Jacob H.

Murdock, ENGL 2010-429, Taylorsville Campus, Salt Lake City Community College
E-Portfolio Final
4/30/2018
1

Salt Lake Community College

ENGL 2010 - 429
4600 So. Redwood Road
Salt Lake City, UT 84123
Phone: 801-957-4073

Mental Illness and Healing; Society’s Impact

By: Jacob H. Murdock

To Whom it may concern,

The Main focus of this collaborative and comprehensive overview of my Intermediate

Writing course experience this semester, is, of course, our term project: our Argumentative-
Research Paper. That paper started out with a couple simple topic selection research questions for
me that have intrigued me for some time: Is Mental Illness something that society labels and
discriminates? Do we shun and push aside our responsibility to be educated and change the
darkened lenses we wear about the issue of mental illness? I hoped to study and write about
mental illness and the difference that psychotherapy makes for those who struggle with it. I am
worried that many people still view therapy as something to be ashamed of instead of praised and
applauded to be a part of, at least on the clientele end of it. I think that needs to change. So, I
decided to research the difference that therapy makes, and why all those who struggle with
mental illness don’t go to therapy. I felt that if society really has created an environment where
people with mental illness don’t feel comfortable going that needs to change. As I’ve explored,
on previous ventures, the world of mental illness in today’s society, I’ve noticed that there is an
abundance of lack of education about the topic. A wise man once said: “What people don’t
understand, they fear.” I think that is the main thing that I had found about this issue in society.
That people feared mental illness. That they fear being friends with someone who struggles with
it, they fear accepting a diagnosis that THEY struggle with it, and they fear accepting those that
struggle as normal. And that that fear lead to judgement, and discrimination. I wanted to help
people understand mental illness a little more and that it’s not something that can’t be helped and
changed. As I researched further I found that society is actually doing a lot to help those that are
struggling but there is still not a widespread knowledge about mental illness that people simply
put it aside as something not to worry about and not worth their time learning about. So, I
changed my focus from trying to convince others that if they don’t that people with mental
illness will be devastated to show how it can change our society and strengthen it the more that
we lift and understand how to lift those with mental illnesses. Two other papers, which I have
included from assignments this semester, are; Threshold Concepts Test, Rhetorically Analyzing
my Sources (1,2 and 3). These 2 (or rather 4) papers were extra credit to help not only practice
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and apply the skills of rhetoric and persuasion but also to help remind synchronize all the
concepts learned from the course and make a memorable connection to each of these concepts. I
am indeed grateful for these assignments because the threshold concepts that they present, and
use are skills and assets to my every day life. By definition, a threshold concept is an idea that
allows you to broaden knowledge, learning capacity, and understanding. Without them, certain
realms of thinking and progression are inhibited. Indeed, without these, life, in some respects,
was dammed from my reach.

The Threshold concepts of Rhetoric and also of Persuasion have been wonderful to learn
about and apply. At first I struggled immensely to be able to understand how to post
counterclaim positions to myself as I rhetorically analyzed my findings. But I learned that this is
an essential part of rhetoric to ensure that you are covering all bases fairly; especially if you
intend to have a well-recognized/rounded Research Paper. I’ve realized that this same concept
can be applied to all aspects of my life. The basis of rhetoric as I now define it is simple:
approach life with the following attitude. “I am wrong, and my goal is to be less wrong.” Elon
Musk said that. I’ve heard it before but now I see in great detail just how it applies here. If you
want to study writing, it’s intricacies, it’s techniques, it’s effectiveness as it all relates to a
specific work or author (including one’s own self); then you must sacrifice pride to achieve
understanding. You must look to find everyway to critically analyze and debunk all theories,
claims, etcetera; so that you can reach a solid ground to every statement and a strong structure of
presenting every idea and the idea path that leads to eventual conclusions. Before this course I
felt confident in my abilities to rhetorically analyze other author’s but found myself greatly
lacking in my ability to do so for my own foundations of ideas and my professional works. This
course helped me to apply technique to rhetoric that I could use on any work and to find out what
methods of rhetorical review I am best at and organize those methods. I now feel that I can take
any paper I have written, any idea or notion I have, and view it holistically, objectively, and
critically. This is a powerful tool. I can then see how I work in writing those papers; what my
thought, writing, researching, and analyzing processes are like, and where the errors are in them.
This has allowed me to mature and change as I writer. I can now say, with certainty, that if I
rhetorically analyze my writings I am ever so more capable of improving those writings in every
stage of the process. This might mean my entire opinion changes and my view or even objective
outcomes change as well. But it also means that my paper is more accurate, astute, and viable.

