For the interviewing assignment, I chose to interview my Dad, Brian Earl, PhD, a respected professional in the field of audiology and academia, current professor and director of Earlab at the University of Cincinnati. Brian Earl conducts a graduate research lab, conducts personal research, and has multiple publications in audiology and other medical journals. While conversing with him, I gained insights into the many communication skills he uses in his everyday and professional life. Analyzing his responses, and adding my own reflections, I'll cover how he employs rhetorical devices, genres, information literacy, and writing processes, and include his reflections on his professional years.
Rhetorical Devices…show more content… Brian utilizes various genres of communication, both verbal and written, such as emails, lectures, research papers, and medical procedures to communicate in different contexts. These genres help him establish credibility, ethos, by maintaining a professional tone and avoiding biases. He learned these genres through years of study, publishing many studies and pieces of research, and presenting at large audiology conferences, indicating the constant repetition that has given him experience and guidance in his mastery of verbal and written communication genres. These examples give a clear demonstration of his genre awareness and ability to adapt to different situations. Information Literacy: Information literacy is the ability to find, evaluate, and use information for a specific purpose. It can involve collecting different sources, vetting the accuracy of information, or understanding how best to leverage information for a rhetorical purpose. In a profession that relies heavily on accurate and reputable information, Brian commented that he relies on empirical data from reputable sources like Pubmed for his research, publications, and lectures. He emphasized the importance of peer-reviewed research as a standard to ensure accuracy and trustworthiness, even saying that he recommends every article has at least three reviewers. He is often asked to review other’s work before they are published and by scrutinizing citations and source credibility, Brian ensures the integrity of the information in the audiology community and his own work. Writing Process: Writing processes can range from the steps followed to plan or begin to draft writing to the different styles of editing used. It is a structured yet creative process developed by each writer. From his early college days, Brian commented that since his first large research project, he has followed
