Quote, Summary, Source Analysis, and Citation #1

Author’s quote: “Mean-girl behavior, typically referred to by professionals as relational or social aggression and by terrified parents as bullying, has existed for as long as there have been ponytails to pull and notes to pass (today’s insults are texted instead). But while the calculated round of cliquishness and exclusion used to set in over fifth-grade sleepover parties, warfare increasingly permeates the early elementary school years.”

Paraphrase: There is a movie that came out in 2004, Mean Girls, that is about the popular girls in school that did not think anyone was “good” enough to fit in with them, so they bullied them; which is what the author’s word choice means with “Mean-girl behavior.” This type of behavior has been around for a long, long time, but it has increases from beginning in 5th grade, to moving into younger children.

Summary of Article: A girl, Scarlett, has a learning disability which gives her a bigger tendency to get picked on; specifically by the "Mean Girls." Bullying is on the rise and has been going up for a little while. Bullying that used to start to be seen in fifth grade is now being seen upon the younger ages of elementary school. More than half of parents are afraid that their child/children will get bullied. Everyone needs to learn that bullying is not good!

Source Analysis: In this article, the author uses an immensive amount of persuasive techniques and strategies to make the article more interesesting. The authore refers to the movie Mean Girls as a technique. Also, I believe that the author uses bias to get his point across that how much bullying has increased and how it is such a serious issue.

Paul, Pamela. "The Playground Gets Even Tougher." New York Times (2010): n. pag. Web. 18 Mar 2011.