Comparing Two Articles on Childrearing

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Read Elizabeth Kolberts Spoiled Rotten and Elinor Ochs and Carolina Izquierdos
Responsibility in Childhood: Three Developmental Trajectories.
a. TIP: As you read both pieces, primarily pay attention to the ways in which
the two pieces are written. Do not worry about understanding all of the
content, especially when technical terms are used.
2. As you read, take notes on:
a. The way the author(s) organizes her argument
b. The rhetorical appeals the author(s) use(s) (i.e. logos, pathos, ethos)
c. The credibility the author(s) communicate(s)
3. Complete the chart below.

Analysis Questions Spoiled Rotten: Responsibility in

What is this pieces main
argument (i.e. purpose)?
What is the exigence for
this piece? (Review Carroll
if you dont remember
what this term means)
Who is the audience for
this piece?
How would you classify
the genre of this piece?
How would you describe
the
structure/organization
of this piece?
What sources/evidence
are used in each piece?
Elizabeth Kolbert Childhood: Elinor Ochs
and Carolina Izquierdo
Its arguing that a lack of This is a study focused on
discipline is apparent in families from different
American society when backgrounds and
compared to other observing the
cultures. development of
responsibilities of these
children.
The writer herself has This was written for an
experience with her article in a scientific
children misbehaving, and journal by two
the topic of spoiled anthropologists doing
American children has research on this particular
always been prevalent. topic.
Those who read New Those who read scientific
Yorker Magazine journals
Informative article Scientific article
accessible to the public
It starts off by describing a
The topic was introduced
case study, then with background
specifically to the authorsinformation, and then the
experiences, then to the case studies were
country as a whole presented, interpreted,
and arguments were
made.
The study by Ochs and Ochs and Izquierdos
Izquierdo, Life at Home in personal observations,
the 21st Century, the and many other sources
authors personal which are listed at the end

Are there any claims not
properly supported by
evidence? If so, list them
here.
What other features (e.g.
page design, citation style)
help the author tailor
his/her argument to the
audience?
experiences, The of the article
Evolution of Childhood
A cartoon at the beginning Headings to illustrate
of the piece, block style what is to be discussed in
citations, large block the paragraph, sources
letters beginning certain cited list
paragraphs