What I might talk about in an analysis of “When Adoption Isn’t Easy”

Content:
Photo (of orphanage?)
First paragraph: gives context (author’s reaction when she heard about adopted kid sent back)
Personal story of the procedure of adoption (tells a story but also informs the reader of how the
process of adopting a child from Russia works)
Examples of how it was difficult to raise the kids: problems with theft, charges of neglect
Summary of experience researching Russian adoption
Proposal for change in adoption procedure
Explanation of relationship with kids now
Kids’ ages, but not names: gives a sense of individuality without giving away kids’ privacy

Organization:
Starts with author’s experience – from initial meeting to lingering difficulties
Halfway through: changes to “three major challenges”
Conclusions: what should be changed to make adoption more successful
Return to personal information: what the kids are like as teenagers
Ultimate conclusion: the kids are “a success as far as society goes,” but author seems to imply
that the family isn’t what she expected/wanted?
Title: “When adoption isn’t easy” – is adoption supposed to be easy? “When” implies a specific
time/instance – the relation of a specific story; not “Challenges of adoption” or “My adoption
story,” etc

Style:
Picture of kids at top of page: pathos appeal
At least three kids – looks like an orphanage
Sleepy kids – vulnerable, sympathetic, but also temporarily quiet
Uses “I” – personal narrative, personal experience (ethos/pathos appeal)
Emphasizes my youngest, my children, my son; I can’t say, I think
Ownership: strengthens ultimate conclusion (kids might never treat author well) by
emphasizing the author’s love and ownership, even through mistreatment
Tone: sad, resigned?
Very little dialogue, other than paraphrase of adoption agency and what the author sometimes
said to her kids
Word choices: not super-emotional, not super-scientific/technical
“Success”: author mentions “successful adoptions” twice in last column; what does the author
mean by “success”? Maybe “polite, friendly, and respectful”/college-going? Do I agree with this
measure of success? The word “success” seems very clinical for someone talking about kids and
family – what would be an alternate term?