CM2800 Writing & Citation Sample

Read the following article retrieved from the British Newspaper the Daily Mail (on-line edition).
Once you have completed reading the article write a one paragraph argument where you agree
with or disagree with some part of the article. Use a quote from the article in your paragraph.
Your citation should follow the APA rules that you have learned on earlier CM courses.

Childless couples 'have the happiest marriages'... but

mothers are happier overall than anyone else
By EMILY DAVIES

Many married couples cite the birth of their first child as the happiest day of their lives. But
childless couples are in fact more happily married than those who have children, a study has
found.
The project has found that people without children are more satisfied with their relationships
and more likely to feel valued by their partner.
The study, by the Open University, involved interviews and surveys with more than 5,000
people of all ages, statuses and sexual orientations. When people were asked to rate the quality
of their relationship those without children emerged as happier overall.
For both men and women, those who did not have children ranked the quality of their
relationship more highly than those who did.
They also did significantly more to ‘maintain’ their relationship, such as taking time to go out
together or talk, than those with children. Yet, when asked to rate how happy they were with
their lives in general there was a gender divide.
Mothers were happier overall than any other group, while childless women were the least
happy. By contrast men with children emerged slightly less happy than those without.
The study, which will be presented at the British Library later this week, also reveals more trivial
bonds which are key to happy relationships, including a partner making their spouse a cup of
tea. And it uncovered a hidden passion among couples for closing the curtains, putting on
some music and dancing together.
Yet, across all categories one simple action emerged as the most important element in strong
relationships – saying ‘thank you’.
Those who had been through a painful break-up or divorce were more likely to take steps to
maintain and strengthen their current relationship than those who had not, the study showed. 

R. Bruce CM2800 Week 1 Source : Pub: 01:31 GMT, 13 January 2014 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2538363/Childless-couples-happiest-marriages-mothers-happier-overall-else.html#ixzz2qGOCgKsA
Dr Jacqui Gabb, a senior lecturer in social policy at the Open University, who led the study, said
this offered hope to those who had previously been in a long term relationship which had
broken down. She told the Daily Telegraph: ‘This is a shift away from the idea that they are just
failed relationships to be put in a cupboard and forgotten about. It shows they have learnt
something through them, therefore it can be an enriching experience.’
Ruth Sutherland, the chief executive of Relate, said: ‘It’s the small gestures of appreciation and
affection, rather than the big romantic displays that really make the difference.’ Couples were
asked to list two things their partner did to make them feel appreciated. So many participants
listed making tea it had to be given a category of its own when the results were analyzed. 
Dr Gibb said: ‘There is something peculiarly British about a cup of tea that seems to speak a
thousand words.’  Couples were also asked to describe aspects of their marriage or relationship
which brought them least satisfaction.  As well as serious intimacy and communication issues
there were more mundane replies such as a partner driving too slowly, eating noisily, failing to
switch off lights and biting nails.

Student Name: __Abdulhadi Al-Hababi__ Student Number: _______60051202________

The article which was written by Emily Davies “Childless couples 'have the
happiest marriages'... but mothers are happier overall than anyone else” and
published in the British Newspaper daily mail discusses couples with no children
are happier than couples with children. In my opinion I disagree with the writer
Emily Davies and I think 5000 people is a very small number to use for this kind of
study. In my case and many other people that I know, it was the opposite effect.
The first five years of my marriage was without children, it was nice but when we
had our first child our life became more happier, nicer and complete. ‘It’s the
small gestures of appreciation and affection, rather than the big romantic displays
that really make the difference. As Ms. Davies starts her article “Many married
couples cite the birth of their first child as the happiest day of their lives” this
holds true for me and my wife as well.

R. Bruce CM2800 Week 1 Source : Pub: 01:31 GMT, 13 January 2014 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2538363/Childless-couples-happiest-marriages-mothers-happier-overall-else.html#ixzz2qGOCgKsA