Genre: Situation Overview

Introduction

The Kids Food Basket Situation Overview is a document that can be found on their website as well as other various publications handed out by the organization. Information is included within the document concerning childhood hunger in the Grand Rapids area as well in the entire United States . The Situation Overview also mentions the organization’s basic roles in breaking nutritionally at-risk children from the cycle of hunger and goals.

Purpose

The purpose of the document is to educate the community on the problem of childhood hunger in the Greater Grand Rapids as well as increase the number of donors giving to the organization and the number of volunteers contributing their time for the organization’s outreach. The document is intended to all community members, young or old, but may be specifically geared towards groups, business, churches and schools.

Writing Roles

Kids Food Basket wishes to educate the community of the childhood hunger problem in the Grand Rapids area. The organization also wants the readers to respond to their call to action either by contributing their time at Kids Food Basket, donating supplies, or donating money. This piece also reports research from the USDA and other sources to prove that what the organization’s work is needed in the community.

By informing the public of the problem that is in the community Kids Food Basket hopes to get a response from the members of the community to help with their cause.

Types of Arguments

The Situation Overview uses facts from research collected from the USDA, stating that, “In the United States four million children, or one in five, go hungry everyday. An additional nine million are at risk,” (page 1, paragraph 1). The document also uses research from a local organization, Second Harvest Gleaners of West Michigan (in paragraph 1), stating that, “Hundreds of children were identified in the Greater Grand Rapids as being undernourished and in need of nutrition intervention.” Local school administrators (page 1, paragraph 2) are also mentioned as voicing concern, “about children who currently receive breakfast and lunch at school and are at high risk of not receiving an evening meal at home.”

All these facts are used to bring to the audiences’ attention that childhood hunger not only exists in third-world countries, but also in the local community. More specific examples, such as a specific child that is nutritionally at-risk in the community or what school administrators see in a child that is not receiving the proper nutrition could also be used here to illustrate this point.

Structure

The most informative and shocking data comes first in the document to catch the reader’s attention. The first paragraph of the document contains the information on childhood hunger in the United States and the Grand Rapids community, because most people do not know that it is a problem in the area. The document follows an inverted paragraph style or even a style that is used in article writing.

The document also uses a topic structure because each paragraph deals with a different topic. Paragraph 1 explains why there is a need for an organization such as Kids Food Basket. Paragraph 2 describes the basics of the organizations activities. Paragraph 3 clarifies the amount of calories a child needs to function properly and how the sack suppers can help reach that requirement. Paragraph 4 details the goals of the organization for the community.

A problem-solution type structure is also used in this document. The problem is stated first, in paragraph1. Then in paragraphs 2-3 the solution is introduced and explained. Paragraph 4 states the future goals of the organization as well as a closing to the document.

Function

The KFB’s Situational Overview was written to inform the community of the problem of childhood hunger that is taking place within the community. I think using the inverted paragraph style to catch the reader’s attention and then fill in the information about the organization as the reader continues reading the document is helpful because it engages the reader in the beginning. The topic structure is also appropriate as to not lose the reader in the document and to keep the information well organized. The problem-solution organizational structure is also appropriate for the audience to understand that there is a problem, how the organization aims to solve it, and where the future of the organization might lead.

I think the document could be broken up a little more. The paragraphs are large and contain a sizeable amount of information. A steps type structure may be appropriate to outline the reasons for the organization and its goals.

Writing Analyst: Joni