Journal 3 (Comparative Analysis): "Cohabitation Instead of Marriage" and "The Origins of the Ambivalent Acceptance of Divorce"

Journal 3 (Comparative Analysis)

Assignment:

1. Read the following two articles in Chapter 12:

• "Cohabitation instead of Marriage" by James Q. Wilson (WD, pp. 429 — 432)
• "The Origins of the Ambivalent Acceptance of Divorce" by Andrew J. Cherlin (WD, pp. 433 — 437)

2. Review materials on how to write a "Comparative Analysis" in Chapter 4 (WD, pp. 127 — 143).

3. Study Guidelines for Writing Comparative Analysis Journals (available in Blackboard/Assignments/Journal Assignments).

4. Compose a comparative analysis, in which you compare and contrast Wilson's sociological argument and Cherlin's historical argument about greater tolerance for alternative family and parental structures in the contemporary United States.

Guidelines:

1. In the Introduction,

• provide brief background information about the topic,
• identify articles by title and author,
• explain rhetorical goal (your purpose for comparing the sources),
• state the thesis (your opinion on how these two arguments are similar or different).

2. Use Point-by-Point organizational pattern (WD, pp. 129 — 130) when arranging body paragraphs:

• First, find at least 2 points (features or ideas) that both articles address.
• In one paragraph, state the 1" point (idea or side of the issue) and announce whether Wilson and Cherlin address this point (idea or side of the issue) in a similar or different way. Next, explain one author's opinion on this point, and then explain the 2nd author's view on the same point.
• In another paragraph, state the 2' point (idea or side of the issue) and announce whether Wilson and Cherlin address this point (idea or side of the issue) in a similar or different way. Next, explain one author's opinion on this point, and then explain the 2nd author's view on the same point.
• Use transition(s) between paragraphs to inform the reader that you are moving from one point of comparison/contrast to another.

3. In the Conclusion, reflect on what those similarities and/or differences that you believe exist between the two texts represent, reveal or demonstrate.

Requirements:

• Journal 3 should be at least 700 words in length.
• The journal needs to be documented in APA