Research a health condition which interests you.
Write a paper explaining this condition to a client. Assume that the client, is an ELL, or has a 6th grade education, or is stressed enough not to be able to communicate beyond that level.
Use the tools in the Resource module to cross check your usage of medical terminology, written literacy level and readability. When you have finished, give it to a 6th grader if possible and check to see if they understand it. Your goal is to produce a document which correctly explains the condition you have chosen at a basic level. It should not only be readable by almost anyone, regardless of their facility with the English Language, but should also describe the health condition in full. Be sure to tell the client about these things:
- The etiology of the condition
- Symptoms leading to the diagnosis, and symptoms to be expected now that the client is diagnosed.
- The usual course of the condition (is it lifelong, temporary, lethal, debilitating, curable, what?)
- Possible courses of action which the client might be offered. If you mention medications, what are routes, cautions, duration, and major side effects?
- Things the client can do to help stay healthy
- Resources for the client (American Lung Association, for instance)
This is to be an APA formatted paper with proper spelling, grammar, syntax, sentence structure, punctuation and, of course, readability. See Rubric, especially around citations. The lower levels of literacy are not prepared to deal with in-body citations, so please put them at the end.
The paper should be at least 3 pages long, not including a title page.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
For this assignment, you are required to choose a health condition that interests you and write a paper explaining it to a client who may have limited literacy or proficiency in English. Your goal is to produce a document that is clear, concise, and able to be understood by anyone, regardless of their familiarity with medical jargon or English. Your paper must cover the etiology of the condition, symptoms, the usual course of the condition, possible courses of action and resources available to clients. The paper should be at least three pages long, in APA format, with proper spelling, grammar, syntax, sentence structure, punctuation, and readability.
Question:
What strategies can you use to ensure the paper is readable and understandable for clients with limited literacy or proficiency in English?
Answer:
For clients with limited literacy or proficiency in English, it is necessary to ensure the paper is clear, concise, and understandable. Some strategies that can be employed include using simple language and avoiding medical jargon. The use of graphics and images can also make the information more accessible, as can the use of bullet points and short sentences. It’s also helpful to avoid acronyms, use active voice instead of passive and present information in a logical order. Finally, you should cross-check medical terminology using tools in the Resources module, review your second or third draft to simplify the language and ensure the client would be able to understand what you’re saying.
