Understanding Different Types of Texts in Nursing

Assignment Brief and Feedback form
(L3 study skills unit with single assignment)
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Description of Assignment:
Your task for this assignment will be to show you have understood three different types of text, with
different audiences, purposes and styles. The texts will be supplied. All three texts are linked by the
topic of nursing.
To meet the criteria you will need to:
 Complete the table below for each of the three texts (i.e. one table per text), making
sure you give quotations and clear explanations as directed in the table.
Full reference of text:
Genre
What type of text is this? How do you know? (Give at least 2 examples.)
Audience
Who is the intended audience for this text? How do you know? (Give at least 2
examples.)
Subject
Summarize the key points presented in the text. (200-300 words)
Purpose
What is the purpose(s) of the text? (Give at least 2 examples to illustrate the
purpose(s) of the text.)
Context /
Attitudes &
Values
The social, historical and cultural contexts in which a text is produced can affect the
meanings and the attitudes and values which are presented in the text.
What do you learn about the social, historical or cultural context in which this text
was written? What attitudes and values are presented in the text? Give at least 3
examples and explain what they mean.
Evaluation
Write a short evaluation: how effective is the writer’s use of form and style in
achieving the intended purpose(s)? Explain your views with at least 2 examples
from the text. (100-150 words)
Date set: 29/04/19 Date for draft submission
(if applicable):
Date for final
submission: 31/05/19
Extension date
(if agreed): Signed by Tutor/Assessor to
agree extension:
Date
submitted:
Internal Moderation: Yes / No
Date:
Signed by internal moderator: ON TIME / LATE
Level 3 Unit title: Reading and Comprehension of Texts
1

Assignment Brief and Feedback form
(L3 study skills unit with single assignment)
Learning outcomes Assessment criteria
This is what you will learn on the unit. This is what you must be able to demonstrate that you
can do in your assignment in order to achieve the unit.
The learner will: The learner can:
1. Understand a variety of different texts. 1.1. Analyse the meaning of a variety of texts e.g.
poetry, prose, media, technical literature.
2. Understand the purpose and content of texts. 2.1. Interpret the main purpose of texts.
2.2. Summarise the main points of texts in own
words.
3. Understand how authors use form and style to
achieve their purposes.
3.1. Evaluate the effectiveness of authors’ chosen
form and style in achieving their purposes.
4. Understand some of the ways in which context
can affect meaning.
4.1. Explain how some aspects of social, historical
and/or cultural context can affect meaning
within the text.
Part A: Feedback on credit level
AC no
Credit
achieved
(L3)
Location of
evidence
Tutor/Assessor comments on assessment criteria
(the assessor may also indicate on the work itself where each AC is met)
1.1
2.1
2.2
3.1
4.1
Level
achieved Tutor/Assessor’s signature: Date:
2

Assignment Brief and Feedback form
(L3 study skills unit with single assignment)
Areas for development (how will the learner be able to use and improve on what they have learnt on this unit and
the skills that they have used in their further studies?)
Resubmission (if applicable)If any of the assessment criteria for this assignment have not been met at Level 3, a
resubmission may be permitted. Resubmission must follow the QAA guidelines and be permitted only once.
Requirements for resubmission/new Task set:
Date Set: 14th June 2019 Date due: 21st June 2019 Date Submitted:
Feedback on resubmission:
Level achieved
after resubmission:
Tutor/Assessor’s
signature: Date:
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“”
3

