Project 2 Outline

In this post I will construct an outline for Project 2.

BaroBert. "Beach at Peaceful Bay" Mar 9 2004. GNU Free Documentation License.

Influences from Writing Public Lives
The ideas from this text made the assignment much more clear and structured to me. I really benefited from the idea found in the introduction that said the goals of rhetorical analysis are to analyze the persuasive strategies of the text itself rather than the ideas the text discusses. I also liked the description of the body paragraphs. At first I was a bit unsure on how to structure them because I'm analyzing the text itself more than the argument but when it said that I analyze a certain piece of the text rather than the argument within it was very helpful.

Introduction

• Background information
• Background on the author
• Short description of electrical stimulation
• Thesis statement
• Analytical claim with support

Body (Uses expertise on other subjects to describe argument)

• Focus
• Gad Alon uses his current knowledge on physical therapy to describe the successful uses of electrical stimulation.
• Textual Support
• "But to separate the fact from the fiction in the electro-geriatric debate, we must first examine the nature of the aging population."
• Explain how his prior knowledge supports argument
• "The best intervention to slow down and even reverse this decline is physical activity and routine exercise. Unfortunately, most people, especially those who are older, are unwilling and frequently unable to exercise effectively on their own."
• Explain how his knowledge of other treatments would be effective but outside factors lead to e-stim
• Conclusion
• The author's expertise makes his argument that e-stim is effective valid
• Shows knowledge on other subjects that makes e-stim a practical treatment

Body (Personal experience with e-stim)

• Focus
• Gad's personal experience with electrical stimulation is evidence of it's effectiveness
• Textual Support
• "At the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, for example, we strive to improve patients' current capabilities by using "forced interventions," such as electrical stimulation. By using this modality, patients can perform movements and specific tasks they otherwise wouldn't be able to do. This treatment approach is called the forced intervention paradigm."
• Describe how his personal experience using the treatment proves it's effective
• "A requirement of this paradigm is that patients repeat the forced performance many times each day so that they can favorably modify performance. Electrical stimulation, if used properly, can be an effective intervention in meeting these footholds to function."
• Connect this to first quote
• Conclusion
• Author showing personal experience with electrical stimulation supports idea that it works
•  Gives reader hard evidence
• Also gives author credibility

Body (Evidence)

• Focus
• Gad provides evidence about electrical stimulation that supports the use of it.
• Textual Support
• "In addition, evidence is mounting that electrical stimulation can augment metabolic processes and vascular responses in stimulated tissues. Likewise, the literature repeatedly demonstrates that electrically induced muscle contraction effectively strengthens skeletal muscles of the torso and limbs, helps improve joint motion and reduces limb edema."
• Uses evidence from a study to show specific way it is beneficial
•  "In addition, recent and growing bodies of clinical evidence show that electrical stimulation can minimize various impairments and even promote selected functional improvement in stroke survivors."
• Same as above
• Conclusion
• Providing evidence from a study gives readers outside sources that confirm his argument other than his own experiences/expertise

Body (Counterarguments)

• Focus
• Gad provides the current setbacks and misconceptions of electrical stimulation.
• Textual Support
• "The issue of insurance coverage is complex and beyond the scope of this writing. However, the recent ruling of the Health Care Financing Administration favors reimbursement for treating slow-to-heal wounds and incontinence."
• He provides the issue and contradicts it
• "Lack of confidence in electrotherapy among clinicians is another deterrent. Most therapists are unaware of the beneficial effects or the rationale of using electrical stimulation with patients who have impairments with joint mobility. Yet, available data, as limited as they are, clearly indicate the benefits and further imply that early intervention is likely to yield considerably better outcomes than delayed intervention."
• Again, describes problem and provides a solution and the fact that the only thing holding them back is their ignorance.
• Conculsion
• Providing multiple counterarguments and contradicting them makes the authors argument much stronger and more effective
• By providing solutions it gives the readers no choice but to agree with him because he provides solutions. 

Conclusion

• Restate his strategies in different wording
• Brief explanation on how they were effective after being combined in complete text. 
• Describe why  they are effective

Reflection

Morgan's outline, similar to mine, was created loosely and allows for room for development throughout constructing her argument by leaving unanswered questions and key ideas to draw on more as she goes. Savannah's outline was well put together and had a little more structure to it than mine and Morgan's. Through reading my peer's outlines, I realized that I my outline will be effective in creating some structure for my draft but I can tell that my draft will vary a bit from my original plans.