Project 2: Rhetorical Investigation Content Outline

Opening:

The Veterinary Science profession requires many essential skills and abilities; writing is one of the most crucial. When most people think of veterinarians, veterinary technicians, or any others in the animal medical care industry; they think that all that goes into it is science and numbers. In actuality, the writing process can be one of the most time consuming components of veterinary medicine.

First Genre: Medical Journal

a.     Just like professionals in any medical field, veterinarians frequently author articles and case reports for medical journals to inform others about (and gain recognition for) an arduous research process or experiment into which they pour copious amounts of time and effort.

b.     (summarize typical conventions of this genre, how it is important to the progression of medicines and treatments, etc)

c.      Possible Examples:

1.     Avian Diseases: Intranasal Caseous Fibrinous Plug Causing Upper Respiratory Distress in Two African Grey Parrots (Psittacus Erithacus) (Dr. Elisha W. Burr) An informative recap of an investigation of two medical cases of African grey parrots experiencing respiratory distress.

a.     Medical terms translated to clinical practice

b.     Benefits medical patients and community and environment

2.      Relationship of Veterinary Science to Animal Breeding and Public Health (John R Mohler)

Second Genre: Patient Care Instruction

1. This genre is important because it is one of the most common, and functional methods of writing in the veterinary profession. The purpose of the treatment, rehabilitation, etc needs to be communicated simply to the client, and very simple yet specific instructions need to be provided as well.
2. (examples to come, contacting vets for actual documents)

Third Genre: Scientific Non-Fiction or Autobiography

1. While it can be informative, this genre is usually for entertainment purposes. It could provide a change of pace, or an outlet for a veterinarian in an otherwise repetitive practice.
2. Examples
1. While You’re Here, Doc: Farmyard Adventures of a Maine Veterinarian (Bradford D Brown)
2. All My Patients Have Tales: Favorite Stories from a Vet’s Practice (Jeff Wells, DVM)
3. Never Turn Your Back on an Angus Cow: My Life as a Country Vet (Dr. Jan Pol)

Closing:

While a lot of the work that comes with the veterinary profession is hands-on, manual labor, what goes on behind the scenes ensures that the grunt-work goes smoothly. Writing in this profession is not often thought about by those who are not involved in it, but without the ability to write, and communicate clearly and efficiently, veterinary science would be decades behind where it is today.