Running head: GENRE ANALYSIS 1

Genre Analysis

Daniel Corona

University of Texas at El Paso

RWS 1302

July 16, 2018

GENRE ANALYSIS 2

Genre Analysis

Climate change is a topic that has been researched all over the world, since it is

something that affects everyone. However, we must think how the current available and data is

affecting our research on this topic. Researchers must employ an efficient way to find

sources/evidence and understand how to use their sources for their research.

For this essay we will be looking at two types of sources commonly used by researchers:

Climate change and the health of nations is a monograph by McMichael, A. J., Woodward, A., &

Muir, C. that argues that climate change can affect human health and that we can predict future

effects of climate change by looking at how climate change has affected in history.

Causes and effects of climate change is a video by National Geographic that explains the

main causes and effects of climate change and how humans can act to prevent climate change.

In this essay we will analyze two different of genres (monograph and video) and discuss

how understanding the differences and similarities between genres can help to speed up research.

Audience

The monograph and video address two different types of audience. The video addresses a

more general audience; basically, the video targets everyone that is able understand the message

of this video regardless of age (15+), and that would probably participate on the movement

mentioned by National Geographic, (2017) “[to] prevent climate change…,” (min 2:33).

National Geographic’s documentaries not only provide the audience with good and reliable

information about a certain topic but also its documentaries are also made with the purpose to

entertain the audience; this is why the video targets a more general audience than the monograph.
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The monograph Addresses an audience of scholars, people who may have a higher level of

education, like university level or higher. The purpose of the monograph is to provide new

knowledge to researchers and also, McMichael, A. J., Woodward, A., & Muir, C (2017) show

testimonies of scholars with PhD’s who give their opinion about this specific book/monograph

(p. xviii). This shows what type of audience is addressed by the Autor.

Structure

The structure of these two genres differ from each other in some ways. However, the

main difference between the two is where the thesis statement is located at both the video and the

monograph. As for the monograph, the thesis statement can be found at very beginning of the

book at the preface (p. 15). As for the video, the thesis or main topic appear almost at the end of

the video (min. 2:30). One can “conclude” that these two genres are structured the opposite way

from each other. The monograph gives its thesis at the beginning of the book (preface) then the

author’s thesis is proven through evidence throughout the book unlike the video. The video first

gives the evidence (sec. 1-58) then it states its “thesis” or the main focus of the video later (min

2:30). Since both genres are structured in these ways, the audience can understand that it is more

time consuming to read the whole book than to with a video; however, it is easier to find the

thesis statement on the book than on the video. Also, audience should consider that the book will

have way more information than the video and its information would be in a higher academic

level. Even though the book is longer, it has a table of contents to find specific topic (p. 6) unlike

the video, one may have to guess, fast forward to find a specific point.

Rhetorical Issues
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The two genres also have some differences on the use of rhetorical issues. The main

difference between the two genres is that the video uses pathos and the monograph does not. The

video uses imagery and sound effects to convey its message, while the monograph does not

employ this type of rhetorical appeal.

Ethos – The evidence provided by the monograph is more efficient than that of the video.

The evidence provided by the monograph is more reliable at an academic level. The monograph

sites work of other experts (pp. 281-353), uses also graphs and charts as evidence of whatever

the author is arguing (pp. xi-xiii). Also, the book was printed by Oxford University which

already gives more credibility to the book (p. V).

On the other hand, the video doesn’t really use any type of evidence. The evidence the

video uses is mostly narrated to the audience as the video progress. The video in some occasions

shows evidences like graphs and charts which are also explained by the narrator (sec 58). Even

though the video provides some type of evidence, it lacks in credibility or on academic/citing

sources, therefore the monograph is more effective with the appeal to evidence.

Pathos – The video is the only one of the two genres that uses the appeal to emotion. The

images shown thought out the video grabs the audience attention and makes it easier to

understand by showing pictures of the topic. Also, the music played through the video set a

mood to the audience. This makes the video more persuasive. The monograph; however, does

not uses any appeal to emotions what so ever. The monograph uses a more clinical style. Since it

provides concrete arguments and concrete evidence, it does not need to rely emotional appeal.

Logos – regarding logos both genres are very good at connecting their evidence and their

arguments. For example, the video mentions and shows evidence concerning that since we,

humans, are the main cause of climate change, "we can also be the ones that prevent it" (min.
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2:28). The book is also filled with claims like this. However, I believe that the video relies more

on using “logos” than the monograph since the information provided by the video is more based

on common knowledge rather than evidence; for example, the fact that pollution is a main cause

of climate change (sec. 5)

Conclusion

Therefore, having analyzed several characteristics and aspect of the two genres, we now

have some expectations regarding a certain genre. These expectations can allow us to find

information more easily and more efficiently because now we understand were to look or where

not to look for information on a specific genre. Also, we can decide which genre would be more

effective to use in our research depending on the situation. If you have time and are looking for

deep information you may choose a monograph over a video or if you only have a short period of

time but need some reliable information, you may prefer to choose a video. The cases could vary

but now we have the tools to distinguish which genre would be a more effective in a given

situation.
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Bibliography

McMichael, A. J., Woodward, A., & Muir, C. (2017). Climate change and the health of nations:

Famines, fevers, and the fate of populations. 198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY

10016n United States of America.: New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2017].

Retrieved from http://0-

search.ebscohost.com.lib.utep.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cat04704a&AN=nug.b335

1914&site=eds-live&scope=site

National Geographic (Producer), & National Geographic (Director). (Published on Aug 28,

2017). Causes and effects of climate change | national geographic. [Video/DVD]

YouTube: Retrieved from https://youtu.be/G4H1N_yXBiA