#5

I think the predominant claim in the article “Bringing up Adultolescents” from Essentials of Argument argues that now increasingly college graduates are moving back into their childhood homes with their parents. The author of this article, Peg Tyre, remains focused on this argument throughout the entire text, supporting her claim by arguing that these adult children or adultolescents (a new word she defines) aren’t ashamed to rely on their parents, and also that getting a good job directly after college simply isn’t realistic anymore—“Most adultolescents no longer hope, or even desire, to hit the traditional benchmarks of independence—marriage, kids, owning a home, financial autonomy—in the years following college” (134). Tyre also uses facts to support this claim, from specific examples of college graduates who now live with their parents and also statistics from job search sites. Engaging the reader with a topic adults can relate to—the transition from our parents’ homes to our own independence—Tyre makes her claim both interesting and compelling. Lastly, Tyre seems to have fully researched her subject, judging by all of the adultolesents she interviewed. However, one question I would ask her—what about college graduates whose parents live in rural towns (all her examples of adultolescents are of people from large cities)? My parents live in a very small town, and the appeal to return there after I graduate is very small.