Chapter Review - Book Report/Review Example

Article Review Chapter one: Not much sense in those Census stories Key points in the article Census data does not reflect the real situation in terms of the traditional families, the percentage of unmarried women in America, and number of fathers taking parenting responsibility (26). Use of out-dated categories of families and individuals result in failure of census data to represent the real situation of American families owing to changes in family arrangements in 40 years (27). Summary of the article The article provides an analysis the ineffectiveness of census bureau data in describing American families in terms of changes in traditional families, increased percentage of unmarried women with children, and increase in families headed by fathers.

The reason for ineffectiveness census data in describing American family’s state is provided as the use of out-dated categories. Analysis of the article I believe the census data does not provide a clear indication of family state ion America because of the inability of the data capturing the death of spouses and the challenges in the family unit resulting in more nuclear families instead of broken families. The number of unmarried couples also increased in the US by 5.5 million from 3.2 million in 1990’s which is not reflected in the Census data (Schmitt, May 15, 2001).

Chapter two: One Thousand and Forty-nine Reasons why it’s hard to know when a fact is a fact. Key points in the article The determination of a fact requires the understanding of the author’s point of view, purpose of making the fact known, and trends on the fact (1)The need for determination of the source of facts and position on the issue is important to avoid taking facts at face value. Understanding where the source comes evaluation of the information is possible (3). Summary of the article The article begins by stating the inability of understanding when a fact is a fact owing to the contaminations including questions asked, values, and the position on the issue.

The author uses examples of family demography on familyfacts.org in different studies and demonstrates how the website takes a certain position and favours a particular trend. The other example is Heritage Foundation on marriage showing how facts are distorted by the source and a given point of view with the conclusion on the need for evaluation of the information and understanding the source before use. Analysis of the article I agree with the article that facts, as depicted by sources, may not be facts because of the presence of the low possibility of taking a neutral point of view on an issue especially when the source has interests in the issue.

An advocate for a criminal will present information as facts benefiting the acquittal of the criminal with the facts not necessarily facts because they have an interest in the issue and have a certain trend, value, and intention with the relaying of the facts. ReferencesCoontz, S. (July 13, 2001). Not much sense in those Census stories. Washington Post. Cherlin, A. One Thousand and Forty-nine Reasons Why it’s hard to know when a fact is a fact. Schmitt, E. (May 15, 2001). For First Time, Nuclear Families Drop Below 25% of Households.

New York Times.