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.

From Academia to Social Media

It might be helpful to learn about how writers express themselves in social media.

"Online". 10/1/15 via pixabay. CC0 Public Domain.

I tried looking through the Mayo book and searching for those authors online, but I did not really find anyone. This is probably due to the fact that the journal was published in 1986, before the big boom of social media.

So then I tried looking for authors from The American Journal of Surgery.
Again, no luck.

I think this is due to the fact that doctors tend to keep a very low profile. Ned talked about this in our interview.

I will continue looking and will update soon, hopefully.

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

My Field of Study

Before I keep going, I should take a step back and think about what this project means to me--and how my field of study plays a role in it.

I am a Physiology major and a pre-medicine student at the University of Arizona.

"Old Main". 4/11/09 via wikimedia. Attribution Share-Alike 2.0 Generic.

What Students In My Program Learn

• How the human body works (molecular through systematic levels)

• What factors play a role in human health 

• Lots of science!

Where People Go With Their Degrees

• Many physiology majors are also pre-medicine students because the requirements align really well. 

• Most people apply to medical, dental, physicians assistant, physical therapy, and nursing schools, and hopefully get in.

• The medical field is extremely large, so a solid majority of people who earn this type of degree go into some level of it.

Why Did I Choose This Field?

• I am actually a double major. I am doing Physiology and Family Studies because I want to be a pediatrician! Or an emergency medicine physician. Or (if I can do it) a surgeon.

• Throughout high school, I absolutely loved Biology, specifically the physiology and anatomy sections, so it makes sense to major in it. The human body is incredible complex but it makes so much sense and the information is appealing and important. I love it.

• Why I want to be a doctor is a big question. There are so many reasons. I think the most effective way to sum it up is by saying I am the type of person who needs a purpose. And I don't think there is a better purpose than helping others. 

Important People In The Field

• Dr. Redmond Burke, M.D. (Cardiac Surgeon)

• More information can be found here. 

• He founded the Congenital Heart Institute at Miami Children's Hospital. He has been the lead surgeon on many first-time surgeries in the hospital, including heart-lung transplants and open tricuspid value replacement. 

•  Dr. Wirginia Maixner, M.D. (Neurosurgeon)

• More information can be found here. 

• She is leading brain stem implants and separating conjoined twins at Royal Children's Hospital in Australia and is helping bring in many new procedures. 

• Dr. Jacqueline Pongracic, M.D. (Pediatric Immunologist)

• More information can be found here. 

• She is developing a new method to help young children build tolerance to some allergies. Studies are being conducted.

Leading Academic Journals

• The New England Journal of Medicine

• Where Published
• Published by Masachussets Medical Society
• Available online and in print 

•  The Journal of The American Medical Association
• Where Published
• Published by American Medical Association
• Available online and in print in the U.S.

• The American Journal of Surgery
• Where Published
• Publish by Elsevier
• Available online across U.S. 

 

Rhetorical Analysis of Academic Journal

So I went on a journey to the library, okay. I was searching for one of the journals I mentioned on this post.

So, I'm casually hanging out in the library, okay. I've been searching for a while, but cannot find any of the three journals from before.

But I found something else that is equally awesome!

This is The Mayo Clinic Proceedings journal from July-December 1986. The journal is older than I am, but as we all know, Mayo Clinic is incredible innovative, so I'm guessing either the library did not have a copy of new editions or the journal went digital.


Hang onto your hats, because it is time for a rhetorical analysis.

• Authors

• There are about 10 entries by 35 authors in each section of the journal. There 6 total sections ranging from July to December.

• Most of the authors are doctors with medical degrees and a few work in the public health field but do not have a medical degree.

• The authors are portrayed under purely professional light. They write about clinical procedures, new proposals, experiments, etc.

• These are some title examples that show the overall tone of the articles

• "The relationship between atrial granularity and circulating atrial natriuretic peptide in hamsters with congestive heart failure"

• "Current techniques for the surgical management of malignant lesions of the thoracic esophagus and cardia"

•  "Purcutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty: current status and future trends"

• Audience

• The audience is other doctors or professionals in the medical field.

• The detailed nature of all the articles and the use of vocabulary show this journal is meant for people who has gone through some extent of medical training or education that will allow them to understand the topic.

• A secondary audience may be Mayo Clinic administration or people who are in charge of organizing these publications. Maybe the doctors are under a contract to publish on a regular basis.

