Kassidy Clark

Mrs. Thomas
UWRT 1102-007
15 February 2016
Clearly, my paper is still a work in progress. I feel that there are some
issues with the flow of my paper and the organization of information that will
need to be worked out. Despite this, I feel that I successfully sold my topic
and grabbed the readers attention. When I started writing, I was a little
confused about what was expected in this paper. Thankfully, I was able to
gain a better understanding of what exactly an inquiry proposal is and what
should be included after reading a few example proposals. I still feel that
something might be off between the second and third paragraphs. I feel like
I provided relevant information, but maybe my ideas strayed away from the
purpose of the inquiry proposal and would be better suited for another part
of my extended inquiry project. I dont feel that I will have an issue
expanding on this topic. It is extremely interesting to me and I almost find
myself having too much to say! There is still a substantial amount of work to
be done. I will need to conduct additional research so that I can delve into
some of the questions that I raised in my inquiry proposal as well as the
many that Im sure will develop as I continue my project.
Divorce is a touchy, yet painstakingly common, subject. What was
once seen as a forbidden practice is now the go-to for unhappy couples that
are in search of an escape from their marital woes. Sadly, the divorce rate in

America is steadily rising higher and higher above the commonly accepted
50% statistic. While most divorces are undoubtedly traumatic, many fail to
consider the long lasting impact that divorce can have on the people
involved, especially children, long after the first initial shock of the
separation. As a child of divorce myself, I naturally gravitated toward this
topic when considering possible inquiry questions because of my own
personal experiences. I have always wondered what long-term impact, if any,
my parents divorce has had on me. These thoughts led to the formation of
my inquiry question: What impact does divorce have on the future of the
children involved?
Merriam-Webster defines divorce as the ending of a marriage by a
legal process. Seems simple enough, right? Unfortunately, this definition
fails to account for the emotional and financial burden that comes with a
divorce and leaves it more in the realm of a speeding ticket rather than an
emotional trauma. Despite this stress, statistics show that divorce rates are
on the rise. Divorce was not always as easy to come by as it is today,
however. Until the end of the nineteenth century, the practice was severely
frowned upon and, in some instances, forbidden by law. Divorce did not
begin to become even remotely common until after the Civil War. Over time,
divorce rates have fluctuated but there is still a constant trend of growth. But
what are the implications of this growing divorce rate for children?
Close to a majority of children will spend some amount of time in a
single-parent household on their journey toward adulthood and around one in

five will acquire one or more stepparents. These statistics serve as a

shocking wakeup call that the days of the ideal, nuclear American family are
long gone. Unfortunately, there is a stigma that surrounds children of
divorce. Many feel that the child is supposed to be mentally disturbed for
years afterwards, be less successful, or just generally live a lackluster life.
This is why I feel that my inquiry question is of the upmost importance. It is
crucial to be educated in manners such as these as to avoid falling victim to
these common beliefs. This topic sparked my curiosity because I feel that I
have always matured at the same pace as my peers and that my success
thus far has not been hindered by the decisions of my parents. I am
interested to see in what ways others, whether it be because of age or their
own personal situation, are affected by divorce and if I have been affected in
some way that I am currently unaware of.
There is substantial research regarding this topic. Many people,
including parents, educators, and psychologists, are all concerned or
interested in the impact of divorce on children. In my research, I came across
a fantastic article from Psychology Today titled The Impact of Divorce on
Young Children and Adolescents. This article discussed what changes
parents could expect to see in their children, whether they be younger or an
adolescent, and what steps they could take to ease the burden of divorce on
these more vulnerable members of the family. In addition, I came across
research conducted by Dr. Wayne Matthews from NC State that also delved
into the long-term effects of divorce on children. A substantial amount of

research has been conducted regarding my topic excluding the two sources
that I mentioned above. With this abundance of sources, I will undoubtedly
have a sufficient amount of information to supplement my inquiry.
Researching this topic has led to the formation of many questions that I
hope to discover answers to while completing my extended inquiry project.
What are the effects of divorce on these childrens relationships, throughout
the divorce and in the future? Is it possible for the childs education to be put
in jeopardy? Is it even necessary for a child to have a negative response to a
divorce? Is it possible for a child to positively benefit from divorce? I am sure
many other questions will be raised as I delve deeper into this topic.