Critical Genre Analysis Schumann 1

Critical Genre Analysis:

An Exploration of Popular Sources vs. Peer-Reviewed Sources Approach to Discussing
Planned Parenthood.

Taylor Schumann

UW-Stout
Critical Genre Analysis Schumann 2

Taylor Schumann

11:15 AM Class

11/20/2018

Abstract:

The purpose of this paper is to juxtapose the use of a popular source against a peer reviewed source

and how they portray Planned Parenthood. It is my hope to convey that it is most effective to appeal to the

emotions of the audience when writing about such an emotionally charged topic and give advice on how to

achieve the style of writing in a popular source. When looking at a popular source, it is easy to see that they

rely heavily on pathos to evoke an emotional response from their audience. Peer-reviewed articles rely more

heavily on ethos and logos, though they still do use pathos because of the emotional nature of the topic of

abortion and Planned Parenthood. At the end of the day, it is most effective to write as a popular source

that cites peer-reviewed papers for ethos.

Introduction:

In this paper, I will analyze and discuss two very different approaches to portraying information

through written digital media. The purpose is to juxtapose the use of a popular source against a peer

reviewed source. Over the past few years, women's reproductive rights have been scrutinized through the

public and through the government. As a young woman, I feel it is a direct link to my rights as an individual

to have these rights under siege by the government. As I look at the argument of these rights, the primary

basis of disagreement is focused primarily on Planned Parenthood, an affordable and safe place for women

to get basic health care, and their choice to support the “Pro-Choice” movement. It is important for other
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young adults to educate themselves about this issue and speak out and voice their opinions so that a

conversation can begin to find a middle ground that benefits everyone. In the following paper, I will analyze

the differences between popular and peer reviewed papers to help other young adults like myself to write

effectively on this subject and make a lasting impression on readers.

Method:

When looking into this topic, I found 3 articles related to the controversies surrounding Planned

Parenthood.

First, I have a popular source entitled Baby “Deserves to Be a Choice,” Says Pro-Planned

Parenthood Ad. In this article, the author relies heavily on pathos to exemplify their views on this

advertisement released in Planned Parenthoods name. They use phrases that are meant to directly evoke

emotional response, such as when the author states “if she isn’t loved or wanted, she deserves death”. This

is directly appealing to the audience's emotional reaction. This article also is very short, taking up only one

page and has only 6 paragraphs in total. Additionally, the author uses little to no sources

In the first peer-reviewed article, Planned Parenthood Takes on the States, by Charmaine Yoest

and Denise M Burke, the authors use appeals to the negative emotions related with planned parenthood, but

instead of appealing directly to the emotional appeals it also focuses on logos and ethos. The author uses

logic in their structure, and establishes ethos by being a peer reviewed article as well as coming from the

Wallstreet Journal. Each of these make it a more influential and persuasive right off of the bat, but it also

employs the use of pathos like the aforementioned article. They use words such as “under siege” and

“endangering” to describe the way that Planned Parenthood is impacted people in America. This article is

also significantly longer than the popular source, ringing in at a whopping 3 pages. One thing about this

article is that it employs quantitative data as well as qualitative. They discuss at length the amount of money

that is being used from taxpayers to support Planned Parenthood and their practices. At the end of the paper
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there is a reference list that shows all of the sources used to back the information they are presenting. It is

a coinvent blend of pathos and logos in order to build credibility.

In the final article, The Attack on Planned Parenthood Misses the Point by Anonymous, the author

uses ethos, logos, and pathos to appeal to their audience. This article is also peer reviewed, giving it ethos.

The author, while remaining anonymous, reveals themselves to be an employee of Planned Parenthood,

giving them ethos. They are logical in their argument, which relies heavily on pathos to describe the

interactions with patients through Planned Parenthood. This gives the author credibility, or ethos. The

author also uses statistics, such as at the very start showing that Planned Parenthood have the support of

“65%” of the population in terms of funding. This article also uses direct quotes of reliable sources and

cites the sources, and helps add to the persuasive nature of the paper.

