In the article "Are Fathers Necessary?", Pamela Paul, a journalist, discusses the different views around the role of fathers. Paul notes that while people have general ideas about what a father's role is, there is no objective evidence that a father's contribution is uniquely important. She points out that new research cannot distinguish the impact of fathers from parental efforts more generally. Paul aims to challenge traditional beliefs about gender roles in parenting.

1. Critical Reading
CRITICAL READING
Critical Reading is a
reading and thinking
skill. Students who
have this skill can:
read and summarize a
writer’s ideas;
1|
break apart a
writer’s work; and
2|
connect new thoughts
or ideas to the work.
3|
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2. Critical Reading
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Essay’s MAIN IDEA
BEGIN by looking for a
writer’s thesis. What
is the main idea?
Is the main idea …
• explicit?
found in the essay
• implicit?
NOT found in the
essay … only hinted
at
Essay’s
MAIN
IDEA

3. Critical Reading
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Essay’s PURPOSE
NEXT, decide why the
writer is writing.
• More generally …
is the essay meant to
entertain, inform, or
persuade?
• More specifically …
is the essay pattern
an argument, causeeffect, comparison, a
process essay, or
another essay pattern?
Essay’s
PURPOSE

4. Critical Reading
Essay’s CONTEXT
NOW, you might
consider the context.
• What about AUTHOR?
Examine who they are
and what they do
(professionally).
• What about AUDIENCE?
Look for words or
language in the
essay that speak to
a particular
audience.
Essay’s
CONTEXT
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5. Critical Reading
Essay’s EVIDENCE
LAST, examine the
writer’s supporting
ideas. Does s/he need
proof? Is there any?
• Consider the use of
evidence: facts;
examples; quotation;
etc.
• Consider any claims.
Claims are arguments
not supported by
evidence.
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Essay’s
EVIDENCE
or CLAIMS

6. Article Critique Writing
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Now, all this information can be
presented in an article critique.

7. Article Critique
(also Article Response)
Title
Summary
The title of should contain a word or
phrase that lets the reader know what
essay you‟re critiquing
Start by mentioning the author, title and
source (date) of the article. The summary
should be short.
Critique
The critique is the most important part of
your response. Be SPECIFIC about WHAT
your analyzing and WHY it is or isn’t
effective
Conclusion
End by agreeing or disagreeing with the
author’s essay, NOT their opinion
/Q/ What is a critique or a response exactly?
A critique is a paper that gives a detailed and
honest assessment of a book or
article, based on facts - not personal
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8. Fathers: Necessary or Not?
In “Are Fathers Necessary?” Pamela Paul, a journalist,
talks about the different views of a father, in the Atlantic
Magazine on August 30, 2010. According to Paul, people still
have a general idea about what a father is, but there is nothing
that can objectively prove that dad‟s contribution is special.
Paul points out that new evidence about children and parents
can‟t distinguish the difference between a father and his
[parenting] effort.
Paul, being an author and editor in the New York Times
book review, and her testifying on pornography before the
Senate Judiciary Committee, proves that she is educated and
a bold public speaker. The title is very catching, especially in a
society where it‟s believed that fatherless children will likely live
in poverty or revert to a criminal life and imprisonment. Paul
wants to draw attention toward Obama and contradict him
simultaneously. He is a living example of a fatherless
successful child in America. Paul agrees with Biblarz and
Stacey that the quality of parenting is what matters, not
gender. Paul uses comparison and contrast. Her
counterargument in paragraph eight is weak, and does not
provide evidence. She compares parenting styles of lesbian
moms and single moms. She seems biased, persuading
readers to believe that women are better parents, more
focused on kids and they don‟t want to give up their traditional
authority. Her audience is men, whom she wants to show them
a reality check on where they stand.
Paul is very persuasive in her article. She wants men and
women readers to believe that traditional beliefs [about gender
parenting roles] are wrong. I agree with her that it is the
parenting quality which matters most, not which gender is
providing it.
emaillard 2012

