Thannia Sandoval

Mr. Soeth

AP English 3

February 16, 2011

REHUGO Analysis- Government

A. Articles:

"Joint Pysical Custody Is Best for Children" - Marilyn Gardner.

"Joint Physiccal Custody Creates Problems for Children"- Eleanor Bailey

B. Citations Below.

C. Author's Main Point:

What Marilyn Gardner is trying to convince is that it is necessary that parents should both have custody of the child, but share their time with them. She is encouraging that it is important to communicate and allow the child interact with each parent. Fathers also shouldnt be left out of the picture after a divorce because they still have an important role in a childs life. Gardner also believes that it will strenghten both parents and that it is not dangerous that a child lives in different homes during their lives.

Eleanor Bailey is discouraging that parents should not have joint custody of a child because she believes that it is dangerous and will be harmful to the child. She considers this as cruel because parents lifestyles are creating confusion and anxiety to their kids and its affecting their school work as well as their health. She considers that a child should have a permanent home.

D. Evidence:

a. Gardner shows evidence that it works well for the parents as well to have joint custody. She proves this by sharing experience of a single mother named Shari. She quotes " If it's an every-other-weekend thing, you're less involved." Shari's opinion is that with a 50-50 join custody, she is more involved in keeping track where and what her son is doing. It works for her because she would know if he isn't doing bad things such as drugs or other temptatons teenagers may have.

b. Baileys believes that joint custody may harm a child emotionally and she shares her evidence by explaining that different parent lifestyles may confuse a child. She uses the example of a famous rock star from the Beatles named Paul McCartney and how his daughter has suffered tremendously of having her travel around to different places that she doesnt get used to it. Bailey believes that a child does not feel comofortable seeing strangers all the time and being away for a home.

E. Rhetorical Stategies:

a. Gardner starts out her evidence by using ethos. Gardner starts by sharing a story of a family who is going through a similer experience accordig to joint custody. A women named Ms. Sandoff states "We decided on an exact 50-50 Split" and "He had very strong relationship with both of us". This experience shows that parents having joint custody builds a healthy relationship with both parents. Gardner is demostrating that it is fair for both parents to have an equal opportunity to share time with their child and it helps them prosper as a family even though the divorce had already happened.

b. Bailey uses pathos to demostrate her opionion. Mothers are usually more emotional than men, women can handle a child by listening to what the child has to say or comfort them when they feel sad or lonely. Bailey uses an experience where a child has been missing their mom because the mother is their "emotional support". Children cannot help to feel the same to another person who is not helping them at all. Bailey shows that with a child feeling sad because their mom isn't there makes joint custody not be a great idea with the fact that the child is hurting and liking the experience.

F. My Position:

Both authors have important reasons why joint custody can and cannot be a good idea, however it depends who and how responsible the parent is. I can agree with Marilyn Gardner because joint custody can be a good idea if a parent is responsible in ensuring to know if the child feels safe and is not traumatized. The parent also needs to know what to do and not to do, such as living to the other parent's standard's and avoiding things that the child is not use to. A responsible parent should as well be communicating with each other, so that they can agree how their lifestyle is going to be so that it won't affect the child negativily. If both parents are resposible and communicate, then the child can enjoy each parent. If a parent is not responsible, it is better to not have joint custody but only visit. The argument really depends of the parents and how responisible they are. A child shouldn't be deprived from not seeing a perent just because they are inresponsible.

G. MLA Citation:

　

Bailey, Eleanor. "Joint Physical Custody Creates Problems for Children." The Mail on Sunday (10 Dec. 2006). Rpt. in Divorce. Ed. Mike Wilson. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2009. Opposing Viewpoints. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 17 Feb. 2011.

Gardner, Marilyn. "Joint Physical Custody Is Best for Children." Christian Science Monitor (3 May 2006). Rpt. in Divorce. Ed. Mike Wilson. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2009. Opposing Viewpoints. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 17 Feb. 2011.