Argument?

Relevance: Grimes’ reasoning is directly related and stemming from his topic: the hook-up. His arguments flow well as he develops and supports his minor claims. There is little or no information/data that stands out as unrelated from the rest.

Acceptability: Grimes deeply explores and clearly defines the “hook-up,” that is, as he sees it. His entire essay basically works toward supporting his definition and outlining the implications of the act. Another key concept Grimes uses is intimacy, which he also clearly defines {again, through his eyes} throughout the essay. However, at one point he alludes to a potential argument in favor of the hook-up: feminism. Without exploring the topic too deeply, he provides multiple arguments {his opinion} as to why the hook-up actually works against womens’ liberation.

Sufficiency: It is unclear from where Grimes gets his data. Is it from personal experience with hook-ups? From fellow students’ experiences? From friends? Most of his argument relies on personal opinion and value hierarchy in terms of that Other . Otherwise, I think, his data relies on observation.

Rebuttal: Grimes poses questions at every juncture of his argument, using them to move his audience toward a specific conclusion: hook-up culture threatens chances at real intimacy and defeats the real purpose of its existence, to feel special in the eyes of another. By constantly posing these questions he invites the audience to form their own answers before reading his. There is possibility for an alternative road to be taken at the beginning of each paragraph, yet Grimes keeps readers on track by immediately stating his answer.

Personal Response: For the most part, I actually agree with Grimes. Though, I’m tempted to cite his enthusiasm for the subject, however, as a potential fallacy. He boarders on being overly emotional as he answers the questions posed. My biggest issue with the essay is his quick treatment—perhaps bordering on attack—of women’s position in the hook-up. How is he to know women don’t view their male partners in the same light? This is a big assumption and statement on his part—dangerous when treated so briefly and, in my opinion, flippantly. It’s almost like he uses pity to convince women to abandon the hook-up culture and thus salvage their dignity. This sentence in particular bothers me: “The real sexual power a woman has is to refuse to give away sex until the man has proved his commitment to her.”