Close Reading #2: October 21

            In the article “Am I a ‘Working Dad’?” by Ken Gordon, he discusses what it takes to be considered a “working dad” and how that stereotype is underdeveloped in the Unites States today. It doesn’t only have to be women who are considered “working women”, men do the same things as women do, and they don’t get as much credit for it. Gordon pushes his opinion onto us readers effectively by using creative syntax, in depth detail, and strong diction.

            Immediately, Gordon’s unique use of syntax grabs the reader’s attention. He begins by telling us the basic overview of his life, and what his article is going to be about. When he says, “I’m a dad — two children, 9 and 7 — and I work. Hard.” we immediately understand what the following article will discuss. The way that Gordon made a one word sentence out of the word “hard” helps deliver the point that life isn’t as easy for men as it is depicted to be. And women shouldn’t be the only ones who get the title of “working women”. Gordon knows how to reach out to the reader by making the voice of his piece more “friendly”. He lets the audience know that he isn’t alone when he says, “My fellow dads and I deserve the same kind of respect, no? We dudes get up every day and make breakfast” This makes us as readers see how Gordon is just a typical “dad” along with every other dad in the world. Him and the other dads have to do what mom’s do, while adding work on top of that. After reading this article I was agreeing with most of what Gordon had to say.

            The detail that is used in this article is also very gripping. Right off the bat we were placed in a situation where we were almost watching Gordon as he “fall[s] out of bed at about 5 a.m. and stumble[s] back there at about 10 p.m.” How is describes his day to day life helps the reader understand that Gordon is a hard working man who deserves a title such as “working dad” because it isn’t as easy as it seems. He dedicates an entire paragraph to describing a day in his life. He says that, as dads, “We feed the cat, take out the trash, wash the dishes, if any are left over from the night before. We can do an occasional emergency load of laundry…” and that goes on for a whole paragraph. The description of these vital tasks helps him to reach the readers and to make them realize how difficult a dad’s life can be. Similarly, he compares them to the typical “carpool-board-meeting-spaghetti-dinner-toothbrushing-book-bedtime lifestyle” of women.

            Finally, the use of strong diction help keep the readers entertained, and help to create a vision for the readers.  The diction used in this article isn’t necessarily so strong that we don’t know what the words mean, but his choice of diction is appropriate for the audience he is reaching out to, and for the style of syntax he is taking on. After he questions if the work men do is enough to win the “merit badge” he says. “if not, if we’re encroaching on sacred woman-only territory… I have another, more modest proposal.” This diction helps get the reader to keep reading, to figure out his “more modest proposal.” Finally, we see how Gordon feels when he says “the unremitting demands on our energy and time and patience, means that we’re chronically wiped out.” This is a great closing sentence because it delivered his final point. It reached the audience affectively, and in a way that all ages could understand.

            Gordon has a well written persuasive article formed demonstrating how men should win a “‘working dad’” merit badge.” His use of syntax, detail, and diction really helped to bring the piece together as a whole. Without them, the piece wouldn’t affectively persuade the reader to agree with how men, dads in particular, deserve a higher title in life.

 

Article: http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/19/am-i-a-working-dad/