My Rhetorical Action Plan

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1) Audience: Who am I going to try to persuade with my public argument?

My designated audience is appealing more towards the science educated younger generation. These are individuals who might be more interested in stem cell research but don't know a lot about it. I will make sure that I discuss the specifics of stem cells and which aspect of them are more highly debated. This is very specific knowledge and do not expect my audience to be very familiar with it. But having an interest is might draw them to the article since it would most likely be published on a more science oriented website or magazine.

• What does the audience know about stem cells already? How would they know about this topic if they do?

The audience would most likely have an idea about what stems cell are and their general purpose. The details about them and what aspect of the research is most controversial is not something I would expect the audience to know. THis is the specificity of the embryonic stem cells, not necessarily the adult stem cells.

• What do I know about the values of the audience I am talking to?

These people are interested in science and how the world around them works. But having an interest in science does not necessarily relate to religious values. Usually though, it means that they are willing to experiment farther with science and the way the world works than more conservatively religious people. I am more reaching out to their thirst for more knowledge, or wanting to help people. But to speak out to more critics, I can bring up that stem cell research is helping people in the end and limiting that assistance will not create change in the struggles people are facing today and will face in the future. 

• What type of research or evidence will be most persuasive in this argument? How will I go about translating the research for my audience?

In this case, factual research is always good. Discussing what kind of event are taking place in the stem cell research now are important to showing the audience that I know what I am talking about and that I have heard the most recent information on the topic before coming to my conclusion. The current development in adult stem cells will most likely help my case since this seems to be the safer stem cells to be working with right now when it comes to public opinion. I can convey this message by also relating better to the audience. I can talk about my future goals in life and coming from this point of view makes me see that even with all the advancement we have made in science, there is so much more to discover and learn. We have already improved our overall health so much with medical discoveries, why should we stop now? I can even refer to first impressions  of acts that are now consider to be normal in medical procedures. 

• What visual images or elements might my audience respond to? Why?

The future picture of recovering patients from medical breakthroughs by stem cells is always a positive motivator. There is also the visualization of the current sick patients and just how bad some of these diseases are, not just for the patients but their families as well. No one wants to watch a family member slowly lose their mind or not be able to walk or move. It is often the family members that fight the hardest for the change since they are the ones that are stuck their watching their loved one degrees health wise. 

• Why is my audience reading my argument? Am I trying to expand their understanding on an idea or topic? 

I would assume they are reading about it because they are interested in stem cells or they were searching articles on a science based website and maybe wanted to learn something new. They could have also been in a similar position I was in when I had to find a topic to research. This could give them one perspective on stem cell research and why it should be accepted. 

2) Genre: What form of writing will I use? 

I will make this an article. That means the paragraphs have to be shorter an easier to understand. I still have an introduction and a thesis but it is more reader friendly. 

The second kind of form I can use can be a TEDD talk sort of a video. In this video you don't only inform the public about the topic you are researching but you inform them on your views and your argument about the topic. You bring the audience into the story by not only the topic, but by words, body language, and visuals. These sort of things can vary from professors talking about issues or fanatics posting videos on youtube. Hopefully this video would be perceived in a way where I seem like more of an expert in the topic I am discussing. 

• What is the function of the genre?

The article: It is to draw the reader in and to make it easy for them to stay engaged in the text. This is a text that the reader should be a bit engaged in to begin with, but in order to keep the reader interested, a picture is nice or even in the case of scientific articles, charts or graphs that are portraying the point you are trying to get across. This goes along with the visualization of the idea. 

The video is a form of communication that involves less effort by the viewer and a chance to hopefully get their full attention. You are informing the reader about the issue in a visual way. That means that body language becomes a factor for the speaker. Depending upon where the video ends up can change the intension of the video. But that is the same for a work of literature as well.   

• What is the setting of your genre?

The setting is in a medical related website. This website mostly attracts science oriented people who enjoy learning new things about medical facts and may be interested in the idea of stem cells or may to learn more about stem cells for other means. 

A type of video is a TEDD talk video which goes over a certain issue in today's world. These Tedd talks also allow the author to divulge his opinion to the audience as well as stating the facts. This is the approach I would like to take in my argument. I like the viewers to have all the information before they can fully make their judgement on the issue.  

• How I might I use ethos, logos, and pathos for my argument?

I can use my personal story to build my credibility to the reader about how I have the best interest of patients in mind. This is ethos by building my character as a compassionate person who cares about the lives of others. I can also use logos by talking about the specifics of  stem cell research. By being about to talk about the stem cells in more detail, I will seem like more of a credible source since I know about the information I am talking about. 

I can use sympathetic gestures in a visual aspect to make sure that the audience wants to trust me. I can use the same type of rhetoric in my speech as I mentioned before for my article.

• What kinds of visual elements will I use in this genre?

I can include graphs or some sort of visual representation of the data I am talking about or the kind of progress that stem cell research is making. I could also use images of sick people today with diseases that stem cell research will supposedly cure. This gives a bigger motivation to look for a cure or to support the advancement of research in order to limit those kind of situations. 

• What types of style will I use for this genre?

I will use a mixture of formal and informal language. When it comes to discussing the specifics of stem cell research, I will use more formal language to get the information across in the most efficient way possible. The informal aspect comes into play when trying to relate to my audience. I need to seem like a person with feelings, not a machine spewing out facts. This is also what will help me become a more credible source. 

This kind of style applies for the speech expect I have to be mindful of body language, apparel, etc.  

3) Responses/Action: Explain the possible actions I would like my audience to take after they read or view my argument. 

First I want them to think about their own opinions on this issue and then be able to listen about the facts of the issue to see if their ideas on the issue have changed. But by the end of the article, if they are persuaded by my argument then they would want to inform their state representative their viewpoints on the issue or even donate money themselves to stem cell research. Even if they are not as inclined to do that much after reading the article, hopefully they will have changed their own views and maybe even talked to others about what they have learned and inspire others to take some form of action. 

• Positive support I will get from the audience is:
• the thought that I am doing something good by raising awareness. Stem cell research can bring salvation to a lot of hope deprived people. Diseases that are deemed fatal today may be curable some time in the future. 
• I am laying out the facts in, hopefully, a non bias way. Finally, they have found out information about the stem cell research controversy that doesn't have the author pouring their heart into the argument with no facts to back it up. (I hope they will think this by the end). 
• The reaction of "I am now so emotionally involved in this issue because of what this amazing author said that I just want to give all my money to stem cell research since the government does not advocate much of it. We want to cure illnesses!"

• Negative Rebuttals that the audience might give are: 
• Even with these potential cures, it does not give enough reason to mess with future human lives in this way. God made these stem cells to produce life. We should not be pocking at them trying to discover their secrets. 
• Even with the potential, it does not mean that these amazing cures have yet to be discovered. It is only the potential of cures that I am fighting for.
• Then there are those who are not willing to change their views. They will always believe that these embryonic stem cells are future life and messing with them is not a good thing, no matter what the future benefits. 

• Which of the negatives are best to talk about?

The second one mentioned is the best to argue against. It is good to state not only the potential of stem cells but how far they have already come and the progress that they have made. This website gives some information on the different parts of stem cell research. It gives the impression that there is a plan with these stem cells and how they are planned on being used. 

• What are potential chains of actions am I trying to create?

I want to for one, raise awareness of stem cell research and how much of a future investment it is. It is something that should be taken seriously.