Results:

Each of the articles employ some sort of rhetorical appeal, and every single one uses pathos in some

way. In the first, the pathos takes over the entirety of the argument and the lack of reliable information

makes the argument hard to trust. By saying that the young child “deserves death” the author is implying

that the child somehow deserves to be killed. This evokes negative emotion on the audience’s part, and

helps the author convince them of the barbaric nature of the Planned Parenthood. The sources used are all

personal opinions, giving it no actual credibility. Despite this, the use of pathos is very persuasive and over

all leaves a lasting impression on the reader. This is something that the other articles lack in many ways.

In the second article, however, Planned Parenthood Takes on the States, the authors are able to use

pathos in a form of a scare tactic. They go in depth in their discussion of how Planned Parenthood is taking

$350,000 in taxpayers' money as well as discussing how Planned Parenthoods resistance to change in policy

may affect Medicaid for everyone in the states. By making people fear the loss of their health care, it makes
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their argument more easily agreeable. They are appealing to peoples’ fears not only for their money but

also their right to health care.

The final article, The Attack on Planned Parenthood Misses the Point, the author is directly

responding to the authors of the previous article. There is a small amount of pathos being used when

discussing the tie to the patient Clarissa, but in general the author is relying on credibility and statistics to

make the argument. By showing the audience that 90% of the things that Planned Parenthood do are

preventative, like cancer screening, the author is emphasizing the diversity of the care that is provided and

deemphasizing the importance of how abortion effects the daily happenings of Planned Parenthoods

practice.

While all articles are persuasive and effective, the most impactful is the final article. While the first

two are very influential, they lack the combination of Ethos and Logos that makes the final articles argument

so solid. The combination of using a little bit of emotional appeal, along with good statistical backing and

references from trusted sources makes the final paper the most persuasive.

Discussion

Planned Parenthood is a very important and controversial topic in our society today, and it is very

important to understand and be able to interpret the information they are seeing online. When looking at

the above articles, all of them are very bias, particularly the first two. It is important that readers can

understand that the information is being portrayed in a way that will capture their attention and help the

readers retain information.

Additionally, when looking at the first article there is very little ethos. The author is a small author,

and the information presented is not as well researched as in the peer reviewed articles. While the appeal to

the emotions is effective in the first article, the lack of ethos makes it very hard for the author to retain

credibility. This essentially makes the entire argument fall apart, and it is only saved by the emotional

appeal.
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The peer-reviewed papers are more reliable in terms of authors, and in information. The

information being presented, while still biased, is more well researched. The second article is too

emotionally charged, and the use of the “scare tactic” makes it very impactful, but in the end the final paper

is the most reliable.

In the final paper the author is clearly well verse in the issues surrounding Planned Parenthood.

The author uses this credibility and builds it with statistics. By including a personal story from a patient,

they appeal to emotional support, and the additional quotes help back up their earlier statements and fight

for the continuation of funding for planned parenthood.

If one was to write on this topic in the future I have a few suggestions:

 Use Ethos, Logos, and Pathos! They are all strong but best when used together and balanced

well, they will reinforce each other and make the argument stronger.

 Use Peer-Reviewed sources! While the average writer may not have a lot of credibility, one

could use direct quotes and an abundance of sources to help build their ethos.

 Use an epithet. A personal story is a great way to make the audience more interested and

invested in what is being written.

All in all, it is best to use as many sources as possible to support your argument, give personal experiences

and testimony, as well as making sure to employ all of the rhetorical appeals that you can.
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References

Anonymous. (2011). The Attack on Planned Parenthood Misses the Point. Wall Street Journal
L Tennant, M. (2018). Baby "Deserves to Be a Choice," Says Pro-Planned Parenthood Ad. The New

American.

Yoest, C., & Burke, D. (2011). Planned Parenthood Takes on the States. Wall Street Journal