How grateful I am for these skills, I can apply that to interpersonal relationships in my
life and personnel relationships in business. In every well construed way, these apply to, I
believe, every one of SLCC’s learning outcome objectives. A smart choice for threshold
concepts, and well applied throughout the course. Following are the assignments; the former
knowledge and learning proven in application.

Best Regards,

Jacob
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Table of Contents

Cover Letter: Troubles and Achievements in Intermediate Writing……………………………1,2

Term Paper; ‘Mental Illness and Healing’ Title Page…………………………………………….4
Term Paper Intro, Body and Conclusion Paragraphs………………………………………….5-11
Term Paper Reference Page……………………………………………………….……………..12
Transformation Threshold’s Test……………………………………………….…………….13,14
Rhetorical A/E’s Title Page: ‘Where’d that Come From?’....…………………………...………15
Rhetorical A/E #1: ‘How to Be Simple but Powerful in Writing’……………………………….16
Rhetorical A/E #2: ‘Writing a Strong Informative Article’……………………...………………17
Rhetorical A/E #3: ‘Informal Convention; Great Results’………………………………………18
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Mental Illness and Healing; Society’s Impact

By: Jacob H. Murdock

Prof. Bohannon, Ronald

English 2010
February 5th, 2018
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When Did Helping Become Shameful?

This Semester I hoped to study and write about therapists and the difference that a

therapist makes in the world. I started my research on the chosen topic because I was worried

that many people still view therapy as something to be ashamed of instead of praised and

applauded to be a part of. I wanted to find out if that was the case and if so, I thought; “that needs

to change.” Therapy is a wonderful thing and is worth going into and going TO. It’s certainly a

career path that I’m highly considering. My research is based on the importance of psycho-

therapy for those in society who struggle with Mental Health, and the presumed negative effects

of the possible dissonant society responses that are injunct in people’s reaction to those who

struggle with Mental illness; does society really have that social stigma/pre-notion that is

negative? And if so, how does that affect those that struggle with mental illness? Now, I’m not

saying that people shun and mentally devalue those who struggle with mental illness but I’m

saying there might be a large gap in their understanding and it’s filled by a tendency to push

away, to look at those that struggle with it as different and a separate part of society…almost like

shunning. My hope is to share what mental illness is and normalize it, but more than that to

normalize and add value to the idea of psycho-therapy. The purpose? So that people view mental

illness and treatment for those who struggle with it as a valuable and normal part of society. So,

let’s go on a journey. What role does psycho-therapy play in the part of helping treat mental

illness? How does society view those that struggle with mental illness? Are people likely to

avoid going to therapy to avoid the social labels that come with it?
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I’d like to mention my personal therapist, Mike Filmore (PHD). Mike is a licensed

Psychotherapist. I have met with him on and off over the last 8 years. And over that time one

thing hasn’t changed: Mike enjoys his job a lot. He’s always known that it’s what he wanted to

go into. I can’t really begin to describe how much Mike has helped me. I have been able to

overcome a lot of fears, concerns, bad habits, addiction, errored thinking patterns, self-doubt and

other trials; emotional mental and physical. I know that therapy has greatly benefited me. Part of

Mike’s confidence comes from the knowledge he has that psycho-therapy really benefits those

that struggle with mental illness. He often talks about successes that he’s had and the belief he

has that what he’s worked on with patients has benefited many of them, and that’s why he is

recommending the strategy and thought-process shift to me. What are the benefits? People who

struggle with anxiety and depression are able to keep control over it and think clearly to calm

themselves down and to see the light ahead. Mike’s career has been one that has helped many

people to see that light including me. (https://www.learnpsychology.org/resources/helping-

careers/) Dr. Gary Brown (Psycho-therapist PHD) mentions in this interview linked above, that

Therapists focus on self-care in order to succeed in their occupation. I think this is important

because a lot of people view therapists as extremely studied and educated and not perhaps as a

good close friend who is healthy and in a position to help you. I think they are both. I think that

therapists are extremely smart and I think that they can become a friend, like Mike has to me.

