Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Apr 2008

Graphics and Ethos in Biomedical Journals

David Hutto Juniata College

Abstract

This article describes a study that examined the tables and figures in articles from a basic research journal, The Journal of Cell Biology, and compared them to tables and figures from an applied medical journal, The New England Journal of Medicine. Comparison of graphics between the two journals shows sharp differences in terms of range of graphics types, visual consistency within and between articles, or use of color. As the articles take into account what is needed by different audiences, the graphics help to build the credibility of the journal. The study also addresses the question of how scientific visuals contribute to the persuasiveness of a writer, looking at how the graphics within an article affect the credibility or ethos of the writer.

Journal
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Published
2008-04-01
DOI
10.2190/tw.38.2.b
Open Access
Closed
Topics
multilingual writers argument affect and writing

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (5)

  1. Reed (2018)
    Building on Bibliography: Toward Useful Categorization of Research in Rhetorics…
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  2. Hannah et al. (2018)
    Mapping the Terrain: Examining the Conditions for Alignment Between the Rhetori…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  3. Buehl (2014)
    Toward an Ethical Rhetoric of the Digital Scientific Image: Learning From the E…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  4. Wickman (2013)
    Observing Inscriptions at Work: Visualization and Text Production in Experiment…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  5. Hoover (2010)
    The Impact of NSF and NIH Websites on Researcher Ethics
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication

Cites in this index (5)

  1. Fahnestock (2004)
    Preserving the Figure
    Written Communication
  2. Hass et al. (2003)
    The Rhetoric of Junk Science
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  3. Richards (2003)
    Argument and Authority in the Visual Representations of Science
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  4. Kumpf (2000)
    Visual metadiscourse: Designing the considerate text
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  5. Bell et al. (2000)
    ‘Aristotle's pharmacy’: The medical rhetoric of a clinical protocol in the drug…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
Also cites 12 works outside this index ↓
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     ↗
  2. 10.1353/con.2004.0023
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  3. 10.1038/23379
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  5. 10.1353/con.2004.0016
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  6. 10.1083/jcb.200504097
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CrossRef global citation count: 8 View in citation network →

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