Proposal

Branding has led to young girls being more self conscious than ever. I plan to focus on anorexia in teens/tweens. My audience will be those teens/tweens and their parents. Anorexia is caused mostly by people being judged by others. If every parent would teach their children to worry about the truly important things in life, maybe there wouldn’t be so much judging going on in schools all over the world. I will describe the effects of anorexia, and how it can be prevented, along with how branding has contributed to anorexia.

Anorexia is a disease caused mostly by girls being self conscious. This self consciousness leads to an obsession with dieting and being “thin.” If helped early, someone can come out of it somewhat easily. If someone is anorexic for a long period of time, it because an addiction. Once anorexia is part of someone’s lifestyle, not eating is just like eating constantly to a binge eater. Media uses all skinny models, knowing that all girls do not have bodies like those models. This is where branding comes in. If a ridiculously skinny model is wearing a brand a teen likes, the teen automatically thinks that she should look the way the model does in those clothes.

Quart, Alissa. Branded: The Buying and Selling of Teenagers. New York: Basic Books, 2003. Print.

While walking through the mall, you will see bright colors, smell appealing smells, and see manikins of the so-called ideal body with clothes on that will probably only look that way on 25 percent of people. Brands locate trendspotters by doing that exact thing. You don’t only see brands doing this in malls, but in magazines, on television, in movies, and on billboards. A walk down the street isn’t as simple as it used to be. In magazines, you see celebrities wearing make-up. On television and in movies, you see celebrities wearing the clothes that brands want us to buy.

It is essential to understand and identify with audience awareness. You could become a victim if you do not understand what these marketers are trying to do. They are simply using you to get you to buy the items. They don’t really care if you look good, smell good, or feel good. All they care about is getting the money that you pay for these items. If you fall for every ad that appeals to you, there is a very large chance that you will end up in debt.

Teens and tweens are usually the first victims. The marketers get them while they are young and do not realize that they are being used. They will hire the most popular teens/tweens in school and ask them what’s cool, what people are wearing, and what they want to see more of. This makes the teens/tweens feel important.

Teens and tweens are the most powerful sector of the market because they do not have bills, and most do not use their own income to buy. They will buy things without thinking twice, where adults will think long and hard before making a big purchase. When I was spending my parents’ money, there was no hesitation. I had no problem spending an outrageous amount of money on a shirt or some jeans.

Letter of Introduction

Dear Classmates,

Like most others enrolled in English 108, I am a freshman. Last semester I took English 104. To be completely honest, English classes are not of much interest to me. Every English class I have taken in my life has been because I have to. Although I do not enjoy English classes, I try to make the most of them.

I chose Missouri Western for a number of reasons. The main reason was that it is close to home. Other reasons include keeping my job of almost two years and the nursing program appealed to me. I went to Benton High School here in St. Joseph and played softball there. I was also involved in the National Honor Society. Through Hillyard Technical School, I was involved in SkillsUSA, where I completed in Nationals for opening and closing ceremonies. We were the first team from Hillyard Technical School to go and we placed fifth.

In 15 years, I plan to be graduated from school, with a good job in a clinic or hospital as a nurse. I also plan to have a family started, with my own house. I will most likely continue to live here in St. Joseph, because this is where I grew up, and where my entire family lives.

So far, my college experience has been exciting. I have learned that procrastination only leads to more procrastination, and that if you get your work done early, you feel much better about yourself. I am already about half way through “Branded,” and it feels great! I am enjoying the book more than I thought I would. I am anxious to see what this semester holds, and to get to know all of you.

Sincerely,
Brittany McCarthy