Christine Sleppy Professor Wolcott ENC 1102 September 23, 2013 Diabetic Log Sheets: Its own Genre?

Most of us have been under the impression since about first grade that genres are simply categories that books in the library are put in. The concept of genre is much more than that. A genre not only has context, but context in a specific and repeated form. Many documents have their own genre that we never even knew about. Yes, that means genres go way past mystery, comedy, and romance. Even documents without much writing can fit into a genre. For example, since I am truly interested in biomedical engineering and technology, I chose a few diabetic log sheets to analyze and they have much more numbers than text. These three examples (See Appendices) all share a genre created by their repeated context and form in a corresponding discourse community. There are a few definitions for genre, but the main idea to remember is that genre is not just a category for books. Tables, graphs, logs, contracts, articles and other various documents all have their own genres. Amy Devitt helps us to understand that the new way of perceiving genre is through form and context and also through form and function. The documents that share a genre must have a similar and certain form and a similar and certain function that serves a purpose for a specific group of people in a discourse community. Genres are created from recurring rhetorical situations with members of a discourse community. Based on our identification of genre, we make assumptions not only about the form but also about the text's purposes, its subject matter, its writer, and its expected reader. (Devitt, 576)

For the sake of this paper, one would need to know where the articles come from. Two of them come directly from Googling diabetic log sheet, which anyone can do. But the other is much more advanced and personal. Log 2 (Appendix B) is an actual diabetic log sheet that came directly from my brothers pump that he uses for insulin. It is not easy for anyone to get their hands on one of these log sheets because they are very personal and typically are only passed from patient to doctor. Therefore, a log like this one could only be accessed by being part of the discourse community that uses it. The topics discussed in these log sheets are simple to someone already in the discourse community. But, an outsider would have no idea what topics are discussed at all because they wouldnt understand the terminology and almost everything is abbreviated. These abbreviations are seen throughout each of my genre examples; such as BOL, BAS, CHO, BG, etc. These abbreviations are the main topics discussed throughout the document. It tells the doctor what the patients blood glucose level is and how much insulin they took in order to either eat or correct the number. Basil (BAS) is the amount of continuous insulin given by the pump and bolus (BOL) is the amount of insulin the user added to correct the number or needed to keep the number stable while eating. Each patient has their own personal goals of what their blood glucose number should be and thats called their personal target (Appendix C). Everything done and logged by the patient is purely for the purpose of keeping them at their personal target. Participation is hard to distinguish in a discourse community such as this one. One would assume that all diabetics and their doctors would participate. But, not all diabetics use the pump as their source of insulin. There are many patients that dont prefer using the pump and would rather just give themselves a shot when they need insulin. I would consider the non-pump diabetics to be a part of a larger discourse community, such as diabetics in general. But they may

not understand the language used by those who use the pump. Since a common lexis is required for a discourse community, I would not consider non-pump users to be a part of the discourse community for this genre of text. The only other figures who directly participate with this community are the doctors that the diabetics give the log sheets to. Nurses and receptionists may come in contact with the log sheet, but would probably not understand exactly what is going on in it, especially since each one is specific to the patient. Doctors normally have a better relationship with their patients then other workers in the office. Genres evolve with discourse community. People who arent in a certain discourse community will not understand the genres of writing among them. These pump log sheets are very difficult to understand if you are not in the discourse community that uses them. Refer to Appendix A, B, and C for a visual. What do all the numbers really mean? Where do they come from? What makes for a good number or a bad number? How can you tell? The diabetic who uses the log sheets know the answers to these questions right away, as do their doctors. Patients are the apprentices in this discourse community. Engineers teach the doctors who teach the patients how to use this kind of technology. The engineers who designed it are the experts. Updates in new technology and new patients being diagnosed with diabetes keep the discourse community going. Every patient has their own personal settings and lot sheets and targets and the only people who know this information is the patient and the doctor. So what does that have to do with the overall claim about genre? There are plenty of different kinds of texts and diagrams and logs and graphs that can all have their own genres. As long as they have similarities in not only the context but also the format, they form their own genre of writing. Bawarshi explains in his part of Materiality and Genre in the Study of Discourse Communities that doctors should see

