Rhetorical Analysis Assignment(Technical Writing)

From: Charles Warren CW

Date: 29 September 2017

Subject: Rhetorical Analysis of “If Your Child Has Cancer”

This memo serves as a rhetorical analysis of a page on the American Cancer Society website that provides information to parents of children who have cancer. This memo will examine the webpage and use Markel’s “Measure of Excellence in Technical Documents” (2016, p. 8) as a guideline for determining the page’s effectiveness.

Summary

Overall, the webpage meets the criteria for technical documents set out by Markel, despite having a few areas for improvement. The document is easy to read, full of important information, and is written in language that matches the audience. There are no flashy elements or graphics on the page, which keeps the focus on the words. It is accurate and honest without destroying the hope of parents in a difficult stage of their life.

Professional Appearance and Accessibility

From a visual standpoint, the page is rather plain. There are no graphics or colors beyond the American Cancer Society’s (ACS) logo at the top of the page. However, the lack of visual interest is appropriate for the content of the page. Cancer is a heavy subject and it becomes even more delicate in regards to children. A page without distraction matches the somewhat intense subject matter. This is especially true because the page is designed for parents. If the website was intended for children to learn about cancer, it would no longer reach the audience effectively.

The headlines are large and clear. Each section addresses a major part of understanding childhood cancer, from diagnosis to treatment. Additionally, the major sections include subsections that address questions the parent should ask a doctor. The document would be improved if there was a table of contents on the side that allowed the reader to click to a specific area. This would allow parents at any stage in the process of caring for a child with cancer to locate information specific to their current needs.

Clarity and Conciseness

The document is set up to have great clarity. It is labeled as an easy read and provides the definition and pronunciation of medical terms that the average person may not know. As mentioned, it is clearly labeled and the design is easy to follow. Anyone looking for information about childhood cancer will find what they seek.

Each paragraph is relatively short and to the point. All of the information listed is important and useful to the audience. The writer also utilizes bulleted lists to make information easier to read. Because the audience is parents in a difficult and emotional spot in life, the clarity conciseness of this document is very important. If the document was cluttered or lengthy, an already overwhelmed parent would likely feel in over their head. Medicine can be hard to understand, so the ACS does a good job of making it easy for parents in a trying time.

Honesty and Accuracy

The webpage provides plenty of information in an understandable way, and does so without making false promises. It goes through the stages of cancer and many types of cancer treatment in a direct manner. The language is easy to understand. Additionally, the ACS reminds the parent to ask a doctor any questions specific to their child. It would be dishonest for this corporation to make bold claims about any case, as they do not interact with any families. It is purely informative, which allows it to remain honest.

There are no inaccuracies on the page. The ACS is a reputable organization with a team of professionals that composed the document. The doctors and nurses that helped with the webpage are doing the research and the work, so they have a perspective on the content that equips them to write on it well.

Comprehensiveness and Correctness

The webpage is designed to follow along in each stage of a parent’s journey through their child’s illness. It begins with diagnosis information and continues to treatment options. There is also a phone number for the ACS listed so that parents can call for additional resources. While there is no information for a specific type of cancer, the webpage is comprehensive for its purpose. A parent who recently found out their child was diagnosed with cancer could read about the stages of cancer and discover questions to ask their doctor. Another parent could learn the types of treatments available and be more knowledgeable when creating a treatment plan with their doctor. Any general information a person might need can be found on the page.

There were no spelling or grammar issues found on the page. Additionally, the writers made it easier for people to read by providing pronunciations and definitions of difficult medical words, adding clarity. The correctness of the document increases the accuracy.

Conclusion

I found that the document met the criteria of excellence. Despite heavy subject matter, the webpage was easy to read and understand. For the sake of analysis, I put myself in the shoes of the audience. I appreciated that there were no major distractions on the page, such as bright colors or unnecessary graphics. It made it easier to focus on the important parts of the document. As a viewer, I found myself wishing there was a way to find a specific section or subsection without reading the entire page. A table of contents, either at the top of the page or floating on the side, would increase ease of use. Overall, the document was easy to access and easy to read.

References

If your child has cancer. (2016, August 22). Retrieved September 30, 2017, from American Cancer Society website: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-in-children/if-your-child-has-cancer.html

Markel, M. (2016). Practical strategies for technical communication (Second ed.). Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin's.