Freakonomics by Steven Levitt, a well renowned economist, and Stephen J. Dubner, a New York Times journalist, is a 2005 nonfiction book that ties together economics and everyday life. The sixth chapter of this book, titled “Perfect Parenting Part II; or: Would a Rashonda by Any Other Name Smell as Sweet?” explores how parents play a role in their children’s success by giving them their names. Levitt wants to know how names differ among children whose parents are of varying economic and educational status and whether or not the names make a difference in those children’s lives. Ultimately, the authors fulfill their purpose in writing this chapter by coming to a clear conclusion supported by data and broadening the readers’ understanding of the effect, or lack thereof, that names have on personal outcomes; however, the use of rhetoric is limited, and the surplus of evidence hinders clear development of the argument.
The chapter starts off explaining how parents wish to make some sort of difference in their children’s lives and that deciding on a name might be the first way of doing so. The authors provide an intriguing example of how a man from New York City decided to name his sixth child (a boy) Winner because he had a special feeling about him, and, out of humor, he named his seventh (also a boy) Loser. One would think the boy named Winner …show more content…
The evidence he uses is easy to read and understand but difficult to remember and recall as there is so much. His examples, on the other hand, were very effective and entertaining. The reliance on logos makes it hard for the reader to easily follow the development of his argument. Had he been more diverse in his use of rhetoric and spaced out his evidence better, the chapter would have been more powerful, but it still accomplishes its purpose, has a clear result, and offers insight to the
The chapter starts off explaining how parents wish to make some sort of difference in their children’s lives and that deciding on a name might be the first way of doing so. The authors provide an intriguing example of how a man from New York City decided to name his sixth child (a boy) Winner because he had a special feeling about him, and, out of humor, he named his seventh (also a boy) Loser. One would think the boy named Winner …show more content…
The evidence he uses is easy to read and understand but difficult to remember and recall as there is so much. His examples, on the other hand, were very effective and entertaining. The reliance on logos makes it hard for the reader to easily follow the development of his argument. Had he been more diverse in his use of rhetoric and spaced out his evidence better, the chapter would have been more powerful, but it still accomplishes its purpose, has a clear result, and offers insight to the