Academic Writing Style Analysis: Persuasive Discourse on Obesity and Stylistic Elements
Overview
This discussion board response analyzes a student's persuasive essay on obesity epidemiology using writing principles from Helen Sword and Weinstein. The student examines how stylistic techniques including strong openings, sentence variety, concrete examples, and balanced jargon create engaging academic prose while maintaining clarity and accessibility for readers.
What this coursework covers
- Opening argument on obesity statistics and health impacts
- Causes and effects of obesity as a public health concern
- Analysis of writing style using Sword's persuasive writing framework
- Self-reflection on application of stylistic techniques including hooks, show-and-tell, and accessible language
Preview
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Discussion Board: Sword, Weinstein, and Your Writing
When people tell you, weight and size do not matter, don't believe them; they do now more than ever. There has been an alarming rise in obese statistics over the past decades. In 1962, about a fourth of the American adult population was obese. In just a couple of years, it has risen to near 40% of the people, according to the National Center for Health Statistics (2015-2016). This means that almost half of the people in the current setting is obese. Obesity occurs when a person's body mass index (BMI) is over 30 and should not be confused with being overweight. If statistics include these two together, a whopping almost 70% of the entire population will fall into this category.
Obesity, unfortunately, is not merely exceeding a BMI of 30. It entails many adverse effects on one's body, be it mental, physical, and psychological. Obesity is now being considered a severe health concern. Not only does it take a toll on one's mental health, self-image, reduced quality of life, etc., it is also the leading cause of death worldwide. Being obese means prone to diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and sometimes, even cancer. And as of now, it is considered an epidemic in the United States. But if it is a health problem, it should have causes, at the very least, or symptoms, in medical terms.