They take care of themselves and Brown says that this can impact their patients as well. Brown

says a good therapists knows their likes, limits, and abilities and focuses on those. This enables

them to really help you because they are excited to, and in a position where they can… not just

because they are educated. I think this sort of intelligent and strong friendship would benefit

anyone’s life! To find out who I should be looking at as a good example of a remarkable
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therapist/psychologist that made a difference in the world, I searched on:

http://www.psychologydegree.com/10-most-famous-clinical-psychologists-of-all-time. I found

extraordinary insights. Among the first psychologists: Freud, Erikson, Rogers, and Maslow, were

the most successful. I think this is important to note: That when the need was realized and

studying began..it grew RAPIDLY. There wasn’t a curve to the success of theologians of

psychology like there was with astronomy and art and language and technology. No, psychology

exploded and has grown, unstopped, since. This is a great indicator of the need for psychology

and psycho-therapy. Over half of the people listed on this “top ten psychologists” are all psycho-

therapists. It’s noteworthy to see that. That the greatest minds IN psychology determined that

therapy was not only needed but needed greatly… for many it was their focus, especially Carl

Rogers. I think that some good examples of successes of therapy are found in the following

article: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/31/famous-women-therapy_n_3683419.html. I

love the ideas shared in; https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/07/benefits-of-therapy-and-

life-coaches_n_5635389.html by Lindsay Holmes, about the similar benefits that therapy has to

that of having a life coach. But I don’t agree fully. A life coach and a therapist can both probably

equally help someone who has no significant clinical conditions of mental difficulties illness or

diagnosis. But in any other case besides that a therapist is most definitely needed. But I would

like to point out that even for those that do not “need” specifically a therapist…a Therapist can

be of JUST as much help to them as a life coach according to Holmes. And I agree completely.

Everyone benefits from Therapists. http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?

pagename=wellness_brochures_psychotherapy says that it is in many cases critical for those

who struggle with depression, anxiety, PTSD and other mental illness to receive therapy. Is

Therapy the BEST form of treatment? Is it worth focusing on? What if medication is really what
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is needed instead? Well Dr.’s Brownawell and K. Kelley wrote something about that: “With an

effective therapist, science shows that psychotherapy even works better in the long-term and is

more enduring than medication. In fact, not only is it more cost-effective, but psychotherapy

leads to fewer relapses of anxiety and mild to moderate depression than medication use alone.”

See works cited for full source, and the authors’ entire synopsi/report.

What exactly is Mental Illness and how does it affect those that struggle with it?

According to The American Psychiatric Association (https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/a-to-

z/s/stigma-and-discrimination): “Mental illnesses are health conditions involving changes in

thinking, emotion or behavior (or a combination of these). Mental illnesses are associated with

distress and/or problems functioning in social, work or family activities. Mental illness is

common. In a given year: nearly one in five (19 percent) U.S. adults experience some form of

mental illness, and one in 24 (4.1 percent) has a serious mental illness.” Also, “Mental illness is

treatable. The vast majority of individuals with mental illness continue to function in their daily

lives.” But is that how people really see it?

On that note I’d like to point out just how many people struggle with these things:

(https://www.healthline.com/health/depression/facts-statistics-infographic) 16 million people in

the USA currently struggle with depression,

(https://adaa.org/about-adaa/press-room/facts-statistics#) 40 million people in the USA struggle

with Anxiety, and only 39% getting help!

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(http://www.newsweek.com/nearly-1-5-americans-suffer-mental-illness-each-year-230608) 42.5

million Americans total, suffer from any one or more kinds of mental illness.

According to Corrigan, PW; “research suggests that “(1) individuals who are in need of

care often do not seek services, and (2) those that begin receiving care frequently do not

complete the recommended treatment plan.”” And according to the above surveys, if you do the

math, at least 13.5 mil struggle with TWO types of mental illnesses. And it also means that at

MOST only 40% of patients are being treated that need it.

President Lincoln lived before the age of psycho-therapy, but still learned to deal with his

depression disorder. Now, if a man who can conquer the struggles of mental illness can make the

greatest difference the world has ever seen; and if therapy can help one to overcome the struggles

that come with mental illness; and if there’s less than 40% of American’s who struggle with it

getting the therapy recommended for their mental illness…that’s 11.4% of our population that is

not taking advantage of the ability to become something greater. I think this is a problem. And I

think it should change. Why is it a problem? How can we change it? “There are several potential

reasons for why…there is (a) particular explanation that is evident throughout the literature.

