Definition and Explication of Skin of Color (SOC) - PDF

DEFINITION AND EXPLICATION This type of organization explains the meaning of a concept, term or idea, often breaking it intro parts to provide a deeper understanding. It may also include the significance, origin, or applications of the term being defined. Key Feature: Use of linking verbs (is, ref...

DEFINITION AND EXPLICATION This type of organization explains the meaning of a concept, term or idea, often breaking it intro parts to provide a deeper understanding. It may also include the significance, origin, or applications of the term being defined. Key Feature: Use of linking verbs (is, refers to etc.), examples to clarify meanings, and technical/academic vocabulary. In dermatology, skin of color (SOC) identifies “individuals of particular racial and ethnic groups who share similar characteristics and disorders, as well reaction patterns to those disorders” including increased constitutive pigmentation, propensity toward reactive pigment alteration, and higher skin phototype. While there is a wide range of skin phototypes across different racial subgroups and vice versa, individuals typically identified as SOC tend to fall into the US Census categories American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black, and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander. This population is historically underrepresented in dermatologic education, research, and workforce; in addition, many of the dermatologic disorders that disproportionately affect SOC populations are hampered by limited treatment options [2–7]. By 2044, more than half of all Americans will belong to a self-identified racial/ethnic group that is characterized by having SOC Underrepresented in medicine (URiM) physicians are more likely to care for underserved racial/ethnic minority populations [11, 12]. However, previous studies demonstrated that patient-dermatologist racial concordance was preferred but not required for a positive experience. Instead, satisfaction was related to the dermatologist’s knowledge about Black skin and hair and a culturally sensitive interaction style. One approach to helping increase the number of URiM faculty to improve cross-cultural understanding and thereby ensure the delivery of culturally sensitive care is to ensure that applicants and matriculants at medical schools nationwide are representative of the general population. Data from the 2010 US Census Bureau and 2011 Association of American Medical Colleges demonstrated that the racial demographics of US medical school applicants and matriculants was significantly different from that of the general population, with underrepresentation of African American (AA)/Black and American Indian/Alaskan Indian individuals. Analyzing the text: In the academic text above, definition and explication is used to define the term “skin of color” (shortened to SOC) and how it is used in the field of dermatology. It does this by giving a brief definition of SOC, which are “individuals of particular racial and ethnic groups who share similar characteristics and disorders, as well reaction patterns to those disorders”. As well as identifying individuals who fall under the category of SOC, such as “American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black, and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander”. The text also explains the significance of the term SOC in the field, according to the text the SOC population is historically underrepresented in dermatologic education and that the study would benefit a great number of people. Grammar structure: The paragraph's grammar structure consists of many techniques to define the term "skin of color", first of which is classification to identify the racial and ethnic groups and their characteristics that fall under SOC. Exemplification further elaborates on the characteristics, such as increased pigmentation and specific reaction patterns. Contrast and clarification is then seen at the beginning of the second paragraph to highlight the relationship between physicians and SOCs and how it affects their experience. And lastly, recommendations suggest the need for better representation and understanding of SOCs in medicine. These techniques are among the commonly used ways to further explain a specific idea, in this case to expound on the topic of “skin of color” in dermatology. Identification of Transitional words and Phrases: Definition and explication is the process of explaining and making things easier to understand for the viewer. In the passage given above, transitional words such as “identifies” are used to define terms like (SOC) or Skin of Color. Doing so, allows the text to flow in a straightforward manner that builds the details as the academic text unfolds. “Including” Is also used to further exemplify the classifications of SOC in the given text. Another example of using transitional words and phrases to connect ideas is “characterized by” and “historically underrepresented”. These transitional words allow the reader to create an organized perspective of the text. Furthermore, Explication is shown through transitional words in the academic text like “As well”, “In addition” and “For example” As a way to further elaborate and give examples on the shared characteristics and Skin of color the population mentioned have. These kinds of transitions allow for supporting details that expound more on the main idea. In contrast, words such as “However” and “Instead”, are used in the academic text to offer a different perspective and show a dichotomy on the claims that were made. Lastly, “One approach” and “To help” is a method that was used to show a way to improve cross-cultural understanding amongst the population. Definition Words used in the text ​ Identifies: introduces the definition of "skin of color (SOC)." ​ Including: Allows examples of the main idea to be shown (ex. Characteristics of SOC) ​ Characterized by: Creates classifications of traits and ideas in the text. ​ Is historically underrepresented: provides an explanation of the historical context of SOC in dermatology. ​ Explication Words used in the text: ​ As well: adds information about the characteristics given in the text and further expounds on its ideas. ​ ​ For example: used to introduce specific examples that support the main idea. ​ In addition: Expands the explanation in the text and further solidifies the idea by adding an additional point. ​ However: shows an alternative viewpoint in the text. ​ Instead: Elaborates on a different claim that contrasts the main idea of the text. ​ One approach: Shows a way to improve in the situation given by giving directions. ​ To help: Introduces the reasoning behind a solution and explicates on why it is necessary.