A recent study of eighteen rhesus monkeys provides clues as to the effects of birth order on an individual's levels of stimulation. The study showed that in stimulating situations (such as an encounter with an unfamiliar monkey), firstborn infant monkeys

Essay topics:

A recent study of eighteen rhesus monkeys provides clues as to the effects of birth order on an individual's levels of stimulation. The study showed that in stimulating situations (such as an encounter with an unfamiliar monkey), firstborn infant monkeys produce up to twice as much of the hormone cortisol, which primes the body for increased activity levels, as do their younger siblings. Firstborn humans also produce relatively high levels of cortisol in stimulating situations (such as the return of a parent after an absence). The study also found that during pregnancy, first-time mother monkeys had higher levels of cortisol than did those who had had several offspring.

The theory that an individual’s levels of stimulation are related to the order of birth has several unwarranted fallacies.

The proposed explanation takes the help of a study, in which several stimulating situations are presented before the subjects. Then the level of the hormone cortisol produced is tested. However, it is not stated what caused the production of cortisol in the first place. It is possible that age has a role to play, which is why the younger sibling is unable to create the hormones. There may be other factors present, such as earlier experiences. A more thorough survey is required to get to a concrete conclusion.

The author also mentions stimulating situations, which lead to the production of the hormone. However, he does not make it quite clear what may be defined as a ‘stimulating situation’. We are given two examples but it is not specified whether the study was limited to only these two situations. Another factor is that the author talks about humans as well as monkeys in this situation. It would be quite silly, however, to compare both cases. For example, the effect of cortisol on humans and monkeys may be vastly different.

Finally, the argument presents the fact that the level of cortisol in first-time mother monkeys is more than mothers who have had offspring in the past. But this does not directly imply that the theory is true. One possible explanation is that first-time mothers may be more anxious than mothers with previous experience of giving birth, thus producing higher levels of cortisol.

Therefore, the conclusion that an individual’s levels of stimulation are related to the order of birth is based on several faulty assumptions and may not be considered as completely correct.

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Average: 5 (1 vote)
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Comments

Grammar and spelling errors:
Line 5, column 159, Rule ID: EN_A_VS_AN
Message: Use 'an' instead of 'a' if the following word starts with a vowel sound, e.g. 'an article', 'an hour'
Suggestion: an
...e it quite clear what may be defined as a 'stimulating situation'. We a...
^

Transition Words or Phrases used:
also, but, finally, first, however, if, may, so, then, therefore, thus, well, for example, such as, as well as, in the first place

Attributes: Values AverageValues Percentages(Values/AverageValues)% => Comments

Performance on Part of Speech:
To be verbs : 23.0 19.6327345309 117% => OK
Auxiliary verbs: 6.0 12.9520958084 46% => OK
Conjunction : 4.0 11.1786427146 36% => More conjunction wanted.
Relative clauses : 11.0 13.6137724551 81% => OK
Pronoun: 17.0 28.8173652695 59% => OK
Preposition: 32.0 55.5748502994 58% => More preposition wanted.
Nominalization: 10.0 16.3942115768 61% => OK

Performance on vocabulary words:
No of characters: 1484.0 2260.96107784 66% => OK
No of words: 289.0 441.139720559 66% => More content wanted.
Chars per words: 5.13494809689 5.12650576532 100% => OK
Fourth root words length: 4.12310562562 4.56307096286 90% => OK
Word Length SD: 3.02553952891 2.78398813304 109% => OK
Unique words: 156.0 204.123752495 76% => More unique words wanted.
Unique words percentage: 0.539792387543 0.468620217663 115% => OK
syllable_count: 464.4 705.55239521 66% => OK
avg_syllables_per_word: 1.6 1.59920159681 100% => OK

A sentence (or a clause, phrase) starts by:
Pronoun: 5.0 4.96107784431 101% => OK
Interrogative: 0.0 0.471057884232 0% => OK
Article: 7.0 8.76447105788 80% => OK
Subordination: 0.0 2.70958083832 0% => More adverbial clause wanted.
Conjunction: 1.0 1.67365269461 60% => OK
Preposition: 2.0 4.22255489022 47% => More preposition wanted as sentence beginning.

Performance on sentences:
How many sentences: 17.0 19.7664670659 86% => OK
Sentence length: 17.0 22.8473053892 74% => The Avg. Sentence Length is relatively short.
Sentence length SD: 39.4946450752 57.8364921388 68% => OK
Chars per sentence: 87.2941176471 119.503703932 73% => OK
Words per sentence: 17.0 23.324526521 73% => OK
Discourse Markers: 7.64705882353 5.70786347227 134% => OK
Paragraphs: 5.0 5.15768463074 97% => OK
Language errors: 1.0 5.25449101796 19% => OK
Sentences with positive sentiment : 8.0 8.20758483034 97% => OK
Sentences with negative sentiment : 3.0 6.88822355289 44% => More negative sentences wanted.
Sentences with neutral sentiment: 6.0 4.67664670659 128% => OK
What are sentences with positive/Negative/neutral sentiment?

Coherence and Cohesion:
Essay topic to essay body coherence: 0.218279520396 0.218282227539 100% => OK
Sentence topic coherence: 0.0607205242752 0.0743258471296 82% => OK
Sentence topic coherence SD: 0.0701285813784 0.0701772020484 100% => OK
Paragraph topic coherence: 0.140225416524 0.128457276422 109% => OK
Paragraph topic coherence SD: 0.0798960330422 0.0628817314937 127% => OK

Essay readability:
automated_readability_index: 11.2 14.3799401198 78% => Automated_readability_index is low.
flesch_reading_ease: 54.22 48.3550499002 112% => OK
smog_index: 3.1 7.1628742515 43% => Smog_index is low.
flesch_kincaid_grade: 9.9 12.197005988 81% => OK
coleman_liau_index: 12.18 12.5979740519 97% => OK
dale_chall_readability_score: 8.96 8.32208582834 108% => OK
difficult_words: 82.0 98.500998004 83% => More difficult words wanted.
linsear_write_formula: 7.0 12.3882235529 57% => Linsear_write_formula is low.
gunning_fog: 8.8 11.1389221557 79% => OK
text_standard: 9.0 11.9071856287 76% => OK
What are above readability scores?

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Rates: 50.0 out of 100
Scores by essay e-grader: 3.0 Out of 6 -- The score is based on the average performance of 20,000 argument essays. This e-grader is not smart enough to check on arguments.
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Note: the e-grader does NOT examine the meaning of words and ideas. VIP users will receive further evaluations by advanced module of e-grader and human graders.