The U.S. Surgeon General (1999) and the WHO (2001) cite stigma as a key barrier to successful

treatment engagement, including seeking and sustaining participation in services. The problem of

stigma is widespread, but it often manifests in several different forms. There are also varying

ways in which it develops in society, which all have implications for social work – both macro

and micro-focused practice.” (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3248273/#R11)

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According to mentalhealth.org.uk “even though so many people are affected, there is a

strong social stigma attached to mental ill health, and people with mental health problems can

experience discrimination in all aspects of their lives. Many people's problems are made worse

by the stigma and discrimination they experience - from society, but also from families, friends

and employers. Nearly nine out of ten people with mental health problems say that stigma and

discrimination have a negative effect on their lives.” (https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/a-to-

z/s/stigma-and-discrimination). Nine out of ten. That’s a lot. I think that we need to change that.

So let’s shed some light on how therapy really can help. How it’s actually a commendable part of

the process wherein those that struggle with mental illness recover and are enabled to engage

positively in society, most for the rest of their lives: “Mental illness is treatable. The vast

majority of individuals with mental illness continue to function in their daily lives.”

(https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/a-to-z/s/stigma-and-discrimination). So if mental illness is

something many people struggle with, and they are stunted from the ability to seek help and

healing because of discrimination; how can we expect them to get better? I think that

unknowingly society as a whole is dooming those that struggle to a stigma that isn’t real and that

won’t get better as easily or maybe at all because of THEM, not because of the nature of the

illness. If we can get rid of that barrier and encourage those who struggle to get help then that

can change! One surprising thing that I found in my research was that media is suggested to be

one of the greater perpetuators of mis-representing those that struggle with mental illness.

(https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/why-we-worry/201308/mental-health-stigma). I’m not

an expert at how to change media’s portrayal to change the psychological connections people

make based on that media. But I do believe it needs to be changed.

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Therapy makes a big, big difference in the lives of those who need it, and even can in the

lives of those who don’t; It should be something celebrated and embraced by the world. People

shouldn’t feel ashamed to tell their friends that they see a clinical therapist. It is a wonderful

thing and can make a great difference, and already has. It will continue to. And that difference

will grow as people get rid of the concepts of mental illness that they have that are negative!

Therapy is needed but it is discouraged (even though probably unintentionally it still happens)

when those that struggle with mental illness feel like they will be labeled if they go. Society has

indeed placed a negative label on mental illness and those that are mentally ill. And those who

struggle with Mental Illness can feel that, sense it, and experience further trials and grief because

of it – specifically the tendency to avoid needed therapy. So, let’s encourage therapy, let’s make a

difference for those struggling by getting rid of false ideas, fears, notions, and stigma’s that we

have about mental illness, so we can stop labeling and start making the world a better place for

healing.

THE END.
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Works Cited Page:

1. Michael Filmore, Licensed Clinical Therapist – PHD. Counseling Manager, Office

Administration, Clinical Supervisor, Marital, Adolescent, and Adult Therapist with over
16 years of direct service experience. LDS Family Services; Riverton - Greater Salt Lake
Area, Utah.
2. Brown, Gary. “Interview With an Expert”. Making a Difference by Studying Psychology.
www.learnpsychology.org/resources/helping-careers/. 02/04/2018.
www.learnpsychology.org.
3. “10 Most Famous Clinical Psychologists of all Time”. www.psychologydegree.com/10-
most-famous-clinical-psychologists-of-all-time. 02/04/2018.
www.psychologydegree.com.
4. Holmes, Lindsay. “4 Ways Everyone Can Benefit from Therapy”. Wellness. 08/07/2014.
www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/07/benefits-of-therapy-and-life-
coaches_n_5635389.html. 02/04/2018. www.huffingtonpost.com.
5. DBSA. “Therapy; Talk Therapy, Additional Types of Therapy”. Therapy; How it works
and How it Can Help. 2016. www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?
pagename=wellness_brochures_psychotherapy. 02/05/2018. www.dbsalliance.org.
6. Pietrangelo, Ann. “Depression and Mental Health by the Numbers: Facts, Statistics, and
You”. 01/28/2015. www.healthline.com/health/depression/facts-statistics-infographic#1.
02/05/2018. www.healthline.com.
7. National Institution of Mental Health (NIMH). Anxiety and Depression Association of
America (ADAA). “Facts and Statistics”. About ADAA. www.adaa.org/about-adaa/press-
room/facts-statistics#. 02/05/2018. www.adaa.org.
8. Bekiempis, Victoria. “Nearly 1 in 5 Americans Suffers from Mental Illness Each Year”.
02/28/2014. www.newsweek.com/nearly-1-5-americans-suffer-mental-illness-each-year-
230608. 02/05/2018. www.newsweek.com.
9. Zielinger, Julie. “9 Famous Women Who have Spoken Out About Therapy”. Women.
07/31/2013. www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/31/famous-women-
therapy_n_3683419.html. 02/05/2018. www.huffingtonpost.com.
10. Brownawell and K. Kelley, Psychotherapy is Effective and Here’s Why, Monitor October
2011 vol. 42 no. 9 ‘Monitor on Psychology’ p. 14, American Psychology Association,
October 2011, http://www.apa.org/monitor/2011/10/psychotherapy.aspx

11. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3248273/#R11

12. Corrigan PW. How stigma interferes with mental health care. American
Psychologist. 2004;50(7):614–625. [PubMed]
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Transformations Thresholds Concepts (Extra Credit) Test

By: Jacob Murdock
ENGL 2010 -429: Intermediate Writing
04/20-04/29/2018

Transformation’s Thresholds
By: Jacob H. Murdock

 Rhetorical: Social role

Rhetoric is a very important part of the writing process on every end. Rhetoric is an art of
objectively analyzing, understanding and critiquing information. It is the comprehensive
processes of providing feedback for the complete writing process. This is important to
society because there is an understanding that truth is what needs to be used and aimed for
when presenting knowledge to another. It keeps us honest. Rhetoric also allows for ability to
view the entire writing process as it really is and learn more about each part of it. This then
allows us, specifically the writer, to rearrange ideas and concepts and techniques to be more
effective, accurate and concise. It provides writers with insight and a platform with which to
learn and grow. Rhetoric is like when your friend tells you all about what happened in an
argument with another friend. After listening to both sides of the story you analyze all the
information you have in order to understand both stories and both authors.

 Critical reading, writing and thinking: Troubles we take

Simply put, critical reading is reading with the intent to find fact and truth. Critical
writing is writing with a stance of neutrality and unbiased presentation. Critically Analyzing
is accurately, sufficiently, credibly and timely looking at bias and research to determine,
using resources (any database) for inquiry, to test theories, gather knowledge, and sustain
new conclusions to create and present an understanding and knowledge thus acquired. To put
it more simply: to analytically find and use correct information to gain knowledge and then
present it under the same circumstances. This requires one to put opinion on the side and
create conclusions and even test one’s own previously held notions to find the truth and reach
an understanding that is accurate. This information can then be used to present reasoning and
concepts objectively to be used for persuasion towards a desired action to occur. That is the
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power of writing, and it will be powerful writing if the research, and writing and thinking,
are all done carefully to ensure accuracy.

 Process: Scaffolding

The Process of writing involves developing a writing project through multiple

drafts. It’s not just about what techniques are already out there. For your writing style,
and even for each particular writing project perhaps, you’ll need to develop flexible
strategies for reading, drafting, reviewing, collaborating, revising and re-revising. This
will include multiple analysis readings and edits. Throughout the process you should
remember that just because you’ve made a conclusion or outline once doesn’t mean you
should stick to it and just reformulate the collaboration of ideas. This process must entail
using Composing (critical thinking, writing and researching) as discussed earlier, to
reconsider and rediscover ideas. This composing process being “re-composed” might not
just need to happen because of rhetorical findings requiring it for corrections necessary.
But perhaps it may need to be restructured to add different ideas, modalities, and
technologies and processes of writing to make room for desired technical strategy. The
writing process should always include social collaboration; peer reviews and editing. In
doing so, one needs humility to consider and act on feedback given. In taking part of the
progress an author should expect to also give constructive feedback. There are countless
ways to complete a writing process from start to end. As long as you try to do what works
for you and your desired outcome and are willing to allow for analyzing and revision by
you and others, that process should work well for you. Writing has been studied for
hundreds of years. As we’ve progressed and developed composing practices along that
timeline, writers have been influenced by general practices that have proven to be very
effective. These include ideas like; brainstorming, researching alternate points of view,
and many others. I believe, at least for me, that the development of composing practices
have helped to guide my work and me personally as a writer.

