Techniques for Analysing

Multimedia Texts
By Kady Hydes

What is multimedia?
Having or offering the use of various

communications or promotional media (BSc, n.d.).

Example:

(Google Images,
n.d.)

Technique

Tips on How to Do it

Analysing the rhetorical appeals

made by multimedia elements
of text

- Purpose
-Audience
-The different appeals (is it personal, logical etc) and the ways
that multimedia enhancing the appeals

Analysing the media choices

used in the text

Look at the various media that have been included:

- Images
- Visual features( fonts, colours, page design)
- Video
- Audio elements
Also you must ask :
- What purpose(s) does the use of each medium seem to have?
- What features of that medium make it an effective or
ineffective choice for the audience and purpose?
- What examples might you point out to illustrate the value of
that medium?

Analysing the multimedia text

in context

How does the media appear?:

- Magazine, essay, newspaper, or website.
Ask:
- What does this publication site tell you about the purpose and
desired relationship with the audience?
- What type of audience is likely to be reached through this
type of medium or site?

Analysing the relationship

between words and other
media

Ask:
- How do the accompanying written words complement the
media employed?
- What do the written words in the text help you notice in the

Analysing

Rhetorical appeals made

by multimedia elements of
text
The video appeals to

reason (logic) which gives

evidence of before and
after of people faces who
used Proactive products. It
also appeals to character
and credibility (Ethos)
which is when people talk
about their own experience
and give genuine feelings
about the product.

Media choices used in the

text
Purpose: To advertise a

product that can clear up

acne on a person face.
Audience: Proactive Plus
targets people with acne
problems.
Importance: To provide
evidence that the product
can work and is affordable
for everyone.

Analysing the multimedia text in

context:
The commercial is used as a advertisement on
TV , magazine and on a website.

(Proactiv Solution,
n.d.)

(Proactiv Official et al.,

2016)

Analysing the relationship between

words and other media
The block font text in the video shows that the

product is new They used the different type

of colour scheme to draw out the price.

(Google Images, n.d.)

(Google Images,
n.d.)

Synthesizing your analyses into a claim

about the overall effectiveness of the text
The Proactive video by its makers, Drs. Katie Rodan

and Kathy Fields repersents a refreshing and a

clean product that helps clear away acne and other
skin care problems. This product targets a variety
of people. The before and after pictures shows
famous and oridinary people who used the product.
Their testimonies explains how they develope
more confidence in themselves by not being selfconscious of having acne. The commerical also
uses the various surroundings in the testimonies to
pursuade the veiwer in how they will get the same
result if they use the product.

Summary:
Analysing Multimedia Texts techniques are

used for critiquing and going in-depth to

understand the different types of multimedia
texts that can be used to communicate to the
viewer. The techniques are aimed to help the
viewer understand the main focus of the text
and what is being shown.

Reference:
BSc, S. C. Example of multimedia. Retrieved November 2, 2016, from

https://www.google.com/search?
q=example+of+multimedia&safe=active&espv=2&biw=1366&bih=638&source=lnms&tb
m=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjGiaaZn4nQAhVMRiYKHUGBDTwQ_AUIBigB#imgrc=LJLJliYi5lY
kcM%3A
Google Images. Advertisment on tv of proactiv plus. Retrieved November 2, 2016, from
https://www.google.com/search?
q=advertisment+on+tv+of+proactiv+plus&safe=active&espv=2&biw=1366&bih=638&s
ource=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwik1YuomonQAhUEJiYKHe15DRgQ_AUIBigB#i
mgrc=QESLEXz-5qRQDM%3A
Google Images. Retrieved November 2, 2016, from https://www.google.com/search?
q=example+of+multimedia&safe=active&espv=2&biw=1366&bih=638&source=lnms&tb
m=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjGiaaZn4nQAhVMRiYKHUGBDTwQ_AUIBigB#imgrc=LJLJliYi5lY
kcM%3A
Proactiv Official, S., 12, 1 -, Srl, T. P. C., reserved, A. rights, LLC, T. P. C., Blvd, 100 S. N.,
opacity . (2016). Clear skin starts with you! Retrieved November 2, 2016, from
https://www.proactiv.com/en_us/uspnlb/?maxRedirect=true
Proactiv Solution. SWEETKISSESnet your number 1 source for Jessica Simpson. Retrieved
November 2, 2016, from http://www.sweetkisses.net/proactiv
Reid, S. P. & Dellicarpini, D. (2014). The prentice hall guide for college writers.

Massachusetts, Boston: Pearson.