Reference no: EM133683246
Explain what's wrong with Beth's summary, and then revise it to eliminate any copying (Use APA formatting.)
"Philandering," we call it, "fooling around," "hanky-panky," "skirt chasing," "man chasing," or something equally picturesque. Monogamy and adultery are both hallmarks of being human. Anthropologist Helen Fisher proposes a chemical basis for adultery, what she calls "The Four-Year Itch." Studying the United Nations survey of marriage and divorce around the world [which was conducted on heterosexual couples], she noticed that divorce usually occurs early in marriage, during the couple's first reproductive and parenting years. Also, that this peak time for divorce coincides with the period in which infatuation normally ends, and a couple has to decide if they're going to call it quits or stay together as companions. Some couples do stay together and have other children, but even more don't. "The human animal," she concludes, "seems built to court, to fall in love, and to marry one person at a time; then, at the height of our reproductive years, often with a single child, we divorce them; then, a few years after, we remarry once again."33Ackerman, Diane. A Natural History of Love. Random House, 1994.
Beth thought this was pretty interesting stuff, and in her draft, she summarized the paragraph in the following way:
According to Diane Ackerman, a hallmark of being human is "monogamy and adultery," and she cites the period right after infatuation subsides-about four years for most couples-as the time when they call it quits.
STEP THREE: Now compare the following paraphrases of the same Ackerman passage. Which has copying and which seems okay? Explain clearly why you think one passage has copying and why the other does not.
Paragraph one:
Divorce may have a "chemical basis," something that may kick in after four years of marriage and ironically when partners are reaching their highest potential for having children. Researcher Helen Fisher calls it "The Four-Year Itch," the time that often signals a shift from infatuation into a more sober assessment of the relationship's future: Are they going to stay together or "call it quits"? Most end up deciding to end the relationship.
Paragraph Two:
When infatuation fades and couples are faced with the future of their relationship, biochemistry may help them decide. According to researcher Helen Fisher, "divorce usually occurs early in marriage, during the couple's first reproductive and parenting years" (Ackerman 165). She suggests that this is often about four years into the relationship and argues that humans may be designed to behave this way because the pattern seems so entrenched (Ackerman 166).
STEP FIVE: Now practice your own summary of the following passage, applying what you've learned so far in the exercise about ways to avoid copying when using the words and ideas of other people. This passage from Ackerman's book follows the passage you worked with earlier. Your summary should be about half as long as the original passage; in other words, your summary should be no more than 60-75 words long. (Use APA formatting.)
Our chemistry makes it easy to follow that plan, and painful to avoid it. After the seductive fireworks of first attraction, which may last a few weeks or a few years, the body gets bored with easy ecstasy. The nerves no longer quiver with excitement. Nothing new has been happening for ages, why bother to rouse oneself? Love is exhausting. Then the attachment chemicals roll in their thick cozy carpets of marital serenity. Might as well relax and enjoy the calm and security some feel. Separated even for a short while, the partners crave the cradle of the other's embrace. Is it a chemical craving? Possibly so, a hunger for the soothing endorphins that flow when they're together. It is a deep, sweet river, just right for dangling one's feet in while the world waits.