9. Fathers: Necessary or Not?
✔ ✔
In “Are Fathers Necessary?” Pamela Paul, a journalist,
talks about the different views of a father, in the Atlantic
Magazine on August 30, 2010. According to Paul, people still
have a general idea about what a father is, but there is nothing
that can objectively prove that dad‟s contribution is special.
Paul points out that new evidence about children and parents
can‟t distinguish the difference between a father and his
[parenting] effort.
Paul, being an author and editor in the New York Times
book review, and her testifying on pornography before the
Senate Judiciary Committee, proves that she is educated and
a bold public speaker. The title is very catching, especially in a
society where it‟s believed that fatherless children will likely live
in poverty or revert to a criminal life and imprisonment. Paul
wants to draw attention toward Obama and contradict him
simultaneously. He is a living example of a fatherless
successful child in America. Paul agrees with Biblarz and
Stacey that the quality of parenting is what matters, not
gender. Paul uses comparison and contrast. Her
counterargument in paragraph eight is weak, and does not
provide evidence. She compares parenting styles of lesbian
moms and single moms. She seems biased, persuading
readers to believe that women are better parents, more
focused on kids and they don‟t want to give up their traditional
authority. Her audience is men, whom she wants to show them
a reality check on where they stand.
Paul is very persuasive in her article. She wants men and
women readers to believe that traditional beliefs [about gender
parenting roles] are wrong. I agree with her that it is the
parenting quality which matters most, not which gender is
providing it.
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10. LEVEL 5 Summary –
Fathers: Necessary or Not
In “Are Fathers Necessary?” Pamela Paul, a
journalist, talks about the different views of a father, in
the Atlantic Magazine on August 30, 2010. According
student includes:
AUTHOR
TITLE
SOURCE
to Paul, people still have a general idea about what a
father is, but there is nothing that can objectively prove
that dad‟s contribution is special. Paul points out that
student mentions
„myth‟ about fathers
new evidence about children and parents can‟t
distinguish the difference between a father and his
[parenting] effort.
student mentions new
studies that contradict
myth
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11. LEVEL 5 Critique –
Fathers: Necessary or Not?
Paul, being an AUTHOR and editor in the New York Times book
review, and her testifying on pornography before the Senate Judiciary Committee,
proves that she is educated and a bold public speaker. The TITLE is very catchy,
especially in a society where it‟s believed that fatherless children will likely live in
poverty or revert to a criminal life and imprisonment. Paul wants to draw attention
toward OBAMA and contradict him simultaneously. He is a living example of a
student uses
MOST/ALL of the
essay‟s parts to
support her analysis
(more than 8)
fatherless successful child in America. Paul agrees with BIBLARZ and STACEY
that the quality of parenting is what matters, not gender. Paul uses COMPARISON
and CONTRAST. Her COUNTERARGUMENT in paragraph eight is weak, and
does not provide evidence. She compares parenting styles of lesbian moms and
single moms. She seems BIASED, persuading readers to believe that women are
better parents, more focused on kids, and they don‟t want to give up their
traditional authority. Her AUDIENCE is men, whom she wants to show them a
student clearly explains
her evaluation of the
essay‟s parts
MOST/ALL of the time
reality check on where they stand.
Paul is very PERSUASIVE in her article. She wants men and
women readers to believe that traditional beliefs [about gender parenting roles] are
wrong. I agree with her that it is the parenting quality which matters most, not
which gender is providing it.
emaillard 2012

12. LEVEL 3 - The
Role of Fathers
In the article “Are fathers necessary” Pamela
Paul discusses about the role of a father in different
student doesn’t include
SOURCE
types of families. According to Paul, she thinks that
moms are more involved with their children. Moms
have less arguments with their children. They give
children detailed instruction regarding their behaviour,
their studies, and so on. She thinks there is no essential
objective thing about a father‟s contribution, we just
get used to him. [text. … there‟s nothing objectively
not paraphrasing
summary misjudges
main idea:
- NOT moms vs. dads
- 2 parents vs. 1 parent
essential about his contribution.]
not paraphrasing
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13. LEVEL 3 - The
Role of Fathers
As a journalist, Paul is qualified to provide an opinion on
the topic because she is the AUTHOR of three books related to family
relationships. It shows that Paul has a sound knowledge about the topic.
The primary PURPOSE of writing this article is to show each man and
woman their role in the family relationship. Paul states that, “gender is
student uses MANY of
the essay‟s parts to
support her analysis
(less than 8)
not really bothering the role in a family because even lesbian parents
can provide better care to their children then fathers”. The EVIDENCE
used to support the author‟s point is convincing because, in her example
“two mother parents are better than a single man and woman”.
However, the COUNTERARGUMENT provides more relevant
information about the major role of fathers. According to Paul “we are
student explains her
evaluation of the
essay‟s parts MUCH of
the time
still following the culture where fathers are very essential in a family
relationship”. The CONCLUSION is reasonable and convincing
because fathers do need to be in a family. I don not agree with the
author’s opinion because children grow better in a place where both the
father and mother take care equally. Thus, fathers are necessary.
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14. LEVEL 1 –
Are Single Moms Better?
The author Pamela Paul is qualified in this
article because Paul is an American journalist and
student doesn‟t include
TITLE
SOURCE
feature editor of the New York Times book review and
the author of three books. The title of the article is very
interesting and gives more attention for the readers,
because the title itself touches the single fathers and
single mothers. Also, she mentions in the first
paragraph President Barrack Obama‟s idea.
student‟s analysis and
evaluation of the essay
are misplaced
there is no summary of
the essay‟s main idea
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15. LEVEL 1 –
Are Single Moms Better?
I disagree with the author‟s POINT OF VIEW, and she is
not clear which parents are suitable for children. As a journalist and
AUTHOR of books she is qualified to write the article. She has
statistics. The author‟s TITLE is appropriate. The EVIDENCE is
student only mentions
MANY of the essay‟s
parts in her analysis
(less than 8)
relevant. The CONTEXT of parenting is clearly given. The author‟s
TONE is who is responsible.
I disagree with the author that dad‟s contribution is not necessary.
Both parents are necessary for children to grow as good, crime-free
student DOES NOT
explain her evaluation
of the essay‟s parts
MOST of the time
children.
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