Formal Report - Book Report/Review Example

Task Introduction Health is considered a major concern in the world in the 21st century. The life style adopted by humans continues to become a threat and menace to their health. The amount of lives lost every year from avoidable health problems is alarming. Due to this knowledge people continuously search for information to enable them avert such health problems. Any information on how to improve their life style is welcome. Therefore the media has invested in providing this information to the people.

Every news paper contains a section concerning health, life style and healthy living. The sections indulge readers on issues like weight loss, healthy diets, exercise, diseases and other issues related to the topic. Media texts on health issues Media texts on health issues utilize language and structural effects to create effect. A major feature in the texts is the use of real life examples in the articles. The articles use quotes and paraphrased statements by doctors, patients and victims. This creates an effect in the reader because it is a testimony.

Therefore readers learn from the experience of that person. Apart from the use of quotes, the texts utilize facts from data to emphasize the message. The use of visual representations such as graphs and charts is employed in the interpretation of this data. This is by giving information of the number of people that are affected or infected by and issue. The texts use vocabulary that is understandable to the general population. However, the use of a scientific term is followed by an explanation.

Media texts on health play around with words in order to create a catchy title. The audience is always attracted by health articles enable them to keep fit especially in terms of weight. Therefore most articles design a title that suggests it is about weight loss even if it is not. Most write the title in bold and put the first letter of each word in upper case. This is usually followed by a caption of healthy food or a before an after photo of weight loss effect depending on the topic. Most health articles are written in simple English and have a simple format since they are meant for the general audience.

This means that the texts favor simple sentences and avoid compound and complex sentences. Paragraphs are short and consist of only two to three sentences. Each paragraph discusses one issue. The texts use simple but appropriate vocabulary and avoid jargon words. Punctuation is applied with caution and sometimes it is used for emphasis and explanation. The articles avoid using exaggeration, or irony that undermines the message. Rhetoric question and sharp contrast questions appeal for these texts.

During the month of April 2013, a number of articles concerning health appeared in the news papers. The New York Times section, health and science, on 15th April 2013 featured an article, A Battle Plan to Lose Weight by Catherine Saint Louis. The article discussed the impact of mental health on weight. The article aims to inform and persuade people living with mental disorders that it is possible to live a healthy lifestyle despite the effects of the drugs they take. The text utilizes quotes from professional psychiatrists, nutrition experts and other doctors to ensure the article seems factual and believable.

There are also quotes from a patient named Ms. Laura Ward who lost over 30 pounds despite taking mediation for major depression. The article utilizes short paragraphs to make the text easy to read. Each paragraph discusses a major issue of importance. For example, the fourth paragraph states in two short sentences that patients of mental illness have a 50 percent chance of being overweight compared to common population; it continues to state that they die earlier due to heart diseases linked to weight problems.

The text also uses small and simple sentences with strong messages. Each sentence carries a major point that allows the message to hit home instantly. A sentence like” the drugs used, like antidepressants and antipsychotics, can increase appetite and weight’ is simple and straight to the point. It simply carries a subject verb and object yet the point is home. Most commas used in the text are meant to provide emphasis and provide an explanation. In the previous example the commas are use to explain the drugs used.

In another context they are used to describe the patient Ms. Ward to weigh over 220 pounds. In another context, the comma is used to emphasize that the patients later gained weight despite walking for 20 minutes a day. Despite being a health and science article, the use of jargon terms is avoided. The article therefore appeals to the general audience. There is the proper use of words like yet, eventually and but in creating emphasis and providing flow for paragraphs. The article utilizes visual texts by putting the photo of Ms.

Ward at the beginning of the paragraph. The articles title also attracts the attention of the reader due to its bold print, large font and use of upper case on letters of the most significant words on the title. The article provides links to other important articles related mental health and weight loss, for example, low-impact aerobics and review of health promotion programs. The article majorly persuades people undertaking mental disorder drugs to embrace healthy living. It discourages the misconception that healthy living is impossible due to the drugs side effects.

It advocates that they join health promotion programs and get help. The major message is that despite using the drugs the patients have some control over their weight. References BREUER, I., NAPTHINE, M., & O'SHEA, R. (2008). Persuasive language in media texts. Elsternwick, Vic, Insight Publications. LIEBLER, J. G., & MCCONNELL, C. R. (2012). Management principles for health professionals. Sudbury, Mass, Jones & Bartlett Learning. HOLZINGER, A., & SIMONIC, K.-M. (2011). Information quality in e-health.

Berlin, Springer. http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/15/a-battle-plan-to-lose-weight/?ref=health