Running head: RHETORIC ANALYSIS 1

Rhetorical Analysis of Pediatric Nursing

Bethany Onopa GED

The University of Texas at El Paso

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Abstract

Rhetorically analyzing any work requires much examination. There are certain rhetorical

appeals that can be used to make an argument convincing. These three rhetorical appeals can also

be used to analyze an argument being made. The three rhetorical appeals are known as ethos,

pathos and logos. Throughout this paper, these three rhetorical appeals are used to analyze the

arguments made by the authors of a book titled Pediatric Nursing. Analyzing this work by using

the three rhetorical appeals will reveal how strong the author’s argument is. There is more than

one argument being made in this book and by rhetorically analyzing it, its creators and using

specific criteria to do so, we will then be able to better understand this book and its purpose.
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Rhetorical Analysis of Pediatric Nursing

Rhetorically analyzing a written work is not necessarily done with the intent to analyze

its argument, but how it is argued by its creator. This written work is titled simply Pediatric

Nursing, published by The C.V. Mosby Company in Saint Louis in the year 1967. There are three

main authors, Helen C. Latham, Robert V. Heckel, and Margaret C. Moore. These three authors

are all have two common degrees; B.S and M.S, and various other titles relevant to the creation

of this book, and making them credible sources based on experience and knowledge. There are

two arguments being made by these authors. The first argument is noted within the first page of

the book, which states that being a pediatric nurse is a very complex and serious position which

requires very specific instruction and procedure. The second argument, restated throughout the

book, is that being a pediatric nurse is a mandatory role that must include not only keeping the

entire family informed but also, it requires the cooperation of the nurse, patient, and their parents

or guardians. The genre of this writing affects how the argument was conveyed because this

informative style of writing does not allow for emotions of the author to be expressed. The

author was not able to convey their specific opinions, just factual information and instruction.

Audience

The audience of this book is intended to be all aspiring nurses and the like who may be

inquiring and want to learn in specific detail about the role of a pediatric nurse. This book is

formatted in such a way that explains possible cases that involve a nurse, followed by the listings

of necessary information and equipment, and finished by describing the role of the nurse and

pediatrician in the situation. By doing this, the authors give a very good example to the readers

of the roles that a nurse play in the medical field as shown in one example (pg. 11-12). The

intended audience can also be described as somewhat of a discourse community. An example

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that proves this reasoning is the specialized vocabulary used by the authors. This vocabulary is

specific to the medical community because it is not language used on a day to day basis, it is

used mostly in situations that require medical professionals. For example, this paragraph begins

by saying “If hypertension, chronic nephritis, cancer, tuberculosis, marked anemia or heart

disease is present…” (pg.4) this type of language and questioning is something that is not

common to talk about in a casual conversation between friends on a daily basis, therefore making

it specialized vocabulary amongst medical professionals. Another obvious example that can

prove the audience of this book is intended to be a discourse community is their common public

goal. “…it seems well to pause and consider the specific goals toward which the child should be

guided by those having contact with him as parents … physicians, nurses …” (pg.1). This

implies that a nurse is supposed to help children reach specific health goals. Then as the

statement proceeds, it lists and answers questions on the position of a nurse and what their goals

as a healthcare professional are in aiding to bring wellness to children.

Ethos

The ethical viewpoint of the author’s argument is that being a pediatric nurse is not

simple; it is a position that requires a lot of time and effort from an individual. When analyzing

an argument, one should always analyze the criteria that falls under the category of ethos before

moving forward to any other rhetorical appeal. This method of analyzation requires one to look

are the author’s reputation, authority and expertise in the field they are discussing and/or arguing.

The authors of this book are all highly educated people who are or have been professors at

prestigious universities. The very first example of their argument can be seen simply by reading

the title page. By viewing the title page, all the author’s full titles are listed as well as their

experience in the field and they establish that they have the credibility and experience to be more
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than credible sources. The second example of their ethical standpoint is their visual aids. Not

only are there pictures to help visualize situations, but there are also diagrams, graphs and charts

to help organize numerical information. One of the first examples of a provided visual aid

demonstrates aspiration using a laryngoscope (pg. 16,figure 2.3). The final example of ethos

appears at the end of every chapter; the bibliography. By putting a bibliography at the end of

every chapter, they give credit where it is due from other established credible sources, so they are

not only using their own information, but the information of others to help expand the discourse

community that this book is a part of (pg.12-13).

