The Idea of an Essay, Volume 2

58 “Occupational Therapists in the Field of Writing” by Meredith Merritt Instructor’s Notes This essay has a dual purpose of providing a rhetorical analysis of a scholarly journal article and an overview of writing in the field of occupational therapy. Meredith Merritt successfully achieves both purposes. What organizational style(s) does she employ? After reading Meredith’s essay, do you believe you have a good understanding of the kinds of writing occupational therapists complete? Can you name the article Meredith analyzes? What are her feelings toward the article? How do you know? Writer’s Biography Meredith Merritt is a sophomore Allied Health major from Pennsylvania. She is currently preparing to enter the field of occupational therapy in the hopes of putting to good use her love for people. She enjoys a wide range of hobbies, from reading literature to carving down mountains on her snowboard. Her heart, however, remains firmly attached to working at summer church camps. Occupational Therapists in the Field of Writing When considering writers, many people may automatically think about authors, journalists, playwrights; they may associate writing with the forms they have personally encountered. This understanding based on exposure, however, overlooks different areas of writing that many people may have never before come across. For instance, while many may perceive occupational therapy as involving a more hands-on approach in working with patients, it actually encompasses a fair amount of writing as well. Such professionals may write on a daily, and sometimes even long-term, basis. While the daily type writings may include progress notes and/or evaluations, long-term and more extensive type works may consist of peer-reviewed research articles or other research-oriented projects. In producing each of these different pieces, occupational