Empoword

Part Three: Research and Argumentation 363 This inequality could be the result of no paid parental leave policy for Americans, and it could also be what’s holding such a policy back. At any rate, it’s a central, relevant problem, along with a host of other factors, like extreme individualism, which keeps Americans working 60- to 70-hour weeks just to climb the professional ladder. Thus, for Americans, the birth of a new baby is often scary and intimidating when it should be tender, happy and exciting. With paid leave for new parents, the event could hold the special joy it’s naturally meant to. The introduction of paid parental leave would likely mean a challenge to ingrained patriarchal ideologies, although ultimately for the hope of a better society. Change is seldom easy, but it’s necessary for progress. Works Cited Carneiro, Pedro et al. “A Flying Start? Maternity Leave Benefits and Long- Run Outcomes of Children.” Journal of Political Economy , vol. 123, no. 2, 2015, pp. 365-412. University of Chicago Press Journals , doi: 10.1086/679627. Clapp, Christa. “The Smart Economics of Norway’s Parental Leave, and Why the U.S. Should Consider It.” Washingtonpost.com , 11 January 2016. Infotrac Newsstand , http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&sw=w&u=s1185784&v=2.1&id=GALE %7CA439615968&it=r&asid=ff084063bc4ea84e7a90e25bd5e82803. “FMLA (Family & Medical Leave).” United States Department of Labor , 06 May 2016, https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/benefits-leave/fmla. Grose, Jessica. “What It’s Like for a Working Mom in Oslo, Norway.” Slate Magazine , 21 August 2014, Teacher Takeaways “The data presented here is well- integrated, and often supported by individual instances, which help to personalize what would otherwise seem like lifeless statistics and percentages. Sentences flow smoothly and main points are clear. However, the essay could use some reorganization and better transitions between sections. Overall, though, the argument benefits from a delayed thesis (a typical result of inquiry-based research); instead of outlining an argumentative stance in full at the beginning of the essay, the author waits until a thorough comparison is made between Norway and the United States, then allows for a natural progression to a final, persuasive conclusion.” – Professor Fiscaletti