Running head: Heart diseases in u.s.

Heart Disease Prevention in the United States

Luis A. Arnal Ortiz

The University of Texas at El Paso

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Heart Disease Prevention in the United States

In recent years, one of the most common chronic diseases to affect the United States

which is also the leading cause of death for both men and women, has been heart diseases. Heart

diseases affect two out of three people and claim more lives throughout the year than all forms of

cancer combined. It is because of these facts that action should be taken in order to prevent this

life taking diseases. The following two different genres will discuss and focus on the prevention

of heart diseases in the United States. The first type of genre being analyzed is of the typography

type, a report and a website by The American Heart Association where current statistics are

presented in regards to this topic, prevention management is presented throughout their website

alongside more information pertaining to heart conditions. The second genre analyzed is an

iconography product coming from a video posted on a website called bigthink.com. In this video

a certified doctor talks about five different strategies for preventing heart diseases. These two

genres and their views in regards to this issue will be discussed throughout the remainder of the

paper. The analysis will focus in the following areas of this topic: structure and delivery,

audience and purpose, and the rhetorical issues.

Structure and Delivery

In the first genre, the information is presented through colorful images which captivate

the attention of the users that navigate through the website. Information is organized neatly and

presented in very accessible ways for anyone looking through the website. This genre delivers its

message at its full capacity as it thoroughly covers the issue on the topic. On the second genre

analyzed, the structure of the information being delivered is very simple as one can only see a

doctor speaking about the prevention for heart diseases. The website itself does not provide much

information in regards to the topic which may leave the audience wondering more about the
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credibility and reliability of what was given/said. What makes this genre effective, however, is

the fact that a reliable source is being used to convey the audience that the information being

presented is veridical. A certified doctor presents the facts in regards to the subject. These two

genres are very similar in the information being presented to the public. In the other hand, they

are very different in format, visuals and possibly even the vocabulary that is being used. On one

hand one is purely written as a report presenting statistics and data gathered by many individuals,

while the other genre is a video and the visuals used in it, differ from the report. A slight

difference in vocabulary can be seen between the two genres, as the report uses a more formal

language than the one used throughout the video.

Audience and Purpose

The intended audience/community that is being targeted in the first genre is the general

public, those affected by a heart diseases and the relatives of such persons. In the other hand, the

second genre is targeting an audience who seeks to prevent heart diseases or those looking for

tips in reducing the probability of such. The purpose of the information presented in both genres

is to inform people on how to prevent heart diseases. However, the first genre is more specific as

it lists and describes the statistics of heart diseases in the United States. Both genres can be seen

to encourage general awareness about heart diseases as they are very common in our country at

the present. They provide solutions and tips for preventing cardiovascular diseases, one more

specific and more broad than the other, through the use and knowledge from doctors in the field.

Rhetorical Issues

Within these two genres, it is somewhat difficult to identify the rhetorical issues used

throughout the information, as they do not seem evident at first sight. However, after carefully

analyzing both genres, one can find these rhetorical issues throughout the content. In the
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typography genre, its selection of statistics, data and images help establish the credibility of the

source, the logos, as well as the fact that is coming from a reliable website where doctors and

health professionals contribute to the information presented. This can be proven by the

statements made by The American Heart Association. the organization uses donations to fund

research projects. Research applications are carefully weighed and selected by teams of scientists

and healthcare professionals who volunteer for the association. In this statement, one can see

how the information used for the report is carefully reviewed and selected in order to presented

to the public. Only veridical information is permitted in the report. The pathos of this genre can

be found by the use of some images which can be found throughout the website in order to

appeal to the peoples emotions. Children can be seen playing with the parents or elderly which

will appeal to the hearts of the viewers/users subconsciously telling them to take care of their

health in order to live and enjoy a longer and healthier life with their loved ones. In the second

genre, the iconography, the use of a video presented by a reliable source, a doctor, helps establish

the credibility of the information presented to the public. The use of a professional helps ensure

people will find the information reliable and veridical as it is coming from someone of expertise.

The second type of genre, does not seem to provoke an emotional response from the audience as

it shows no evidence of trying to appeal directly or indirectly to the emotions, rather it is

appealing to the rationale and credibility of the sources, the ethos and logos. Evidence such as

case studies, statistics, and data analysis is used to support the claims of the information in both

genres. As stated previously, a doctor is used in order to appeal to the ethos in the audience. One

of these two genres, the iconography, is missing of these appeals, which can affect the overall

tone and message of this source.

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Conclusion

Overall, both genres discussed the topic very well. Both genres appear to have achieved

their end goal of promoting the prevention of heart diseases, as well as leaving valuable

information for the audience to use in their daily lives and take better health of their hearts. In

one way, both genres provided veridical information for the audience by the use of statistics, data

analysis and health professionals, ensuring the audience would feel safe and would trust the

information given. In the end, the typography genre, appears to be more effective in conveying

its message as there is plenty of information for the audience and it is divided by different topics

(prevention, effects, deaths, statistics, etc.) A handful of text may seem boring at first, but it can

be more reliable than a person talking in a video which can distract and lose peoples attention if

it is too long. However, the second genre allowed for an easier interpretation of the content due

to its structure and delivery. In the end, both genres have a tremendous impact on the targeted

audience/community as they are conveying the answers these people are looking out to get.
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References

Bowden, J. (n.d.). Five Strategies for Preventing Heart Diseases. Retrieved 2015, from

http://bigthink.com/videos/5-strategies-for-preventing-heart-disease

Heart and Stroke Association Statistics. (n.d.). Retrieved February 04, 2017, from

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/General/Heart-and-Stroke-Association-

Statistics_UCM_319064_SubHomePage.jsp