The writer, in this article, has a proposition that the institution of marriage is dictated by wealth. Americans are falling out of love with marital bliss (cook, for richer (not for poorer); the inequality crisis of marriage). Here, she claims that the excitement and seriousness associated with the marriage institution are fading out in America. In the article, the writer uses factual, value and policy claim to prove her case. The factual claims are evident in the numerous references to studies carried out by institutions and other research organisations. An example of a factual claim made by the writer is where she states that the number of marriages in the United States dropped by 5% from the year 2009 to 2010. The writer has based her claim on a report by Pew Research Centre
Value claims are also exhibited in this article by the writer. The writer expresses her values by stating that well educated and wealthy Americans are more likely to save and amass wealth. These are her views as different people would argue differently. Some uneducated Americans have made it through personal employment and, thus, would hold a different opinion. She also claims that less-educated couples are more likely to struggle if one of them loses a job. Policy claims can be spotted throughout this article. “The traditional path of marriage, homeownership, and children–strictly in that order–is no longer regarded as de rigueur” (cook, for richer (not for poorer); the inequality crisis of marriage). The writer appears to play down such a mentality. This is a policy claim simply because the writer is seen to try and change the perspective of any leader who may still be following this path.
These claims do conflict with my observations in that as much as well educated people have better opportunities of securing jobs; it does not necessarily translate to more savings and wealth. There are numerous couples of well-educated marriage partners who spend way more than they earn and end up having minimal savings and wealth in general. On the contrary, a fraction of the less-educated people tend to live within their means and have less financial strains in the marriages. Less educated people also tend to engage in self-employment and, thus, formal employment may not apply here as a gauge to measure the people’s success. This goes against the writer’s claim that marriage is, currently, being dictated by wealth, “for richer, not for poorer.”
The background information here is the writer’s reference to studies and researches that tend to lean towards her claims. The writer uses a factual claim by using a report by Pew Research Centre to illustrate the dropping rate of marriages in the United States between 2009 and 2010. The background of the writer’s policy claim is when she states that marriage-home ownership-children is no longer the preferred path. The value claims are evident where the writer says that it would be hard, for any person educated or uneducated to support a family. The writer further pushes her beliefs by stating that well-educated Americans are more likely to save and amass wealth compared to the less educated.
The author’s area of expertise leans more towards the Relationships and Lifestyle field. Though the writer does not necessarily get it all right, she exhibits deep and diverse knowledge in these areas. The author suggests that most Americans prefer spouses like themselves. The following various researches and recent occurrences are right. The author’s references and her clear interpretations show expertise in the lifestyle field. The writer also portrays her expertise in this field by looking into all the factors, namely the spouses, the economy and education. The authors flow of ideas, beginning with her claim and using supporting information from different sources, indicate fluency and mastery of the topic at hand, thus, her area of expertise.
The author in this article is biased and untrustworthy. This is for the simple reason that her research and examples are one-sided. The writer sticks to her stand throughout the article; that educated people have a better chance at marriage. Though her illustrations suggest so, the writer should also look into the inverse. There are numerous cases of divorce mainly from wealthy Americans. Broken marriage cases are becoming rampant with wealthy individuals ranging from business moguls to celebrities. Therefore, the writer is biased as this does not show in her article.
The writer is also untrustworthy because she contradicts herself in the article. She states that well-educated couples have a better chance of supporting their children and of having a bright future; however, in the same article, she says: “It’s tough for any single person, male or female, regardless of educational attainment, to be assured of supporting a family.” This is enough evidence to dub the author as biased and untrustworthy.
Works cited
Cook, Nancy. “The atlantic.” The Atlantic website. 2012.