 Conventions: Life skills.

Conventions are the formal rules and informal guidelines that govern writing.
Formal conventions are things like; spelling, grammar, credibility, formats (APA, WPA),
and acceptable forms (cover letters when using professional communication).
Different informal conventions of writing includes two main constructs in my
mind: appealing to readers and styles. These both can vary a great deal depending on
situation and paper type (book/article/periodical/essay). Appeals cover a very wide range.
The typical conventions of appeal include pathos (emotional), ethos (sense of right and
wrong), logos (logical), sourcing (using credibility of other sources), experience,
examples, philosophical, oration, rebuttal and counterclaim. Other conventions of writing
are general styles/voices of articles such as persuasive, informative, and instructional.
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Where’d That Come From? -

3 Rhetorical Analysis and Evaluations on Research Sources I Used

By: Jacob H. Murdock

SLCC Spring 2018 ENGL 2010-429 Intermediate Writing

04/13/2018
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How to Be Simple but Powerful in Writing

Rhetorical A/E on: ‘Psychotherapy is Effective and Here’s Why’ Kelley and Brownawell
By: Jacob Hansen Murdock

(Brownawell and K. Kelley, Psychotherapy is Effective and Here’s Why, Monitor October 2011 vol. 42 no. 9
‘Monitor on Psychology’ p. 14, American Psychology Association, October 2011,
http://www.apa.org/monitor/2011/10/psychotherapy.aspx)

This article is well written. The points made are concise, directly quoted and sourced, and
well organized. The article is persuasive/informative in nature and focuses on addressing the
issue of psychotherapy becoming less popular regardless of increasing evidence mounting that
suggests it should be the main source of treatment among those who struggle with non-psychotic
depression and anxiety. In one page, 4 credible knowledge sources are used. This means that the
focus of the persuasive writing aspect is appealing primarily a Logos/Sourcing appeal.
The techniques of: addressing possible concerns, simplistic presenting, variety,
ethological persuasion, and argumentative presentation are all used. They provide a list of what
specifically makes a good therapist. This is simple but powerful because they ensure that their
article is not over-generalizing and in this sense they address many possible concerns. People
might say “well my therapist wasn’t very kind, so I stopped going,” or, “medications are reliable,
but people aren’t.” By addressing what it takes to be a good therapist, they inadvertently are
saying to the audience “we know you might have bad experiences, but the data we are presenting
is based off of psychotherapy relationships with a good therapist and here’s what we define as a
good one.” It’s a powerful technique, and very subtle so you don’t feel like they’re addressing
just one counterclaim, because they never state it, they just state what they say a good therapist
has to be. Simplicity is used very well. There is no fluff and smoke and mirrors. The very first
sentence states their thesis without any introduction; they let the title do that. Medical
terminology isn’t used to avoid confusion and disenchanting of the readers. More than one or
even two credible sources are used. They use 4 sources and provide one example, all of which
are very publicly recognized and credited with authority on the matter presented. In bringing in
market shares and corporation effect on a human problem of illness, the authors are presenting
the idea in a different light than their original approach. First it was a mainly logos appeal, but
not it’s ethos, or, right vs. wrong. This appeal allows them to reach people who tend to be more
influenced by ideals than a logical argument. Smart move.
All in all, in-text citing is used correctly, a wide range of appeals is leveraged, credible
sources are used, and it is a very concise writing. This, in my mind, is the recipe for success
when it comes to an argumentative-informative paper. In reproach; I say they take a much more
argumentative tone than they do an argumentative conclusion. They should add a “call to action”
at the end of their essay. Papers without this often just get filed away in our memory. Good job.
Jacob H. Murdock, ENGL 2010-429, Taylorsville Campus, Salt Lake City Community College
E-Portfolio Final
4/30/2018
17

Writing a Strong Informative Article

A Rhetorical A/E on: ‘Depression and Mental Health by the Numbers,’ By: Ann
Pietrangelo
By: Jacob Hansen Murdock

(Pietrangelo, Ann. “Depression and Mental Health by the Numbers: Facts, Statistics, and You”. 01/28/2015.
www.healthline.com/health/depression/facts-statistics-infographic#1. 02/05/2018. www.healthline.com.)

