As part of a service project for her pre-med organization, Betty Smythe has agreed to write a definition of sickle cell anemia for use as a health information brochure in a large local public health clinic near the university she attends. The readers of the definition will be patients from a variety of backgrounds, but they will not have medical or biological education or training.

Overview Questions

1. Does Betty cover her subject fully and clearly? Is her treatment of the subject suitable for patients?

2. Is Betty's definition written on a level appropriate for a public health brochure? What language changes do you suggest, if any?

3. What questions would patients or potential patients ask about sickle cell anemia? Has Betty answered these?

4. What format changes do you suggest for the brochure? What kinds of document design issues can affect its use and readability for patients?

5. Would any graphics be helpful? If so, what kind?

6. What are the strengths of Betty's text?

7. What suggestions do you have to make Betty's definition more helpful for its intended readers?

1. Introduction. Is Betty's opening definition clear and useful to readers? Does the introduction usefully define the brochure's scope, purpose, and order? (See pages 237, 253-257.)

2. Headings. Do the headings guide readers through the report and identify parts of discussion accurately? (See pages 215-218.)

3. More headings. Do Betty's headings accurately describe the text that follows? Is the wording of the headings useful to readers?

4. Definitions. Does Betty define all of her terms in ways her readers can understand?

5. Closing. Is Betty's closing section on treatment adequate to end the brochure? To sum up its main point for readers?