REHUGO #4

Destiny Ornelas

Mr. Soeth

English 3AP

February 15, 2011

REHUGO Analysis: Current Events – Opposing Views

A.       

1. Joint Physical Custody Creates Problems for Children-Eleanor Bailey

2. Joint Physical Custody is Best for Children-Marilyn Gardner

B.          See Attached

C.       

1.       Joint custody can be harmful to children because it requires them to move from home to home, instead of having one solid place to stay, leaving them traumatized, confused and filled with anxiety. Bailey argues that joint custody is more or less a decision made by the parents without the child’s best interest at heart.

2.       Gardner argues that joint custody is best for children and their parents, if it’s not physically or emotionally dangerous. It allows the children to see both parents equally and bond with both and also encourages communication between the parents.

D.       

1.       Bailey establishes her logos by including numerous quotes from both parents and children who are exposed to the hardships of living in two houses. She includes a quote from a mother saying, “we both wanted custody but didn't want the trauma of going to court. It seemed like a sensible, modern solution,” and then goes on to say, “they found being without me for a week at a time very difficult.” Using this quote backs up her argument of parents choosing joint custody as a way of convenience for them rather than for the kids. She shows readers that moving from place to place is hard and brings a lot of stress and confusion to the child by using a quote from a fourteen year old girl that says having two homes is like putting ‘your life in a couple of carrier bags’ and that it can be a bit ‘lonely when you’re constantly moving.’ Bailey gives vivid details and examples of instances that take place between a couple families to develop her pathos. Using these discriptions shows the readers that having joint custody isn’t best if the parents don’t work together. They will give their kids each a different set of rules and exceptions that leave the children terribly confused and filled with anxiety.

2.       Gardner uses expert testimony to develop her ethos. She includes a family law attorney, Mr. Hechter, saying that, “Staying with both parents is in the child's best interest only if it's not dangerous, either physically or emotionally for the child.” Using this quote shows credibility to her overall argument that joint custody is best for children, allowing them to bond with both their parents. She also uses logos by showing some statistics gathered from advocacy leader Daniel Hogan that tells how ten to thirty percent of the time, joint custody is awarded if the judge decides it’s in the best interest of the children. Using statistical data informs readers of the number of families who are choosing joint custody to raise their children with both parents involved in their lives.

E.        

1.       Bailey uses exemplification to give examples and instances of families’ experiences with joint custody. She gives both bad experiences and ways those families settled things. Doing this not only shows how joint custody can be very bad for a child, it also gives examples of how someone may overcome those problems with the fifty-fifty custody.

2.       Gardner uses exemplification also in the beginning of the article that gives readers an insight into what a joint custody schedule may look like. Doing this backs up and helps her readers understand her argument of fifty—fifty custody being in the child’s best interest, allows the child to have a bond with their parents, and encourages communication between parents.

F.       While there may be circumstances when joint custody is not best for children, if the environment of both parent’s houses are safe, I feel that joint custody is the best thing to do. A child should have both his or her parents in their lives, whether it’s fifty- fifty custody or seventy-thirty custody. As long as parents are working together to make living in two houses as easy for the child as possible and are working hard to have the same parenting styles so children don’t get confused with what they can and can’t do, joint custody is the best.

Bailey, Elenor. “Joint Physical Custody Creates Problems for Children.” Divorce. The Mail on Sunday, December 10, 2006. Gale Opposing Views in Context.

Gardner, Marilyn. “Joint Physical Custody is Best for Children.” Divorce. Christian Science Monitor, May 3, 2006. Gale Opposing Views in Context.