Craig’s prose is purposeful, and avoids the sense that the writer is discovering his own conclusions as he writes–there’s a clear sense of direction, which is necessary to make the culmination pattern work. (He also balances descriptive and analytical paragraphs expertly–the descriptive ones always function as evidence for his analysis.)
Generally, the top-down organization pattern is the norm in academic writing, and is easier to pull off with excellence. The culmination organization pattern also can work well, and provides more personal options for writing voice, but it takes much more effort on the part of the writer to maintain clarity–so be strategic if you choose to take on this challenge.