not just an injury, but a person with an injury. In our case, doctors need to look at these log sheets as a person with diabetes instead of just another table of numbers. In other words, genre needs to be connected with a social context, without it its just a bunch of numbers. The three log sheets compared here (See Appendix) have similarities that show they belong in the same genre. They each have the same format that resembles a table or grid that relates the blood glucose levels with the day or time of day. They have some sort of color coding that makes it easier on the eyes to read; such as varying the colors of the row (Log1 and Log 2) and filling in the boxes with a color to point out where the bad numbers are (Log 3). Every log is formatted to follow the numbers horizontally across the table. As an outsider looking at any of these documents, it would seem extremely overwhelming and confusing. Log 2 and Log 3 both show a company name at the top; Animas and NIPRO Diagnostics. This makes the logs seem much more advanced and computer oriented than Log 1, which they are. Log 3 is most personal to the patient as seen from the top half of the log. This shows that the most important information to the doctor is the patients name and target levels. Most importantly, each log sheet serves the same function of relaying information about their blood glucose levels to their doctors. Without that constant checkup, the patient could easily lose track of his/her health. Keep in mind the overall purpose of this genre is to help patients keep track of their blood glucose numbers and stay at their personal target. Another characteristic that is worth noting about this genre is how computers and technology change the way the log sheets look. Log 1 is noticeably from before these devices had programing abilities that connect to the computer. It doesnt have as professional of a look as the other ones do. Log 2, for example, is directly from the pump that my brother uses. This makes a definite change in the way the log looks and the credibility the log presents. The

company name, like Animas or NIPRO Diagnostics, shown at the top of the log and the digital look gives the log more credibility compared to something that is just written down with pencil or done by hand on the computer. Even though the source for each of these logs is different, they still share a common goal and create the same genre. The topic of health helps to move us into the next discussion as to who has the power that this information can to go to. Well, a patient really shouldnt trust just anyone with their health, especially when it comes to insulin levels. In this discourse community, the doctors and engineers have the most power because the patient has to be able to trust them with their lives. Engineers are those who go in and change settings and insulin levels specifically for you and the doctor is who monitors it. But, in our specific case with our log sheets genre, the patient has the most power because it is up to them if they keep track of their health or not. The patient is the author of this genre of writing. The text comes directly from what the patient logs every day. Without the power of motivation to be healthy from the patient, there wouldnt be a log sheet at all. The doctors and engineers have the knowledge to share with their patients, but the patient has the power to decide what to do with that knowledge. Genre is a complicated concept to overcome. After analyzing each of these log sheets, they seem to be fitting into the same genre. They have a certain format with a certain function for a certain social context, each of which are needed to be a genre in a discourse community. Once you are able to identify these characteristics of a document or article, you may have just created another genre. Devitt argues that genres are constantly evolving as people and their discourse evolve. Diabetes will always be diabetes, but what we can do about it and how we can help diabetics as engineers will always be up for change. This discourse community and the genres it creates will be around and changing for a long time to come.

Appendix A- Log 1

Appendix B- Log 2

Appendix C- Log 3

Works Cited Devitt, A.J.,(1993). Generalizing about Genre: New Conceptions of an Old Concept. College Composition and Communication, Vol. 44 (4) pp.575-584 Devitt, Amy J., Anis Bawarshi, and Mary Jo Reiff. "Materiality and Genre in the Study of Discourse Communities." 65.5 2003, pgs. 541-557. Web. 8 Sept. 2013. Log 1 http://flylib.com/books/3/391/1/html/2/7%20%20assessing%20glycemic%20control%20using%20home%20blood%20glucose%20mo nitoring,%20continuous%20glucose%20sensing,%20and%20glycated%20hemoglobin% 20testing_files/c7ff1.png Log 2. Patient A. Animas Insulin Pump. Animas Corporation. Diasend Software. September 4, 2013. Log 3 http://www.niprodiagnostics.com/our_products/downloads/ma_true_manager /reportExtendedLogBook.jpg Swales, John M. "2.2 Speech Communities and Discourse Communities." Genre Analysis: English in Academic and Research Settings. Cambridge [England: Cambridge UP, 1990. 23-24. Print