Assignment Brief and Feedback form
(L3 study skills unit with single assignment)
Your task for this assignment will be to show you have understood three different types of text,
with different audiences, purposes and styles. The texts will be supplied. All three texts are linked
by the topic of nursing.
Full reference of text:A
Bly, N. (1887) Ten Days in a Mad-House [online] Available at
https://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/b/bly/nellie/ten-days-in-a-mad-house/ [Accessed: 20-07-18]
Genre
Upon critically reading, it can be observed that the text follows a narrative style – a
genre which is characterised by the author narrating or reading out a story to the
targeted audience. In this text, the author’s investigation of the heinous conditions
in which mentally ill patients are treated in an asylum is narrated in the form of a
story, where the author dictates the asylum’s condition from her own point of view
using first person narrative. Such aspects are key characteristics of a narrative
type of text. A key example can be observed below:
“I found myself at last an occupant of an insane asylum. I stood at the door and
contemplated the scene before me. The long, uncarpeted hall was scrubbed to
that peculiar whiteness seen only in public institutions. In the rear of the hall were
large iron doors fastened by a padlock”.
Additionally, a key characteristic of a narrative genre of text, is the author’s
mention of key characteristics and events such as incidences of motivation or
dispute, which guide readers sequentially through future possibilities of other
events in the story. A key example can be found in the situation whet the author
went into a minor dispute with a nurse on refusing to take off her hat, resulting in
future further examination of her mental health:
‘ “Take off your hat.” “I shall not take off my hat,” I answered. “I am waiting for the
boat, and I shall not remove it.” “Well, you are not going on any boat. You might as
well know it now as later. You are in an asylum for the insane..” ‘.
Audience From the reading, it can be assumed that the intended audience for the text is the
general public, especially families or individuals belonging to non-clinical
background and in search of mental health services for their loved ones. This can
be perceived from the publication and language used by the author. It can be
observed that the author’s work has been published in the form of a book, ‘Ten
days in Mad House’, with the intention to educate the public on her investigations
in discovering the brutal treatment provided to patients at an asylum for lunatics in
New York.
Example: “There were only three patients, as they are called. I made the fourth. I
thought I might as well begin work at once, for I still expected that the very first
doctor might declare me sane and send me out again into the wide, wide world.”
Further, the author’s intension of targeting the general public can be observed with
her usage of a narrative tone, in the form of a story and avoidance of use of
scientific or complicated words considering the non-scientific background of the
intended audience.
Example:’ “I do not know what you are talking about. I always lived at home.”
After many more questions, fully as useless and senseless, he left me and began
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Assignment Brief and Feedback form
(L3 study skills unit with single assignment)
to talk with the nurse. “Positively demented,” he said. “I consider it a hopeless
case. She needs to be put where someone will take care of her.” And so I passed
my second medical expert.” ‘.
Subject
The primary point addressed in the text is the author’s major aim of educating the
audience on the maltreatment patients who are admitted with mental health issues
in asylums receive upon admission. The author attempted to fulfil this aim through
the performance of an investigation, by pretending to be a patient in need of
mental health treatment. The key sections in the text, which demonstrate the
same, are the authors description of the dismal nature of the surroundings of the
asylum, the lack of facilities to comfort patients in the cold or the lack of adequate
hygienic or quality meals. The author however, also received some warmth and
humane treatment from certain individuals the asylum, as can be observed from
her appreciation of Mary’s kind hearted nature despite the author possessing no
money for her meals. Further, the ruse behaviour and attempts by the personnel
at the asylum to convince mentally sound individuals of their insanity have been
highlighted by the author by mentioning the inappropriate questions directed to her
by the nurse and doctor as well as in the statements by Miss Neville on being
asked confusing questions. Lastly, the article also highlights the lack of
professional behaviour by the personnel at the asylum, who proceeded to direct
the author – who is pretending to be a patient – to another doctor, merely by
asking rude, inappropriate questions and without the performance of any scientific
mental health assessments.
Purpose
From reading the text, it can be observed that the key purpose of author writing
this text, is to educate and enlighten the general public on the dismal conditions
and treatment disseminated to patients who are admitted in an asylum for
treatment of mental health issues. The author’s purpose can be detected via two
mechanisms, the lack of basic amenities in the asylum and the lack of usage of
professional behaviour, scientific evidence and empathy by the personnel in the
diagnosis and treatment of admitted patients. The example are highlighted below:
Example: “All the windows in the hall were open and the cold air began to tell on
my Southern blood. It grew so cold indeed as to be almost unbearable, and I
complained of it to Miss Scott and Miss Ball. But they answered curtly that as I
was in a charity place I could not expect much else.”
Example 2: ‘ “No, I will not. I am cold, and I want my hat on, and you can’t make
me take it off.” “I shall give you a few more minutes, and if you don’t take it off then
I shall use force, and I warn you it will not be very gentle.” ‘.
Context /
Attitudes &
Values
The key social and cultural context which can be identified from the given text, is
the presence of a society and clinical scenario which is not very kind,
compassionate , empathetic and polite to the needs of the patient. This can be
demonstrated by the author’s mentioning of the rude behaviour of the nurses and
doctors during communication with the patients:
Example: ‘ “It’s rather a bad-looking shawl,” I said. “Well, some people would get
along better if they were not so proud,” said Miss Scott. “People on charity should
not expect anything and should not complain.” ‘.
Additionally, another social and cultural aspect which can be observed in the
reading is the prevalence of a clinical society which did not address patient needs
and diagnosis using scientific or ethical principles as observed in the author
commenting on the usage of confusing and convincing statements by the doctors
and nurses.
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Assignment Brief and Feedback form
(L3 study skills unit with single assignment)
Example: ‘ “No,” she said. “The doctors have been asking me many curious
questions and confusing me as much as possible, but I have nothing wrong with
my brain.” ‘.
Further, in terms of a historical context, it can be assumed that the article was set
at a time when adequate technologies or facilities were not prevalent in mental
health institutions for the provision of comfort of to the patients. This can be
demonstrated in the lack of heating and clothing facilities in the asylum.
Example: “All the windows in the hall were open and the cold air began to tell on
my Southern blood. It grew so cold indeed as to be almost unbearable, and I
complained of it to Miss Scott and Miss Ball. But they answered curtly that as I
was in a charity place I could not expect much else.”
Evaluation
From evaluation upon reading the text, it can be observed that the author was
successful in enlightening the readers on the poor environmental and treatment
conditions in a mental health asylum, due to her usage of adequate styles and
tone of narrative genre and avoidance of usage of a non-scientific words.
The usage of a narrative style, which comprised of the author telling a story using
first person dialogue, is an beneficial way in igniting the interest of the audience
while simultaneously delivering the intended message. This can be observed in
the author’s demonstration of the saddening environment of the asylum.
Example: “I stood at the door and contemplated the scene before me. The long,
uncarpeted hall was scrubbed to that peculiar whiteness seen only in public
institutions.”
An additional aspect which makes this article successful as well as interesting is
the avoidance of complicated scientific terms, beneficial for appealing to a wider
audience in terms of easy comprehension. This can be demonstrated in sections
highlighting the lack of usage of evidenced ‘assessments’ by the personnel during
patient ‘diagnosis’.
Example: “The third patient, Mrs. Fox, would not say much. She was very quiet,
and after telling me that her case was hopeless refused to talk. I began now to feel
surer of my position, and I determined that no doctor should convince me that I
was sane so long as I had the hope of accomplishing my mission.”
Text A
Extract from Ten Days in a Mad-Houseby Nellie Bly (1887)
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Ten Days in a Mad-House is a book by American journalist Nellie Bly.
The book was based on articles written while Bly was on an undercover assignment for the New York
World. She feigned insanity whilst lodging in a women's boarding house, so as to be involuntarily
committed to an insane asylum. She then investigated the reports of brutality and neglect at the Women's
Lunatic Asylum on Blackwell's Island, New York.
This extract describes her arrival at the asylum.