Report on My Interviews

Okie dokie, the interviews have been done.

"Computer". 1/31/16 via pixabay. CC0 Public Domain.

I felt nervous at first, but everything turned out great! I met with Dr. Cohen, a U of A physiology professor, and Ned, a U of A second year medical student.

What are the most significant or interesting genres that you learned about from your interviewees? 

• Patient history reports

• Personal statements

• Academic blog writing

How do these genres differ from on another? (genre conventions, content, purpose, audience, message, context)?

• Patient history reports

• Written strictly by doctors for other doctors

• The purpose is to write down the necessary information concerning a patient

• The idea is that if an emergency occurs, doctors will know exactly what treatments the patient has gone through, who has seen the patient, what the patient's symptoms are, etc.

• This report is supposed to be as condensed as possible and there is specific terminology to use

• Very delicate, concerns patient health so doctors have to be careful and detailed

• Personal statements

• Written by medical school applicants for admissions committees

• The purpose is to tell your story, why you want to go to medical school, what your goals are, who you want to be

• Supposed to be relatively short, about a page and a half, and structured like an essay but not really

• There is some creative freedom, as long as you incorporate the necessary answers to the questions they ask

• Very important part of the application!

• Academic blog writing

• Written by professors for other professors, students, or others interested in the field

• The purpose is to inform and pass along information, analysis, etc.

• Much like my blog, the conventions are to be relatively brief, but since writing academically is more of a professional setting, the tone is more serious 

• There are less constraints regarding content

Based on the information you gathered in your interviews, what is a challenge about writing within these genres (from a professional POV)?

• Patient history report

• Very specific terminology

• Have to correctly identify symptoms, diseases, treatments and write them in a way that is universally understood in the medical setting

• Extremely detailed, but have to fit the necessary info and organize it so it doesn't take too much space

• Personal statement

• It is difficult to condense a life story into a page and a half

• Students often misunderstand the purpose and end up writing about the wrong thing

• Have to figure out what is the best way to represent yourself through your own style of writing

• Academic blog

• Have to condense information but be thorough at the same time

• Unsure of audience reaction

Based on the information you gathered in your interviews, what is a reward about writing within these genres (from a professional POV)?

• Patient history report

• Able to quickly communicate patient information from doctor to doctor

• Great organizational way to write all about the patient, diagnosis, treatment

• Can be used years later and doctors will still be able to understand

• Personal statement

• Creative way to explain who you are and why you want to attend medical school

• You get to write about yourself

• Good way to evaluate goals and ambitions

• Academic blog

• Able to write about a lot of topics within the field

• Interaction with audience

Where in mass media can examples of this genre be found?

• Patient history report

• Will definitely not be in mass media!

• Found in doctor's office, hospitals, etc.

• Patients usually do not see these

• Personal statement

• Will also not be in mass media

• Found in student's computers and in admissions offices

• Academic blog

• Found in media!

• Online blogs or websites that post content concerning this topic

I learned so much about writing in the medical field! I can't wait to continue researching these genres and constructing my podcast.