Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Rhetorical Analysis
Brandon J. Arellano
UTEP
RHETORICAL ANALYSIS 2
Abstract
The Book, Elder Abuse: Practice & Policy was published in 1989, it is composed of three parts.
Part one provides research studies that introduce the concept of Ageism & elderly abuse &
reported cases. Part two discusses the perspectives of elder abuse from legal, social, and medical
profession's point of view. It focuses on their encounters in recognizing and treating those who
suffered from any sort of abuse. Part three is based off of the federal, states, and local
government's change in policies as they began to address the severity of the rising issue
RHETORICAL ANALYSIS 3
Rhetorical Analysis
very noticeable throughout society; discrimination & abuse happens in the workplace and
in advertising. The Monograph, (1989) Elder Abuse: Practice and Policy was written by
Rachel Filinson and Stanley R Ingman identifies and lists multiple accounts of elderly
abuse in America. Abuse is not only defined as physical abuse, it also includes verbal
abuse, emotional abuse, financial exploitation, and neglect. Looking at the literary piece
of work, this paper will analyze the intended audience, use of the author's methods of
persuasion on elder abuse therefore, this analysis will prove that elder abuse has always
Audience
The target of audience is primarily directed towards academic, government, and social
care professions. Both the authors received their doctorates in sociology and teach the
course. The reading contains guidelines of protective services that deal with elderly
abuse, policies made in local, state, and federal government. The whole reason it was
written was to provide logical information on ageism, to prove how discrimination and
abuse against the elderly is real. Few believe the concept of ageism to stand false, but
research proves otherwise as studies revealed "that physical abuse was the most prevalent
form of abuse" (p.19). The authors primarily wrote the monograph to inform about the
levels, signs, and detection of elder abuse whether it being physical, verbal, sexual,
financially, and mental. Filinson and Ingman did their research since they both teach
sociology and published all their findings to help educate others about this cruel issue.
RHETORICAL ANALYSIS 4
Ethos
Elder Abuse: Practice and Policy was published on March 1st, 1989 by the Human
Sciences Press in New York. This date established a rising concern for early awareness
on elder abuse. The Authors’, Rachel Filinson and Stanley R. Ingman, themselves are
very credible since they both deal with social issues daily. Rachel Filinson received her
Ph.D. in sociology at the University of Sterling (Scotland), she currently works at the
department of sociology at Rhode Island College, she teaches sociology and does
researches in social policy. On her spare time, she’s usually conducting research about
social policies as well as publishing books and articles. Stanley R. Ingman received his
Ph.D. in sociology too, he works for the department of Applied Gerontology at UNT,
conducts and publishes research on social policies as well. Many credible sources vary
from local, state, and federal policies as even The U.S. House of Representatives have
Representatives, 1979, 1980, 1981a, 1981b, (P. 81). There really should be no further
Pathos
The authors don't try to persuade the readers by the use of emotions. No appeals to
emotions have been made throughout the monograph, the literature contains pure research and
studies from credible sources. Detections of physical abuse signs and symptoms are assessed
throughout the work to inform and educate the reader, there is absolutely no emotional pleas
RHETORICAL ANALYSIS 5
whatsoever. The book was primarily written for a legislation and political analysis, it’s central
theme is the connection between policy structure about elder abuse, its practice, and the base of
research.
Logos
The appeal of logic is used throughout the whole literary work, the authors back up their
claims with reasoning. According to the O'Malley research team (O'Malley, Everitt, & Sarson,
1984) "their findings revealed 3 distinct categories" (P.23). The first category usually happens
when impaired elderly's needs are "neglected for a short time due to the weariness of the
caregiver." The second category happens when an impaired elderly is not dependent on a family
caregiver although they're impaired and "tends to be financially exploited and psychologically
abused" (P.23). The Third category occurs when independent elderly people are "physically,
psychologically, or financially abused by family members who are not caregivers" (P.23).
Claims from testimonies have stated that women are "most-likely perpetrators of abuse" (P.19)
and are probably old themselves. Research suggested that "caregivers themselves are former
victims of abuse who perpetuate a familial cycle of violence" (P.19), this then caused a chain
reaction of drafted laws aimed towards the "assumptions about the nature of elder abuse."
According to findings, the abusing adult offspring tends to be characterized as a “white, middle-
aged man, who is catholic, unmarried, high-school educated” (P.45) The victim usually tends to
be his natural mother whom he has lived with for “several years and is very old with physical
and mental impairments” (P.45). Abuse is usually inflicted in three different forms, “usually
pushing, grabbing, shoving, or shaking, as well as throwing something at the elder parent or
slapping.” (P.45). Usually the abuser “did not grow up in a violent home” but has a
(P.45). Dealing with those factors, they usually become burdened with close contact, “disturbing
behaviors such as being demanding or critical, and by his lack of personal time because of
caregiving responsibilities” therefore it makes the situation unbearable for the caregiver and they
lash out.
Conclusion
After a thorough analysis the conclusion based how their research and findings were
primarily addressed to influence a scholarly audience, protective services, and lawmakers in all
three types of government. The book provides a thorough address of the issue in the United
States, clinical assessments and management of elderly abuse were stated throughout the work.
Decision making problems on adult protective services, legal justice, and guardianship are
focused on in part three of the work, it discusses all the legal actions that must be done. The
Elder justice act and older American act are introduced to the reader to educate about research,
practice, training, and policy issues on elder abuse. This Literary work contained no appeals to
the readers emotions as it was all facts, research, and studies. Since both authors received
doctorates degrees in Sociology, they knew how to get their point across by basing their thesis
off of textual evidence, therefore the analysis proved that the work was very informative,
Touching and going into depth on the severity and rising concern of the abuse of the elderly.
Thoroughly explaining the early symptoms, signs, and detections of abuse whether is being
physical, verbal, financial, etc.… elder abuse was exposed to more light. (Arellano, 2018)
References
Filinson, R. & Ingman, R. S. (1989). Elder Abuse: Practice and Policy. New York, NY.
research
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