4. Single Motherhood

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/12/opinion/sunday/in-defense-of-single-motherhood.html?_r=1&hp

          In her article "In Defense of Single Motherhood," Katie Roiphe starts out by stating a statistical fact: almost 7 out of 10 Americans believe single mothers are bad. She then continues by stating how both conservatives and liberals all worry about moral decline and the lack of meaning of what parenthood and what family is. Roiphe presents another statistical fact: in America, 53% of babies born to mothers under 30 are actually born to unmarried mothers (a.k.a single mothers). Roiphe then gives her own example of her household and how she has children from different fathers and how her family structure is somewhat different and "messy." She then argues how people say single mothers are irresponsible and how studies seem to point to that but how she actually doesn't believe in studies because they are mostly number-based and not experience-based. In other words, Roiphe believes single mothers are not actually bad mothers.
           Katie Roiphe uses various techniques to write her article. She uses statistical facts and cites studies from professors and Pew Research Center poll. She gives a short description of what people who are against single motherhood believe. The rest of her article she writes about her personal experience of being a mother and gives a short description of her household and even uses a bit of humor by saying it is messy and bohemian. From then on, she writes mostly on her personal opinion on the idea that single motherhood is bad. She writes that she is against this idea and studies that show point out to it. Roiphe is in defense of single motherhood.