In today’s world, advertising is everywhere we look. It is on billboards, on television, on our phones and computers, and even on the clothes we wear. As a result, it has a tremendous impact on our lives, and whether that impact is positive or negative is up for debate. In this essay, I will examine both the positive and negative effects of advertising and argue that the negative effects outweigh the positive.

On the positive side, advertising can be informative and help us make informed choices. For example, if we are in the market for a new car, we can watch commercials, read reviews, and compare prices to find the best car for our needs. Additionally, advertising can help us discover new products that we might not have known about otherwise. This can lead to a greater variety of choices and more competition, which can benefit consumers.

However, the negative effects of advertising are more significant. For one, advertising is designed to manipulate our emotions and influence our behavior. Advertisers use a range of tactics to get us to buy their products, such as appealing to our sense of self-worth or creating a sense of urgency. This can lead to impulsive and unnecessary purchases, which can be harmful to our finances and mental well-being.

Moreover, advertising perpetuates unrealistic beauty standards and creates a culture of materialism. Advertisements often feature models who are unrealistically thin or photoshopped, leading to body image issues and low self-esteem. Additionally, advertising promotes the idea that our value and happiness are tied to the things we own, which can lead to a never-ending cycle of consumption and debt.

In conclusion, while advertising can have some positive effects, the negative effects are more significant. It is important to be critical of the messages that advertising sends and to make informed choices based on our own needs and values, rather than on the messages we receive from advertisers. As consumers, we have the power to influence the impact of advertising on our lives, and we should use that power wisely.

Vocabulary Words:

1. Informative – providing useful or helpful information
2. Informed choices – choices made with knowledge and understanding
3. Manipulate – to control or influence in a skillful or unfair way
4. Impulsive – acting without thinking or planning
5. Unnecessary – not needed or required
6. Perpetuates – makes something continue or last longer
7. Unrealistic – not realistic; not based on what is likely or possible
8. Body image – a person’s subjective perception of their own body
9. Self-esteem – confidence in one’s own worth or abilities
10. Materialism – a preoccupation with material objects rather than spiritual or intellectual values

Linkers:

1. However – used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or disagrees with what was said previously
2. For one – used to introduce the first of several points
3. Moreover – used to introduce a further idea or reason in support of or in contrast to a previous one
4. In conclusion – used to introduce the final statement or opinion in a text
5. While – used to introduce a contrasting point or idea

Explanation:

The vocabulary words are the specific words used in the essay that carry the meaning of the sentences. They are usually used to describe something or someone or to express an idea. In this essay, the vocabulary words used include informative, manipulated, impulsive, unrealistic, body image, and materialism.

Linkers are the words or phrases that connect different ideas or sentences in a text. They are used to show the relationship between the ideas and make the text more cohesive. In this essay, the linkers used include however, for one, moreover, in conclusion, and while. They are used to introduce a contrasting point, the first point of several, an additional idea or reason, the final statement or opinion, and a contrasting idea or point, respectively.