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Alexander Dao
Professor Kirby
English 1B-32
27 September 2014
Egg Heads Analysis
The author of the article is Kathryn Jean Lopez, who was an female American columnist
for the webzine, National Review Online. She is now the current editor at large and has been
writing and editing for more than 10 years. Her work has been featured on many publications
such as the Wall Street Journal, New York Post, and many online websites. Being that she is a
female, it would make sense that her view on the Egg Head issue would be influenced.
This article was published on September 1, 1998 in the National Review. The intended
audience would be described as the young, healthy female population in the United States at the
time. The National Review considers itself as America's most widely read and influential
magazine and web site for conservative news, commentary, and opinion. Being that the
audience would be majority conservative, I believe that the audience would already be
sympathetic to the articles point of view.
The main thesis in Egg Heads is that egg donation is unethical and unhealthy for not
only the donor, but also the receiving party as the process could cause major complications. One
assumption that Lopez makes is that frozen eggs will further drive the egg market. Lopez claims
that since women can freeze their eggs at a young age, they can now postpone the intrusion of

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children in their lives. Another assumption Lopez makes is that college girls are the perfect
donors because they are likely to be healthy, and that many are in need of money. These

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assumptions, if featured in the New York Times, may not be as widely shared. The main
audience for the New York Times is primarily educated males; therefore, this may not seem
like such a cause for concern for them. Personally, I share the authors assumptions, specifically
the assumption that college girls are the perfect donors. Most college girls in the United States
are healthy and educated, which would make the demand for them sensible.
The author seems to appeal to logos and ethos and come across as informed and credible.
Lopez quotes many experts such as doctors, medical directors, and professors. She also provides
examples of egg donor cases such as the case of Jaycee Buzzanca and the British couple who
traveled to California to receive an experimental hybrid egg. Lopez appeals to ethos by
claiming that egg donation is a form of reproductive prostitution and that the freezing of eggs is
just a way of postponing motherhood.
Although Lopez actively tries to argue that egg donation is unhealthy and unethical, I
believe she does little to address counterarguments and objections. The bulk of the article is just
mostly supporting her thesis. However, I believe that her argument does a decent job in
persuading others that egg donation isnt the best choice to make. She provides many quotes and
references throughout the article to support the various points she makes. Since this article seems
to be written for a female audience, it may not do as well in persuading that of the New York
Times. Despite this, I believe her article does satisfy the Star Criteria. She has included many
sources of evidence that is up to date and support her thesis. I also agree with the title Egg
Heads its implication that many people are beginning to consider the use of egg donors in

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procreation. On top of this, Lopezs argument definitely persuaded me that egg donation is
unethical and unhealthy. Her use of countless evidence and references prompted me to view the

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issue as a cause for concern, much like the issue of abortion which has been popular in the recent
years.