Perry 1

Monica Perry
Pamela Reed
Composition 1
14 October 2015
Nice writing! Look at the invention questions again and determine if there is opportunity to
expound.
1.

What is the source?

2.

What position on the issue does the object imply?

3.

To what audience is the object directed?

4.

What strategies are being used to persuade the audience?

5.

What are the assumed values and goals of the audience?

6.

What was your initial reaction to the object?

7.

Do you think it is successful? Why or why not?

8.

Will sensory details such as color, shape, smell, taste, statistics, or

charts help the audience better understand the issue

The Sooner Detected, The Better Corrected

For some people, getting their child checked for scoliosis may not be a big deal. However
to others that have been affected by this disorder, getting detected for scoliosis early is very
important. Many entities (such as www.RhinoSC.com) are now trying to spread the word about
the importance of getting children detected at a young age. Such groups often use visual effects
in trying to get their message across to people who could be impacted.

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RhinoSC.com depicts an illustration of four children with what appears to be a severe

curvature of each childs spine. Behind the children is a rainbow. There is a quote at the top of
the image that states, The sooner detected, the better corrected. At the bottom of the
illustration, there is a slogan that declares June is National Scoliosis Awareness Month. This
image seems to do a good job of communicating its message, both directly and indirectly.
One of the ways this image directly communicates its message is the title that states, The
sooner detected, the better corrected. This is supported by the source www.thebetterspine.com:
In all its forms, early diagnosis of scoliosis is a primary goal. Treatment is guided by the
specific scoliosis type, the amount of growth the child has left, the degree of the deformity, and
anticipated progression of the condition. The image also makes the audience aware that June is
National Scoliosis Awareness Month. This illustration also provides a direct link to their website
so that the interested party can educate themselves more about scoliosis. Finally, this illustration
depicts that of the four stick figure children presented, two are male and two are female. This
indicates that scoliosis can affect either gender.
The illustration used by www.RhinoSC.com also uses several indirect ways to portray its
message to the target audience. First, the four stick figure children appear to have curved
spines. It is obvious that none of the stick figures have a straight or normal spine. Also, none of
the children appear to have any emotion because each child is drawn without a mouth. This could
possibly indicate that the children are unhappy. Perhaps they were the victims of bullying or
ridicule because of their deformity. In addition, the rainbow in the background of the picture
could represent multi-colors the fact that scoliosis affects not just one, but all races and creeds
of people. Another indirect symbol could be the rainbow itself, as all rainbows are curved.

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Lastly, the rainbow could symbolize hope. There are many treatment options available to combat
scoliosis.
The targeted audience could be both children and adults. Children may possibly be
attracted to the bright colors of the rainbow and also the stick figures themselves. The title of the
illustration is obviously targeting an adult audience. This could include parents, teachers, friends,
family, or anyone concerned about a particular child who could be affected. Also, adult audiences
are being drawn to the fact that June is National Scoliosis Awareness Month. Both health
professionals and schools use this platform to raise awareness. For example, www.spinehealth.com has a section devoted to this topic.
The image implies that children having a severe curve is not normal. The stick figures do
not appear happy or care free. Therefore, the illustration is really promoting the importance of
getting this deformity diagnosed and treated as early as possible. A childs future happiness and
physical well-being could very well depend on early treatment.
One strategy the image seems to convey is that the stick figure children may not have a
voice in this situation. Remember, the stick figures in the image were drawn without a mouth. It
is the job of adults or guardians to advocate for affected children and make sure that early
detection and proper treatment are implemented. Another way this image may persuade people is
simply by getting the message out to large numbers of a targeted audience. This illustration may
be printed or displayed in media such as health magazines and periodicals.
Certainly, one would hope that the values of the target audience would be what is best for
children who may have scoliosis. The source www.spine-health.com indicated that scoliosis
detection was of particular importance to parents and guardians of children who may be afflicted.
The image seems to really get its message across to people who may have a child that could be

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affected by this condition. In addition, the image encourages the audience to educate themselves
more about this condition and treatment options.
In conclusion, the image created by www.RhinoSC.com communicates, both directly and
indirectly, the importance of early detection for scoliosis. The sooner detected, the better
corrected, is a multi-tier strategy that persuades the audience to become more educated, aware,
and involved.

BibliographyWorks Cited

"Rhino Scoliosis Center." Rhino Scoliosis Center. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2015.
"June Is Scoliosis Awareness Month." Spine-health. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2015.
"Blog All Blog Posts." Better Spine Sports Rehab RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2015.