Patient. VS . Journalist

            Patients and professionals use rhetorical features to communicate with their respective audiences effectively, but their approaches are quite distinct. Kasey Altman is a TikToker who, in 2020, was diagnosed with Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma; she goes on TikTok to inform people about her condition and raise awareness. When watching her videos, you cannot help but feel empathetic, and her approach makes you feel hopeful for her. These personal yet insightful videos show her use of Logos and Pathos to help her audience connect to her topic. You see a different strategy when looking at Tanya Lewis’s magazine in Scientific Magazine. Tanya Lewis is a senior editor who covers health and medicine; she writes and edits stories about various topics such as COVID-19, organ transplants, and personalized cancer vaccines, which Kasey Altman talked about in her video. Comparing the two shows the difference between rhetorical features in a more personal video versus the ethos and logos used in a more scientific context.

             Kasey Altman was a TikToker who raised awareness for her condition and informed people about life with ARMS. Kasey used TikTok for exposure, going online and speaking on topics such as a personalized vaccine that finds cancerous invader cells in your body. Kasey’s cancer wasn’t one where your body gets invaded by cancer; it’s the immune system’s inability to recognize those cells as cancerous cells, meaning that the vaccine would extend your life expectancy, as it did for two patients, where according to Kasey one lived for 5 years after taking the vaccine and one was 10 years into the vaccine and still alive. Kasey Altman was not only informing viewers she also uses her platform to build a small community of people who know/are going through something similar to what she’s going through; raising awareness, “partnering with Rein In sarcoma to help fund the Kasey Altman Research Fund, with 100% of the proceeds going directly to ARMS research” (cossete,2023, para.1) ARMS and sarcoma funding is severely limited, with only small funding. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funds only 4% of all cancer research in children, so Kasey going on a platform as big as TikTok helps raise money for this research to be done.

            Scientific American is a well-known American magazine that focuses on science and technology. It covers many topics, such as physics, biology, neuroscience, medicine, etc. The magazine publishes articles written by experts and journalists to make scientific information more accessible to the general public. Tanya Lewis is a science journalist who has contributed to publications such as her magazine “Pancreatic Cancer Vaccine Shows Promise in Small Initial Trial.” Tanya consistently uses a writing style that prioritizes the delivery of factual, evidence-based information. Unlike emotionally charged content, Lewis’ work appears to be tailored for an audience eager to delve into the depths of scientific subjects with a focus on understanding. I’m not someone who goes out of my way to read about this topic, so reading her magazine felt like I was being bombarded with information. In contrast, Kasey’s video was more suited for someone like me who isn’t necessarily going out of their way to learn this information. Ultimately, Kasey’s video would push someone to learn about this vaccine, while Tanya’s magazine is where you’d end up to further educate yourself.

           While Kasey’s video is something that can reach someone’s for you page on TikTok, Tanya’s magazine is something that you wouldn’t get to unless you’re going out of your way to search for it. This explains why the information in both sources is presented differently. In Kasey Altman’s video, she starts the video by saying that you can see happy tears in her eyes; this is where we see Pathos showing up. Describing the presence of happy tears in her eyes evokes an emotional response by appealing to the reader’s empathy and compassion. This expression creates a significant image that resonates emotionally, building sympathy and trust towards her. Tanya builds trust differently; instead of relying on Pathos, she uses Logos. Tanya Lewis includes professional references in her writing by citing or mentioning professionals in a specific field, which adds credibility and authority to her arguments or information. By mentioning the ‘Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City’ and ‘Drew Weissman, director of vaccine research and director of the Institute for RNA Innovation,’ Lewis is adding a level of security to her audience.

          They both use different rhetorical strategies to build their audiences’ trust, they are seen to use Ethos throughout their pieces. Kasey Altman’s use of Ethos stems from her personal experience as a cancer patient. Her firsthand experience with cancer gives her a unique perspective, and when discussing the vaccine, it builds her credibility. Kasey mentions how you can tell loved ones suffering from cancer about this vaccine. The viewers may be more likely to trust her insights on the vaccine’s safety and efficacy, given her personal stake in the matter, forwarding this information to loved ones. Tanya Lewis sets up Ethos through her expertise as a science journalist. Her credibility comes from her knowledge and experience in communicating complex scientific topics. Readers are likely to trust her information about the vaccine because of her background as a professional who specializes in translating scientific concepts for a broader audience.

           In conclusion, the comparison between Kasey Altman’s personal and emotionally driven approach on TikTok and Tanya Lewis’s more scientific and evidence-based approach in Scientific American highlights the diverse ways rhetorical features are employed to communicate effectively with distinct audiences. As a cancer patient and TikToker, Kasey Altman’s videos combine logos and Pathos. Kasey appeals to her audience’s emotions by sharing personal experiences and emphasizing the potential life-extending impact of a personalized cancer vaccine, fostering empathy and connection. Furthermore, Kasey employs Ethos by using her firsthand experience, establishing credibility, which is critical when discussing a sensitive topic like cancer. Tanya Lewis, a science journalist for Scientific American, takes a more logically structured approach, relying heavily on logos. Her writing prioritizes factual, evidence-based information for an audience seeking in-depth scientific understanding. Lewis establishes an ethos within the scientific community and among readers who value thorough research and analysis through the use of professional references and a commitment to presenting accurate information. The platforms they use emphasize the distinction in their communication strategies. Kasey’s TikTok videos, which are designed for easy access, aim to raise awareness and build a supportive community, while Tanya’s Scientific American articles are aimed at a more intentional and research-oriented audience. Finally, both Kasey Altman and Tanya Lewis use rhetorical features effectively to convey their messages, proving the adaptability of these strategies in adapting to different audiences and communication contexts.