Paper Example on CDC's ADHD Info: A Rhetorical Analysis

The project will be a rhetorical analysis of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) information on Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This information is available on the CDC’s official website and can be accessed freely through the internet connection. The CDC publishes trusted information on its website in summary form but provides subsequent links for anyone wishing to obtain detailed data on the subject. In comparison to other sources on ADHD, the CDC does not provide detailed information. In other words, it is sympathetic to the reader, whereby it provides basic information to the readers but avails links where the reader can access more data. The report uses ethos, pathos, and kairos rhetorical techniques to appeal to the audience as it passes on the information concerning the ADHD; however, it fails to clearly utilize logos.

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The CDC employed ethos to persuade the readers that the information provided on ADHD is credible. Ethos refers to the appeal to the authority of the source or the presenter (Rife, 2010). The CDC is a trusted source as it is run by the government. Therefore the audience will easily trust the source given that the government reviews all the data before it makes it public or rather publishes it. Further, the report uses ethos by providing up to date data; hence the audience is guaranteed to obtain current data from the website. Even though the CDC website mentions some contributing factors (shown by research), it does not provide concrete research evidence to show that the factors listed are the cause of ADHD. However, other eBooks such one written by Wender (2000), discusses in depth how ADHD is more predominate in boys than in girls and is often accompanied by learning disorders, such as reading, spelling, or arithmetic. Nonetheless, both the CDC website and other readings agree that ADHD is hereditary, and the signs and symptoms are also similar in nature.

Additionally, the CDC uses pathos by appealing to the audience's emotions. Pathos refers to the authors to attempt to persuade the audience or readers emotionally by invoking empathy, and sympathy (Rife, 2010). The data provided by the CDC report is sympathetic in order to accommodate all types of audiences. For instance, it provides an overview of ADHD in simpler terms such that any person who accesses it can easily read and understand the information. Further, the CDC reports accommodate the experts and those who need technical details concerning the ADHD by providing links to further scientific reports.

The authors also use the Kairos rhetorical technique to persuade the audience. Kairos concerns the utilization of time and place as an additional advantage to persuade the audience or readers (Rife, 2010). With the current development of the internet and the surge in individuals who access it, CDC demonstrates Kairos by utilizing the time (internet era) to reach out to as many audiences as possible. Through their website, CDC makes the data accessible to millions of people across the world. Using the internet to provide information is a great way to present data because the internet is easily accessible to many people, especially in their homes, work, and or in public libraries. Before the internet, our main source of information on ADHD would come from books and or the doctors. The internet has opened many doors for how information is not only shared but displayed. As previously mentioned, the CDC utilizes the internet era to its advantage; for instance, it is able to offer links where the readers can get help, whereas the eBooks I read do not have this option. The eBooks go into much further detail on ADHD and provide greater insight into the disorder. However, the eBooks do not offer where to get help for the disorder, whereas the CDC’s website article does. The CDC’s website is also updated regularly, whereas eBooks or books, in general, would need to be reprinted in order to stay up to date.

In its report on ADHD, CDC logos, or rather a logical appeal is not employed to support their statements. Logos refers to the use of figures and facts to support the speaker’s thesis or claims; it enhances ethos (Rife, 2010). Compared to other resources such as eBooks, the CDC report is lengthy and contains less information. For examples, statistics are provided in the eBook titled ‘ADHD: Cognitive Symptoms, Genetics and Treatment Outcomes’ where Russell Thompson, (2013), states that “ADHD is estimated to be present in 3-7% of school-aged populations and can result in significant impairment in academic, social and family functioning.” On the contrary, in the CDC report, the organization states that ADHD is one of the most commonly diagnosed disorders in children but does not provide facts or figures to support the statement. However, the authors provide links for the readers to be able to access further details from the primary resources, with most of them have detailed statistics on ADHD. The fact that they offer such a service (the links to get help) is a very useful tool to have and makes their website more interesting and reliable.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the CDC uses ethos, pathos, and Kairos rhetorical techniques to persuade the audience. However, it fails to utilize logos effectively. The CDC uses logos by appealing to the audience as a government-run site; hence all information is verified before being published. It also utilizes pathos by being sympathetic to all types of audiences. Further, it employs Kairos by taking advantage of the internet era, to publish information online and provide links that are accessible across the globe. On the contrally, CDC does not appeal to logos as it fails to provide facts and figures to back claims concerning ADHD.

References

Rife, M. C. (2010). Ethos, pathos, logos, kairos: Using a rhetorical heuristic to mediate digital-survey recruitment strategies. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication, 53(3), 260-277. Doi: 10.1109/tpc.2010.2052856

Thompson, R., & Miller, N. J. (2013). ADHD: cognitive symptoms, genetics and treatment outcomes. New York: Nova Biomedical.

Wender, P. H. (2000). ADHD: attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and adults. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press.