Eng 4Bly
OutliersResearch Assignment
Due Dates* :
15 notecards due Feb 27/ 28th
Typed Outline due March 2/ 3rd
Complete rough draft due March 22/ 23rd
FINAL PAPER DUE MARCH 24TH / 27TH
*NOTE= I will provide class time every day to work on this paper.
Assignment:
1) Locate an individual who is successful (one who has achieved mastery, not just fleeting fame) in a particular field. Discuss whether you think his/her success had to do with the social and external factors that Gladwell discusses in his book Outliers or whether this person's success was due to the more conventional notion of individual talent that is inherent in an individual. In your discussion of this successful person you may want to decide whether he experienced any of the phenomenon Gladwell talks about:
a) The Matthew Effect
b) 10,000 hours of work in order to become proficient
c) advantageous era of birth
d) born in a demographic trough
e) exposure to meaningful work
f) the ability to express to someone what one wants (the presumption of being heard)
g) cultural practices which encouraged success
2) Your thesis should be a statement that clearly posits whether the person's success was due to external factors or was inherent and which of Gladwell's categories apply to this person (or you may posit one of your own reasons).
3) The paper should be 3-5 pages with no more than half of that total devoted to discussing the background of the successful person. That is, at least half, if not more, of the total should be dedicated to discussing your application of Gladwell's ideas to a real live person. [Note: in discussing this idea, you may rehearse Gladwell's discussion of it to some extent]
4) MLA documentation should be used for all researched sources.
A potential outline might look like this: (What information to include)
I. Intro: Using some sort of introductory element [fact, statistic, question(s), anecdote, etc.] introduce your successful person. In the thesis, state whether you think his/her success was due to external factors or whether it was due to individual talent that was inherent.
A) Your thesis should state whether you think the person’s success was due to external or inherent factors and why this person was successful.
II. Background material. Provide background material for this successful person is and why he/she is considered successful
III. Support paragraphs. Support your position on why this person was successful with examples from any of the following reasons Gladwell posits below:
A) The Matthew Effect
B) 10,000 Hour Rule
C) Advantageous Era of Birth
D) Born in a Demographic Trough
E) Exposure to Meaningful Work
F) The Presumption of Being Heard
G) Cultural Practices
Or
Some other reason that Gladwell did not cover or a reason which contradicts Gladwell's assertions.
IV. Conclusion. From the discussion of your successful person's life, what kind suggestions for institutional reform might you suggest and why do you think that these reforms would increase the "capitalization rate"
PVHS Writing Format: (The structure for HOW you write it)
I. Introductory paragraph
A. Hook/ lead-in
B. Transition sentences
C. Thesis: type your thesis here
II. All Body Paragraphs
A. Topic sentence
B. Main point #1 (chunk #1)
1. CD (your research)
2. CM (your commentary)
3. CM (your commentary)
C. Main point # 2 (chunk #2)
1. CD (your research)
2. CM (your commentary)
3. CM (your commentary)
D. Main point #3 (chunk #3 – IF you have this; you many not)
1. CD (your research)
2. CM (your commentary)
3. CM (your commentary)
E. Concluding sentence (wrap up ALL 3 chunk ideas)
III. Concluding Paragraph
A. Restate Thesis in different order/words
B. Transition sentences
C. Lead-out Reflection/ Significance for the future