Rhetorical Analysis of the CDC Public Document on ADHD
The Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project reports that one out of every three American adults have researched medical conditions online (Fox & Duggan, 2013). Understandably, the government often utilizes the internet to inform the general public of information regarding diseases and disorders since they know the internet will be where a person would look first. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is no exception to this standard. In order to educate the public regarding Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), the CDC has composed a document on their website entitled “Facts About ADHD” (“Facts About ADHD”, 2016). The ultimate goal of the CDC …show more content…
When the reader sees the picture of the students working while the child in the back is misbehaving, the reader subconsciously will ask why this child is acting out. The text explaining signs that a child may have ADHD is strategically placed next to this photo. The CDC uses photos and text several more times in this document to speak to the emotional side of the reader. The photo of the children bouncing on balls is strategically placed so parents can ask themselves since all children are active how can a determination be made if a child’s behavior is indicative of ADHD. As discussed earlier, tone can be used when reasoning with readers. Additionally, tone can be utilize to stimulate actions. The CDC makes the statement, “In order to make sure your child reaches his or her full potential, it is very important to get help for ADHD as early as possible” (“Facts About ADHD”, 2016, para. 15). The tone in this statement is direct, but the underlying implication says if a parent does not take action now their child will not develop completely. A caring parent would be disgusted by the feeling of depriving their child of full development. The element of disgust and the fear associated with failing their child is an effective method to persuade a person to action (Morales, Wu, & Fitzsimons, …show more content…
Understandably, the government often utilizes the internet to inform the general public of information regarding diseases and disorders since they know the internet will be where a person would look first. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is no exception to this standard. In order to educate the public regarding Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), the CDC has composed a document on their website entitled “Facts About ADHD” (“Facts About ADHD”, 2016). The ultimate goal of the CDC is to incite the readers of this document to get their child tested for ADHD. The document was composed effectively to get the desired results by explaining the facts about ADHD, establishing the credibility of the text, and stimulating an emotional response from the
The Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project reports that one out of every three American adults have researched medical conditions online (Fox & Duggan, 2013). Understandably, the government often utilizes the internet to inform the general public of information regarding diseases and disorders since they know the internet will be where a person would look first. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is no exception to this standard. In order to educate the public regarding Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), the CDC has composed a document on their website entitled “Facts About ADHD” (“Facts About ADHD”, 2016). The ultimate goal of the CDC …show more content…
When the reader sees the picture of the students working while the child in the back is misbehaving, the reader subconsciously will ask why this child is acting out. The text explaining signs that a child may have ADHD is strategically placed next to this photo. The CDC uses photos and text several more times in this document to speak to the emotional side of the reader. The photo of the children bouncing on balls is strategically placed so parents can ask themselves since all children are active how can a determination be made if a child’s behavior is indicative of ADHD. As discussed earlier, tone can be used when reasoning with readers. Additionally, tone can be utilize to stimulate actions. The CDC makes the statement, “In order to make sure your child reaches his or her full potential, it is very important to get help for ADHD as early as possible” (“Facts About ADHD”, 2016, para. 15). The tone in this statement is direct, but the underlying implication says if a parent does not take action now their child will not develop completely. A caring parent would be disgusted by the feeling of depriving their child of full development. The element of disgust and the fear associated with failing their child is an effective method to persuade a person to action (Morales, Wu, & Fitzsimons, …show more content…
Understandably, the government often utilizes the internet to inform the general public of information regarding diseases and disorders since they know the internet will be where a person would look first. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is no exception to this standard. In order to educate the public regarding Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), the CDC has composed a document on their website entitled “Facts About ADHD” (“Facts About ADHD”, 2016). The ultimate goal of the CDC is to incite the readers of this document to get their child tested for ADHD. The document was composed effectively to get the desired results by explaining the facts about ADHD, establishing the credibility of the text, and stimulating an emotional response from the