Pathos

The approach that the authors must, and did, use for arguing under pathos is clinical,

which is a direct instruction to act a certain way in a situation because, as this is not an

opinionated work, they are not supposed to show their own emotions. Analyzing an author’s

argument from a pathos point of view can help one identify when the writer is trying to evoke

emotion from the audience and how effective it is, having to do with the genre of the work and

argument strategy. The pathos viewpoint the authors want people to see is the need to take this

job seriously as they try to evoke emotions of intensity, focus, interest and motivation ...

Although the authors were required not to include emotion of their own, they did however

instruct in the book multiple times about the way that the reader should be acting throughout

different procedures. The very first thing written in the preface is a quote by Lewis Carol that

reads ‘“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?” “That depends a good

deal on where you want to get to,” said the Cat.’ By quoting this they have unlocked both the

thoughtful state of mind as well as somewhat of an imaginative childlike state of mind, as Alice

and Wonderland is a book that is based on both of those points of views, to really set the tone for
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the rest of this book. The second example of the authors trying to evoke emotion of focus is

through instruction. They begin the actual instruction by telling the reader to focus, during pre-

conception, not only on the well-being of the fetus but first on the well-being of the parents. It

states that “Any couple deciding to become parents should first take into consideration the state

of their health.” (pg.1). They then proceed to instructing the reader on how to assess their

health/well-being. The third example of the authors trying to evoke emotion, this time, of

motivation by making them feel needed and important through showing then exactly what

they’re needed to do in every situation in the book. This section is located in every chapter

except the first and second titled “ROLE OF THE NURSE” (pg.48).

Logos

The authors use logos more so than the other two argument types, as this is the argument

type that is the most informational, and this book is a text book. When analyzing a work and

comparing it to the logos criteria, the main concerns are their possible strengths and/or

weaknesses in their argument. Analyze the quality and quantity of their evidence, biases, and

reasoning of the sources. The first way the authors convey logic in this book is by the way they

state information. The information that is given is all proven credible and was established in the

ethos section. They state this information in a logical way that makes it easier for the reader to

follow and understand, shown by the formatting of each chapter. Each chapter is organized

somewhat into four sections (give or take a few due to added information); Physical

Development, Language Development, Psychological Development, and Promotion of health of

(stage of child). This can be seen most clearly in the table of contents. Another way that the

authors convey logic is by giving reasoning to support every single instruction they give, because

there is in fact plenty of logic involved in this line of work, especially because as a nurse, they
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are responsible for the life of another human being and must “help keep them in the best of

health.” One of the first examples of this states “… the physician needs to ascertain what, if any,

disease and conditions … might be transmitted to the baby. If this is not done, think of …” (pg.4)

By doing this, the authors give an excellent example of a mandatory task that needs to be done,

and why it is logical by making the reader use their own logic to assess the situation and what

would happen if the task is not done/done correctly. The third example of logos that can be easily

found in the book is how the chapters are organized. The chapters are logically organized in

chronological order from the time the soon-to-be parents enter the Doctor’s office, to childhood

and finally to special/specific conditions that a nurse may see in their line of work. By doing so,

the authors now will set the reader up for success by showing them the most common to the less

common situations that may take place throughout their career, which is shown completely in the

table of contents ( pg. ix-xiii).

Conclusion

The genre of this book definitely affects the way the three persuasive techniques can be

conveyed or argued by the authors. These three persuasive techniques; Ethos, Pathos and Logos

are specific criteria used to persuade someone of something. It was difficult to find proper

examples of all the criteria, as it is a very well written and complex book. The way this book was

written seemed not necessarily to be used to convince anyone of anything, but to be used to

inform readers. Convincing someone of anything becomes much easier once credibility is

proved, which the authors did. The authors then followed with fact and instruction to evoke the

reader of the serious position the reader is inquiring about. Finally, by organizing all this

information in a logical way, they show the reader the proper way to learn the information they
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are given, therefore persuading the reader of the factual information that is being given and

proving that the genre does affect the conveyance of the argument being made by the author.
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References

Latham, H. C., Heckel, R. V., & Moore, M. C. (1967). Pediatric nursing. St. Louis: Mosby.

Swales, J. (1990). Genre analysis: English in academic and research settings Cambridge

University Press.

Biswas, M. and Padon, D.C. (2016), The rhetoric and writing studies handbook. El Paso, TX:

Writing Across Borders Co.