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Katie Fasola

Professor Beckelhimer

Intermediate Composition

20 October 2017

Genre Analysis: Foster Care System in Cincinnati, Ohio

The discourse communities involved in the discussion surrounding the foster care system

in Cincinnati, Ohio utilize a variety of genres to display their opinions. These genres range from

primary to secondary sources - including but not limited to personal accounts, social media,

articles, videos, broadcasts, and court cases. Through my research, I have found most opinions

concerning the foster care system in Cincinnati are communicated through the court system,

whether it be the state or national level. In Cincinnati, many court cases take place in the local

Hamilton County Court System, or even the Supreme Court of Ohio. Because the discussion

surrounding the flawed foster care system takes place prevalently in the court system, I have

chosen to explore the genre of political court cases. Political court cases are incredibly important

because they hold precedence and they justify the decisions made regarding the relevant

discourse.

As previously discussed in my discourse analysis, the foster care system is flawed. This

central issue is discussed continuously in a civil manner as the discourse communities work for

the well-being of each foster child. Continuing this theme of civil discourse, political court cases

are written with the sole purpose of serving justice. Outcomes of serving justice can range

from simply finding a child a safe home, having a child taken away due to an abusive home

environment, or settling a custody battle. Ultimately, the goal of the court cases is to devise a

positive solution, or a safe living situation, for the foster child. This genre has many consistent
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features, and the context of the genre is

relatively similar. In each court case,

there is a plaintiff, or appellee, and a

defendant, or appellant. There is a

specific court number and case number.


Exhibit A, State of Ohio vs. Liz Carroll

A court case includes a statement of facts, an argument, and a conclusion. The introduction for

each court case appears in the relative same format. As seen in State of Ohio vs. Liz Carroll, the

State of Ohio served as the plaintiff, and Liz Carroll served as the defendant (Exhibit A). In

addition to the introduction, court cases are always written in a professional tone of voice, with a

statement of the case and facts, as well as an argument. This genre is incredibly factual, as all

defendants are innocent until proven guilty.

Court cases provide the answers to difficult situations. In the case of the foster care

system, court cases serve as the outlet for those individuals involved in the adoption process.

The benefit of the court cases is that they are unbiased, whereas other sources such as social

media, on the other hand, tend to be extraordinarily biased. Individuals involved can express

their opinions while physically standing in court. The National CASA Association stated, With

a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) or guardian ad litem (GAL) volunteer dedicated to

their case, Americas most vulnerable children will have someone speaking up for their best

interests. Although these opinions are not explicitly stated in the court case itself, during trial,

the individual can voice their biased opinion.

This genres context can vary depending on each individual situation. There are positive

court cases surrounding the adoption process of a child, and other negative cases surrounding the

abuse of a foster child. As evident through the Adoption Day 2015 video, many court cases end
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with the final decision being a

child being placed in a safe and

nurturing home environment.

National Adoption Day is the

Saturday before Thanksgiving

and it celebrates all those involved in the foster care system, Exhibit B, State of Ohio vs. Liz Carroll

including the policymakers, judges, and families who work to finalize adoptions. The National

Adoption Day Coalition states, The day an adoption is finalized is one families never forget

(Lidgett). In other cases, the verdict calls for social workers to take abused and neglected

children away from their parents. As evident in one court case regarding a custody battle, Six-

year-old Alexandria clutches her arms and legs tightly around her foster father as she is whisked

away from the home she has known for four years (Sidner). Referencing Exhibit B, the court

cases are rhetorically effective as they state the facts and provide an unbiased opinion.

Court cases are an excellent genre to explore relative to the foster care system in

Cincinnati, Ohio. Through analyzing the discourse in this genre, I have found the context to vary

per individual. However, the expectation has stayed the same as the end goal is to find a safe

home for the foster child. The audience tends to be the judge and those primary individuals

specifically involved, including the foster children and foster parents. Political court cases

contribute to civil discourse as the verbiage is professional and unbiased. The genre occasionally

detracts from civil discourse as the plaintiffs and defendants argue during trial. During those

periods, the genre can promote uncivil discourse. Despite the argumentative nature of a trial, the

end goal continues to be for the child to have the best life possible. This genre analysis has
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helped me further understand the significance of political court cases within the foster care

system in Cincinnati, and I have gained a better understanding of the discourse involved.
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Works Cited

Adoption Day 2015. Adoption Day 2015. Hamilton County Job and Family Services, 16 Dec.

2015. Web. 27 Sept. 2017. <https://youtu.be/JvZIxx6oPvk>.

Haffey, Richard, Paul Haffner, and Lauren Frooman. "Lighthouse Youth and Family

Services." 2016 Impact Report (1 Jan. 2017): n. pag. Print.

Hamilton County JFS Adoption & Foster Care Recruitment Facebook Page. N.d. Social Media.

Hamilton County, Cincinnati.

Jackson, Dashun. "From Victim to Victorious." Dashun: From Victim to Victorious - National

CASA - CASA for Children. National CASA Association, 2017. Web.

Lidgett, Adam. National Adoption Day 2015: 10 Quotes To Celebrate Uniting Children In

Foster Care With Loving Families. International Business Times, 21 Nov. 2015,

www.ibtimes.com/national-adoption-day-2015-10-quotes-celebrate-uniting-children-

foster-care-loving-2192516.

London, John. "Heroin Abuse Causes Heavy Strain on Foster Care System." WLWT [Cincinnati]

15 Feb. 2017: n. pag. Print.

National CASA Association - National CASA - CASA for Children. N.p., 2017. Web.

Prosser, Hilary. Perspectives on Foster Care. Windsor, Berks.: NFER, 1978. Print.

Sidner, Sara, and Amanda Watts. Girl, 6, Removed in Tribal Custody Battle. CNN, Cable

News Network, 23 Mar. 2016, www.cnn.com/2016/03/22/health/foster-battle-choctaw-

nation/index.html.

State of Ohio vs. Liz Carroll. Supreme Court of Ohio. 19 Feb. 2008. UC Library Database. Web.

25 Sept. 2017.

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