•  Context

• Doctors submit an article for peer review before it is published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings journal. From here, health care professionals across the country can read about these clinical procedures and suggestions and maybe adapt them into their own practices or continue researching.

• This affects he content because the material that goes into the journal must be deemed "useful" or "purposeful". It must provide others with a basis or understanding of concepts that will improve patient care and advance medical procedures.

• Examples of this can be found sprinkles around in "discussion" sections of articles. They all say the work presented is important and valuable.

• "Considerable interest has been focused on evaluating the risk factors associated with restenosis.."

• Message

• The overall message of the journal is that clinical procedures are complex but important to know and improve.

•  Purpose

• The purpose is to inform, share, and educate others on the role of clinical procedures. 

• This is evident in the way diagrams and tables are included to help others understand procedures. Also, the discussion sections often explain how procedures can be improved.  

Do you think this is a good medical journal? Why or why not?

My Interviewees on Social Media

Now, I will explore my interviewees' social media presence to get a fuller picture of who they are and how they communicate differently for different purposes.

"Social Media". 2/6/16 via pixabay. CC0 Public Domain.

Okay, honestly, I am feeling very low key stalkerish, but whatever, here we go.

Ned Premyodhin

I found him on Facebook and LinkedIn.

• Social Media Presence

• Since I am not FB friends with Ned, I am not entirely sure what he has been sharing and posting, but I can see some posts. 

• Ned posts a lot of personal pictures about his trips and adventures.

• He also shares links to articles and leaves detailed, thoughtful comments on the subject. 

• He updates his friends on the big events of his life such as graduation, starting medical school, leaving and entering jobs, etc.

• Overall, he has a warm, nice, active social media life.

• Social Media Persona vs. Academia Persona

• When it comes to discussing important issues, Ned takes a serious approach and writes clearly and effectively.

• This can be seen throughout his whole article and when commenting on links he shares through Facebook.

• However, it is important to remember he is also a regular person who jokes around. This social media persona is definitely different than the professional publication persona.

• He shared a link to a song remix with the comment "hope that play button is 18 because i've been tapping it all night".

Dr. Zoe Cohen

I found her on LinkedIn and mentions of her on Facebook.

• Social Media Presence

•  Dr. Cohen seems to generally stay away from media. I was only able to find her on LinkedIn, which is more professional. And even then, that profile is not very detailed. I gathered the following:

• She posted on her profile she is currently a Physiology professor at U of A

• She updated some of her interests (molecular biology, research, teaching)

• Social Media Persona vs Academia Persona

• I was unable to find publications so I am cannot really compare these personalities.

• It is evident Dr. Cohen generally stays away from social media though, which is something I could definitely ask about during the interview. 

Do you think I am on the right path to investigating my interviewees? What are you doing differently?

My Interviewees as Professional Writers

Now that I have identified my interviewees, I will be taking a closer look into their publications.

"Microscope". 5/24/13 via pixabay. CC0 Public Domain.

Ned is a medical student at the U of A, but before applying, he worked as a biomedical engineer. He was a co-author in a scientific journal that details an E. coli experiment.

• I was only able to find one publication. I will ask if others exist during the interview. The scientific journal can be found here. 

• Genre: Scientific Journal

• What makes it special: It is fantastically detailed and to the point. It has the following subsections: Abstract, Into, Methods, Design, Results, Conclusion. The purpose is to explain an experiment and share the results. 
• Formatting: APA
• Conventions: detailed, not too much white space, columns, diagrams and tables
• Content: Strictly scientific, no room for jokes here

• Context of publication

• The experiment's objective was to distinguish between E. coli strands and species through the use of their metabolic functions, as stated in the abstract
• "The models are used to determine functinal differences between strains and define the E.coli species based on common metabolic capabilities".

•  The ideas developed in the study can be useful to drug development, as stated in the discussion portion. 
• "Ultimately, this understanding can be leveraged to formulate strain and species specific drug development and therapeutic approaches"

• Overall message

• Besides providing a detailed summary and analysis of the experiment, the publication is essentially saying the topic of E. coli and species is important and should continue to be studied. 
• "In addition to this fundamental advance, the niche specific characteristics provide a basis for understanding strain and species specific parthenogenesis".

• Purpose
• To tell people this investigation needs to be taken forward!
•  "Similar studies of diverse strains for species beyond E.coli will further define the concept of a species".  

Unfortunately, I was unable to find publications by Dr. Cohen on her website. I will inquire about this during our interview.