The Article is an informative paper about what depression is, who it effects, how it affects
them, what can be done about it and what might make it more complicated than normal. A
pathological approach is used in the introduction to explain that it is something that is very hard
to deal with and it strives to persuade the reader to feel sympathetic. Also in the introduction, the
author presents a problem. This powerful writing technique is almost story-like in form. If there’s
a problem then we want to find the answer. So, it gets the reader engaged and works to make
them want to keep reading. Using data in this article is changed from just stating and quoting to
be more interactive because of color, pictures, and graphs used to represent the data presented.
Mass appeal is used here with post-partum depression reference because everyone knows
someone who’s going to have a baby, and/or they might be that person someday.
“Hit’s home” approach is used when the author creates a specific section called
“Prevalence” that goes into the specifics about America and not just the world as a whole.
Informative/precautionary is an approach that is used later on when the author chooses to include
specifics of how to recognize and diagnose depression. This way you can tell if you or someone
else struggles with it. Lots of people want to be prepared, this information will reach that
precaution motivated group of readers.
Twice in the article the author uses a list. This breaks up the writing pattern and makes
the longer article more engaging and an easier read.
When the author includes the section of how to treat these varying types of depression
they have made the article not just informative but also instructional now. The style of the essay
is an comprehensive-information and instruction article because it covers so many different
aspects of depression and questions people have about it.
The author is “covering their bases” in the pre-counterclaim rebuttal that is used. Or in
other words a “disclaimer.” This is when the author puts forward the section: “Complications.”
Very organized essay. Segments make for an easier read. For so much information they
did a GREAT job at diversifying and spreading out the knowledge, it’s made it seem quicker to
read than it really was for me. No spelling or grammar or punctuation errors. A great source for
information. Credible, and unbiased.

Informal Convention, Great Results

Jacob H. Murdock, ENGL 2010-429, Taylorsville Campus, Salt Lake City Community College
E-Portfolio Final
4/30/2018
18

A Rhetorical A/E on: ‘4 Ways Everyone Can Benefit from Therapy,’ Lindsay Holmes
By: Jacob Hansen Murdock

(Holmes, Lindsay. “4 Ways Everyone Can Benefit from Therapy”. Wellness. 08/07/2014.
www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/07/benefits-of-therapy-and-life-coaches_n_5635389.html. 02/04/2018.
www.huffingtonpost.com.)

The paper is unique in its style but accurate from almost every formal convention point of
view, and ingenious and straight-forward in each informal writing conventions aspect. The
author speaks about psychotherapy and the reasons it is not just needed but very beneficial and
applicable to varying demographics not just to those that struggle immensely with depression. In
the first paragraph the author introduces the article by appealing to all readers, because every
reader has trials in life. The author also, by not going into what their problem is and their essay is
about, is making a connection with the audience because it’s immediately about the audience’s
life and challenges. This is an informal approach but makes for a powerful technique because it
can act to put the reader at ease due to informality. In the second paragraph the author begins
immediately addressing possible concerns about the topic. This builds an insurance into the
paper that people who might be turned off from the article because of previously held notions
about therapy may now be inclined to read it. By stating requirements and experience of licensed
practitioners the author helps to build credibility. The essay is persuasive-argumentative in
approach, using several techniques. A conclusion should have been added at the end. Although
the author does use an informal approach in writing style, conclusions are border-line formal in
convention of writing; they are almost required for a paper to be accurate, like punctuation. Even
if two sentences; it needs one.
The author lists 4 different ways that therapy can benefit everyone to make therapy seem
like a reasonable resource even if you think you don’t need it. There are many that struggle with
mental illness but think that it isn’t bad enough that they need therapy or think that therapy
means that it’s worse than they want it to be (denial or worry, either way they don’t want to go).
This approach encourages them and also those who may not necessarily need it but could benefit
from it to receive that help. By presenting therapy this way the author, it seems, is hoping to
reach that group of people. Six different mentioned sources are used and quoted specifically.
Other sources the author summarizes points from and then cites them later. I think that perhaps
one or two more could have been used to pull direct quotes and instances from in places where
Dr. Spiegel was quoted; the author quoted him a little extensively. It would add credibility if
there was a wider variety of sources for those specific quotes. It seems the author had them
available, they just needed to implement them more prevalently.
In all the paper is a very well written paper. A few things to fix but strong evidence and
techniques of varying types are used to keep the reader interested, at ease, and feeling connected
to the discussion or like it applies to them. The paper has a clear and strong voice and doesn’t
seem to ever drag on. It is well organized and pretty concise for the intended end!