Argument/Reading Analysis

Introduction: This is an argumentative reading analysis, which is meant to help you

access the main ideas of a reading and determine the lines of reasoning by which the
author is mounting his/her argument.

Student
Name: Carmin Dotario

Class
6B
Date:
April 23, 2021

Reading
Title: “Is the midlife crisis a real thing?”

Complete the assigned reading and then respond to the following:

● What is the author’s argument, main idea, or thesis? Respond in two-three

sentences.

The author claims that there is no distinct midlife crisis, just crises that occur during midlife
but may have occurred before or after that time too. He argues that research fails to show
the clear connections between adversities and self-proclaimed crises.

● Explain the author’s line of reasoning. First, identify all broad claims the author
uses to build the argument. Respond in three-five sentences.
The author reasons that a midlife crisis is not necessarily a “midlife crisis”; rather it is how
one evaluates their situations that may be troublesome: “Psychologically speaking, things
tend to get better. If there is a small dip in how people evaluate their lot – even if it is
objectively no worse than before – this is understandable” (Haslam). Haslam reasons that a
“midlife crisis” does not occur in one distinct period of time, instead, crises can occur in any
period of one’s life: “Arguably there is no distinct midlife crisis, just crises that occur during
midlife but might equally have occurred before or after” (Haslam). Additionally, Haslam
reasons that a crisis may not always be identified as unfavorable life events that have
occurred: “Crisis episodes may not be tightly tied to adverse life events. Research often fails
to show clear connections between adversities and self-proclaimed crises” (Haslam).

● Identify and explain all relevant, specific evidence used to support each of these
claims. You can label these claims if you wish (Claim 1, Claim 2, Claim 3, etc.)
Respond in five-seven sentences.

Claim 1: there is no distinct midlife crisis, just crises that occur during midlife but may
have occurred before or after that time too- Research indicates that ages younger than
the “midlife” time period and older than the “midlife” time period, all self-report some type
of crises: “It indicates instead that self-reported crises simply become steadily more
common as we age. Among study participants in their 20s, 44% reported a crisis,
compared to 49% of those in their 30s, and 53% of those in their 40s” (Haslam).

Claim 2: research fails to show the clear connections between adversities and
self-proclaimed crises- One study found that those who reported a “midlife crisis” was
not due to adverse events that had happened to them, but it was rather linked primarily
to a history of having depression: “One study found reporting a midlife crisis was not
associated with recently experiencing divorce, job loss or death of a loved one, and was
primarily linked to having a history of depression” (Haslam). Another study found that
with age, one becomes less irrational and self-conscious, not because of experience
with adversity, but rather the building of resilience: “One longitudinal study that followed
thousands of Americans from age 41 to 50 found they became less neurotic and
self-conscious with age. These personality changes were unrelated to the adults’
experience of life adversity: resilience, not crisis, was the norm” (Haslam).
 ● Is the evidence reliable and relevant to the argument? Explain your reasoning in
three-five sentences.

All evidence stated is relevant to the arguments. The first argument claims that there is no
distinct midlife crisis, just crises that occur during midlife but may have occurred before or
after that time too. With evidence provided within the article, there is evidence that people
can self-report a “midlife crisis” at any age, not just the age that is expected for a “midlife
crisis” to occur. The second argument claims that research fails to show the clear
connections between adversities and self-proclaimed crises. Evidence within the article
states that those who self-report a “midlife crises” have a history of depression or its
because people become more resilient as they age, meaning they can bounce back from
adverse events and do not report they are in a crisis when they are older.

● Is the evidence sufficient to support the argument? Explain your reasoning in

three-five sentences.

The evidence is sufficient to support the argument. The one piece of evidence that
supports the argument, but not sufficiently is for the second piece of evidence for
argument two. The claim is that research fails to show the clear connections between
adversities and self-proclaimed crises. The second part of evidence to this argument,
“One longitudinal study that followed thousands of Americans from age 41 to 50 found
they became less neurotic and self-conscious with age. These personality changes were
unrelated to the adults’ experience of life adversity: resilience, not crisis, was the norm”, I
feel is not as sufficient because it feels as though it ties back with the claim about age
rather than focusing on the adversities area of the claim.

● Is the argument convincing? Respond in one-two sentences, explaining your

evaluation.
The argument is convincing. The argument is only convincing with evidence though; a
person who feels as though they are in a “midlife crises” may truly believe they are in a
“midlife crises” because of the stereotype around it.

● What could the author have done to strengthen her argument? Be specific and
explain why you think this. Respond in three-five sentences.

I think the author could have provided why people believe they are going through a
“midlife” crisis to strengthen her argument. By adding this detail, it shows how people
perceive the idea of having a “midlife crisis”. In addition, through adding this, we can tell
whether or not their personal outcomes really fall into the category of a “crisis”.

● What questions do you have, completing the assigned reading? You must have
at least one specific, relevant question.

If a “midlife crisis” does not exist, does that indicate people have trouble dealing with hard
life events?

What events were considered “a midlife crisis”?

 ● What is your overall reaction to the assigned reading? How did it make you think
about social, political, interpersonal, or moral dilemmas in a different way?
Respond in three-five complete sentences.

My overall reaction to the assigned reading was that I was not surprised that a “midlife
crisis” was not actually a real thing. It made me think about how society implements these
terms into the social world, creating these ideas about one another's lives that are really not
that big of deal. It is normal to go through adverse events in life, it is not anything out of the
ordinary and it does not mean one is having a “midlife crisis”. Anyone can go through
similar events as one another at any age, so it should not be called “midlife” crises.