Academic Discourse and Genre

Now that I know more about the types of writing in my field and where they are located, I can talk about the different genres.

"Medical". 12/10/14 via pixabay. CC0 Public Domain.

Since I am a pre-medicine student, most of the writings I can analyze for this project are scientific papers from research.

I looked through a Mayo Clinic journal that I found at the library.

How many different kinds of genres seem to be published in this issue?
Genres are identifiable by their form, content, techniques, or social function.

• The only genre that is found here is scientific research papers. Everything has a clear abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, and references section. 

• The papers only differ in the "main character"
• certain bacteria or organism, specific clinical procedure, specific equipment 

Identify three different genres within the journal issue. Describe the significant formal differences between them. (I made up these names)

• The ism experiment

• Name?

• I chose this name, because this genre revolves around explaining the effects a certain treatment has on an organism and why this is important to the medical field. The aim of this genre is to explain how these findings can logically be adapted or played with to help humans.

•  How is it different?

•  The aim of this genre is to explain how these findings can logically be adapted or played with to help humans.

• The audience is anyone in medicine, really.

• Could be considered in its "early stage", because the fun is really just beginning

• The procedure police

• Name?

• I came up with this name because the genre reminds me of those situations where you're hanging out and then an older adult is like "you should do this and this in this particular way because...". And although you are slightly skeptical at first, you know they are right.

• How is it different?

• The aim of this genre is to propose new plans for solving the problems in medicine. These can be surgical or medical.

• The audience is definitely other doctors who are also able to perform these procedures.

• Considered to be in more advanced stages, because the findings here can be applied to the field more easily

• The Dr. Gadget

• Name?

• I picked this name because I remember watching Inspector Gadget as a kid, and that movie is what came to mind when reading these types of papers.

• How is it different?

• The aim is to show new technology and equipment in the medical field and how it can help further develop procedures and clinical studies.

• The audience is broader, can be medical doctors and engineers

• Considered to be in the middle stages, because the tools are there, but not everyone is completely familiar with them yet 

Come up with your own definition for each genre. Explain the purpose of each genre and how it meets the needs of the intended audience.

• I actually answered these questions in the previous block! Yay! 

• As for the definitions...

• The ism experiment 
• A scientific paper written for the general medical audience in order to explain the effect of certain organisms/treatments on other organisms
• The baby in the family of medical journal genres

• The procedure police
• A scientific paper written for other doctors that explains better ways to solve problems in the field
• The wise young adult of medical journal genres

• The Dr. Gadget 
• A scientific paper written for a medical/engineering audience that informs on new technology that will help the field
• The teen with a lot of ideas of medical journal genres