Running head: RHETORICAL ANALYSIS

Rhetorical Analysis of Academic Writing Paula Rutter Salt Lake Community College

English 101-004 October 15, 2013

RHETORICAL ANALYSIS Rhetorical Analysis of Academic Writing According to my source, childhood obesity rates have risen dramatically over the last few decades. As a result, our nations children are now at risk for obesity related diseases that will likely

prevail into their adult life. Community family physician, Laura DeMattia and lawyer/educator, Shannon Lee Denney compiled data on probable childhood obesity causes in their published article, Childhood Obesity Prevention: Successful Community-Based Efforts (Jan. 2008). DeMattia and Denney focused on identifying external contributing factors that have influenced adolescent behaviors towards morbid weight gain. Their abstract clearly advocates the Ecological Systems Theory which states that individual change cannot be completely explained with considering the ecological niche in which the individual exists (Bronfenbrenner 1986). The authors cited The Ecological Model of Childhood Obesity (Davidson and Birch 2001) for explaining the combined effects of society, family and individual factors that would amplify the causes of childhood obesity (p. 86). Using the Ecological Model as a foundation, the authors lay out a nice framework in sections explaining contributing issues and situations that are influencing obesity rates. By addressing the research data and resulting outcomes, the author have provided convincing information that support their conclusions that when working together, the childs genetic environment, family environment and neighborhood environment are persuasive contributors that can influence sustainable healthy behavior choices in adolescences. The article was published by the American Academy of Political and Social Science (AAPSS), a society comprised of public officials and scholars who address important social problems with the goal of bridging the gap between academic research and the formation of public policy. Because AAPSS reaches a wide range of people who are interested in political and social issues, this was a good forum for the authors to present their academic argument and findings to influential scholars, elected officials and educators from all levels of disciplines.

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DeMattia and Denneys main purpose statement asserts, to achieve the greatest success in curbing the rising levels of childhood obesity, communities, schools and governments must combine their resources and organize the development of early intervention education programs and prevention policies that foster healthy living behaviors for children. To achieve this objective, they organized credible researched evidence including published studies and recommendations that have been proven to slow the rate of childhood obesity. Being a family physician and lawyer/educator respectively, DeMattia and Denney know firsthand that there must be a collaborative effort between parents, schools, community and government programs to work together to provide sustainable intervention practices that support behavior changes that reduce the risk of obesity among children and adolescences. Analyzing Clarity DeMattia and Denney provide a well written abstract identifying the current situation of the rising rate of obese children in America. To introduce their objectives, the authors effectively outline the likely causes and negative effects the obesity epidemic will have on our society and our health care system in the future. To reinforce this data, they provide credible research that directly link obesity to increased probabilities of developing lifelong chronic diseases. Another way the authors clarify their credibility is to reinforce their claims by citing published reports that support their rationale stating, the annual hospital costs related to childhood obesity totaled $127 million from 1997 to 1999, up from $35 million from 1979 to 1981 (Wang and Dietz 2002). Using facts and statistical reports to avoid any misrepresentation makes the subject matter very clear. By using sections and sub headings, the authors easily outline the specific environments they will examine to show how each plays a part in the lifestyle choices that can lead to obesity. DeMattia and Denney astutely identify specific contributors in each section. Each section includes the current situation, supporting research and ultimate outcomes, good or bad, to support their mail idea. Collectively, this approach is effective in showing the connection between the different environments and situations that effect childs activities and behaviors. After explaining the key influences, they provide research and

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evidence to show what types of intervention and education can be implemented to modify the outcome to promote a healthier environment. One way the authors avoided misunderstanding was using the Ecological Model of Childhood Obesity as a reliable resource, to show how the three main environments intertwine with each other. They make a point to define obesity to help the readers understand the population they are writing about. The ecological model they use is an effective tool to clarify their main idea that a combined effort by all three environments would be the most effective sustainable solution to reduce the childhood obesity rate. In each subsequent section, they explain in clear terms what influences, good or bad, each of the models environments (systems) has on the child. By organizing the article in sections, I felt it was easy to understand the authors explanation of each of the environments that influence childhood obesity and the modifications in each environment that would encourage behavior changes. Analyzing Persuasive The authors present convincing arguments to curb childhood obesity by referencing ongoing community programs and government policy changes that are promoting healthy lifestyles along with substantial supporting research data and documented findings. DeMattia and Denney persuade their audience to focus on the modifiable environments identified in this article by showing examples of sustainable health and fitness programs that work to change sedentary lifestyles. They refer back to their outline of the ecological models system using studies and promising programs currently initiated in communities to support their assertion that by integrating the modifiable environments to work together to provide healthy lifestyle choices, this cohesive effort will have the greatest influence on healthy childhood development. To help the reader relate on a personal level, DeMattia and Denney used examples of normal everyday healthy activities people are engaged in to show how modifying a behavior towards a healthier lifestyle can be done. By illustrating how people can choose healthier alternatives in simple day to day routines, they can ultimately shift away from unhealthy behaviors and experience what living healthy

RHETORICAL ANALYSIS feels like. To build on this personal approach and show how persuasive this growing awareness is becoming, the authors identify commonly used industries people utilize every day and what changes are occurring towards healthier alternatives in the food industry and cultural behaviors. They transition effectively to compelling examples of collaborative efforts by neighborhoods,

communities and school education programs in the last two sections with supporting research to reinforce their main rationale of integrating healthy choices in the childs modifiable environments to have the best sustainable healthy behavior outcomes. The authors use of recent collaborations that have changed public health outcomes to reverse the current obesity trend provides convincing validation that the articles information and claims are credible. Conclusion DeMattia and Denney wrote a compelling argument maintaining their main focus that in order to reduce the rising rate of childhood obesity, the childs environment at home, school and community need to partner together to influence children to adopt sustainable healthier lifestyle behaviors. Using research studies and reliable data in each section to address the concerns being voiced over the rising childhood obesity trend, they established a strong basis to outline their ideas and recommendations to reverse this unhealthy growing trend. I feel the authors connected effectively with their intended audience. Their findings reached out to women in childbearing years, educators, community organizations and policy makers who are personally connected to bettering the health and welfare of children everywhere. They effectively identified what the community efforts in various states had accomplished by updating their school nutritional standards and developing successful programs of healthy lifestyle activities for their children to incorporate into their daily activities. DeMattia and Denneys article was well written and organized. They followed their abstract with clear objectives and convincing evidence. I feel that the credible research and studies they identified in their article was proven effective in reversing the obesity rate in children in American.

RHETORICAL ANALYSIS The authors article has successfully provided the intended audience with solid facts and credibility evidence to motivate action to work together as families, neighborhoods, schools and government organizations, to create programs and lifestyle behaviors to fight childhood obesity.

RHETORICAL ANALYSIS References DeMattia, L., & Denney, S. (2008). Childhood obesity prevention: Successful community-based efforts. Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 615, 85-99. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/25097977