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This chapter focuses on the every-day lives of homeschoolers and the vast opportunities that they have. The author, Rachel Gathercole, points out reasons that people would believe homeschoolers to be inactive and socially deprived (who are they to play with or do while all the other children are off at school, obviously getting all the socialization they need?) Gathercole refutes such ideas with personal experiences of her own children playing with friend from homeschool groups, dance classes, music classes, scouts groups, and generally not being at “home” for most of the day. She adds accounts from other homeschooling parents that she has interviewed for the book and lists activities that homeschoolers are able to participate in. She eventually reaches the conclusion that homeschooling children are with other children just as much as other conventionally schooled children and are out of the home even more.
I believe that Gathercole’s points are just, considering especially the amount of sources she uses. Cahtercole makes a point near the end of the chapter that people believe normal school is seen as the most fit because most people, having grown up with it themselves, see it as one with childhood. Riding the bus, going to dances, having a locker, voting for class president, having a class that you graduate with, are all seen by the majority as part of childhood and growing up. They are therefore seen as the way childhood should go, the stepping-stones that need to be hopped in order to have lived your childhood. Gathercole points out that some of these stepping-stones are still experienced by homeschooled children and more importantly that childhood doesn’t need to be one with elementary school, middle school, or high school norms.

The True Mission of ‘Crisis Pregnancy Centers,’ an article published in The New York Times, written by Susan Dominus, discusses the movement of legislation to require crisis pregnancy centers in New York City to clearly express their stance to those who visit them. The legislation would require, among other things, signs at the entrance and in the waiting rooms to inform women that the center does not provide abortions or contraceptives (if they do not) and to make it clear if no licensed medical professional is on the staff.

Subject: The possible legislation in New York for crisis pregnancy centers to make their stance and provisions clear.

Occasion: The author is writing this piece in response to the possible legislation and to, it would appear, agree with that legislation.

Audience: The author’s audience are people of New York City, and is certainly aimed towards those who have opinions towards abortion and the legislation.

Purpose: The author’s purpose is to inform her audience of the legislation and persuade them of its virtues. Though, the author also seems to be fighting for the case of the woman in the situation who is looking for, “the ideal, nonpartisan place where a woman could assume people would understand the depths of her moral dilemma,” which the author hints (at the end of her article) doesn’t include either type of center currently available.

Speaker: The author is clearly  biased towards the pro-choice cause, and, though she seems supportive of Planned Parenthood, asks a rhetorical question at the end of her article which suggests reform for both sides of the argument.

Tone: The author’s tone is reproachful and, at places, sympathetic towards the plight of the pregnant woman seeking unbiased help.

This New York Times article, Judge Rules Health Law is Constitutional, written by Kevin Sack, describes the recent ruling by Judge George C. Steeh of Federal District Court in Detroit that the healthcare law is constitutional. The law has been challenged 15 times and Judge Steeh was the first to come to a ruling on the case. The legal challenge that Judge Steeh ruled on was put together by several Michigan residents and the Thomas More Law Center. The question of the issue is whether the Commerce Clause of the Constitution gives Congress the authority to require citizens to obtain a commercial product, in this case, healthcare. Judge Steeh ruled that the refusal of citizens to purchase health care qualified as “activities that substantially affect interstate commerce…. These decisions, viewed in the aggregate, have clear and direct impacts on health care providers, taxpayers and the insured population who ultimately pay for the care provided to those who go without insurance.”

Subject: This article explains the happenings of the first ruling for a legal challenge against the health law. It also informs the reader of the two higher profile court hearings on other challenges that will happen in later in October and in December.

Occasion: The  article is in response to the court ruling  that occurred in response to one of many challenges against the health law that will start in 2014.

Audience: The article is written for anyone following the law or the challenges against it.

Purpose: The purpose is to inform the public on the happenings of a court case that could very well affect them.

Speaker: The speaker is not portraying any role or character, he is merely describing events.

Tone: The article is informative and unbiased. It is very to the point.

U.S. Walks Out as Iran Leader Speaks, an article in the New York Times, written by Neil MacFarquhar, detailed the events at the United Nations General Assembly where President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran claimed in his speech, “that the United States orchestrated the Sept. 11 attacks to rescue its declining economy, to reassert its weakening grip on the Middle East and to save Israel,” according to MacFarquhar. The United States delegates as well as many other delegates including Canada and all the countries included in the European Union walked out during the speech.

Subject: Focuses on the president’s Speech and reactions to it that suggest that he likes to call attention to himself with such dramatics. Also mentioned two other impassioned speeches in little detail.

Occasion: Story tells the events of the Thursday United Nations General Assembly, the president’s speech and various opinions of it.

Audience: The story is targeted to anyone interested in the event. Though, some parts might make more sense to those with some background knowledge of the president and previous remarks that he has made.

Purpose: To provide information about the assembly and the speech to those interested.

Speaker: Neil MacFarquhar wrote the article. He seems to have previous knowledge of the president’s political career and speeches.

Tone: Informative, though wryly humourous at times.