Rhetorical Analysis (1).edited
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1
Rhetorical Analysis
Grand Canyon University
Professor Feldbush
ENG-105
Rhetorical Analysis
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a condition that is becoming
prevalent in the United States. The condition is more common among children; however, it's not
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exclusive to them as it can also affect adults. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) is a government department mandated to inform citizens regarding the causes, symptoms,
and treatment approaches related to ADHD. To effectively achieve the set-out goal, the
department has designed a website that contains all the information related to ADHD. The
website's authors target an audience of parents, teachers, and healthcare professionals. As a
result, it is essential to evaluate the rhetorical appeals utilized by the website's authors to
determine whether they effectively communicate the message to the audience.
Ethos is one of the appeals that has been extensively used on the website. The authors on
the CDC website focus on persuading the audience by using their status, research, and credible
sources (Varpio, 2018). First, the CDC is a reputable and respected health organization in the
United States which automatically lends credibility to the information presented on the ADHD
websites. The CDC logo displayed on the website immediately aligns with the information
presented by the organization. In this case, the readers are more likely to trust the website content
since it is associated with the CDC. The information provided on the website is supported
heavily by hyperlinks that lead to other reputable websites and resources; hence the reader is
provided with the opportunity to verify the content by themselves. By incorporating the
hyperlinks, the reader immediately understands that the website's authors are dedicated to
evidence-based research practices by referring to reputable sources. For instance, under the
subtopic diagnosis, the website authors provide a link directing the reader to a new website with
detailed diagnostic criteria for ADHD. Notably, the ethos rhetorical appeal has been utilized
extensively by the website authors, and it has been effective in establishing credibility and
assuring readers they can rely on the information presented.
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Pathos is another rhetorical appeal applied by the website authors to reach the audience
and connect with them. The strategy involves appealing to the audience's emotions, whereby the
authors express feelings to persuade (Varpio, 2018). Even though the ADHD condition can affect
adults, the information on the website is focused on how children can be assisted, as they are the
most affected group. For instance, the authors highlight that children at times struggle to
concentrate on one thing; nonetheless, if they show consistent signs, it could mean they have
ADHD (What is ADHD? 2022). This information is passed using empathetic language that
shows support and emotional appeal. Using visual elements is another strategy employed on the
website to establish pathos. One image shows a mother holding her child, and below it is a link
directing parents to a website informing them on how they can take care of a child with ADHD
amidst the Covid 19 pandemic (What is ADHD? 2022). On the other hand, another image shows
a mother with her two daughters speaking to a doctor (What is ADHD? 2022). The images
highlighted are meant to evoke the emotions of the audience. Additionally, the website includes
success stories and accounts of individuals who have managed ADHD effectively. The stories
inspire hope within the readers and encourage those who are hesitant to seek the appropriate
interventions and support to help them deal with the condition. Overall, the website effectively
manages to tap into the audience's emotions, particularly parents whose children have ADHD.
The final rhetorical appeal utilized on the CDC website is logos. The appeal relies on
logical reasoning, evidence, and factual information to persuade the audience that the
information on ADHD presented is credible (Koszowy et al., 2022). An example of logical
reasoning can be seen from the statement, " Research does not support the popularly held views
that ADHD is caused by eating too much sugar, watching too much television, parenting, or
social and environmental factors such as poverty or family chaos," (What is ADHD? 2022). The
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statement demystifies existing preconceptions regarding the causes of ADHD. On the other hand,
the website presents data from reputable sources that inform the prevalence of the condition.
According to the CDC, approximately 9.8% or 6 million individuals aged 3-17 have ever been
diagnosed with ADHD (What is ADHD? 2022). Furthermore, 6 out of 10 children diagnosed
with ADHD tend to have another mental, emotional, or behavioral disorder (What is ADHD?
2022). The incorporation of such statistical evidence helps to make the content more persuasive
to the readers. The CDC's use of logos on the website strengthens the informative and persuasive
aspects of their communication as reliance on factual information and evidence establishes the
reliability and credibility of the content.
In conclusion, the CDC website on ADHD effectively uses the rhetorical appeals of
logos, ethos, and pathos to communicate with the audience. Analysis of ethos reveals the
websites' reliance on the CDC's already established authority and credibility on health matters. A
look into pathos establishes that the authors are focused on establishing a connection with the
audience using empathetic language and visual elements. Logos is utilized on the website
through logical reasoning and information support through evidence-based materials and
organizations. The CDC's website is a testament to the power effective communication can have
when creating public awareness of a health issue.
References
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, August 9).
What is ADHD?
Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/facts.html
Koszowy, M., Budzynska, K., Pereira-Fariña, M., & Duthie, R. (2022). From the theory of
rhetoric to the practice of language use: The case of appeals to ethos elements.
Argumentation
,
36
(1), 123–149. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10503-021-09564-0
Varpio, L. (2018). Using rhetorical appeals to credibility, logic, and emotions to increase your
persuasiveness.
Perspectives on Medical Education
,
7
(3), 207–210.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40037-018-0420-2