Outliers chunk 1

Malcolm Gladwell , author of "Outliers, argues our views of success are incorect and wants to give us a better understanding of how to become successful. In order to become successful you need to have talent and abilty; you can't buy your way into a prosperous life. It takes time and effort to develop "the ability". Outliers is based on men and women who do things out of the ordinary. Asking a successful person about him/herself is not how that person reached the top. He wants to convince us that the fallacy "from nothing to something' does not work. There are hidden advantages and beneficial opportunities given. There is a difference made depending on where and time period we grew up. What is passed down through generations shape patterns of our acheivements. Passion, talent, and hard work is also expected.

"On the Death of Martin Luther King Jr."

This speech, given by Robert F. Kennedy, argues for civil peace and justice amongst the United States. He announces the death of civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr., who died for equality within all races, primarily blacks and whites. He hopes blacks are not outraged with anger and hatred, but also sympathizes and shows he can relate through an anecdote. He states what King fought for: to replace violence and bloodshed. Kennedy list all things that are not needed in the Unites States, and ends his list with the need of love, wisdom, compassion towards others, and the feeling of justice. Although difficult times will never cease, it doesn't hurt to improve them. Kennedy wants his citizens to love their country as he knows they do. Even though the speech is entitles "On the Death of Martin Luther King Jr." , Kennedy mostly focuses on what he preached. Kennedy wants his legacy to continue, by embedding in his speech all King, a martyr, fought and died for.

Fiancé Drops Engagement Ring Off Brooklyn Bridge

Don Walling proposed to his girlfriend on the Brooklyn Bridge. He planned every detail of it; their family watching from afar and her sister video taping it. When he asked, he got the shock of his life, not because she said no but because the ring fell into the traffic. He did not let that get him down. He quickly got off his knee and kissed her; he also promised that no matter what she will have a ring. Luckily, with the help of his family, he found the ring. It's a little bent out of shape, but it'll work. Next time, he says, he'll give it to her in the safety of his own home.

Clarification:
Do you think if the author was a female, the article would have been written differently, possible more dramatic and more details?

Application:
If you were the fiance, and that happened to you, how would you feel? What would you do? Explain.

University Fails Basic Math, Gives Rejectees Hope

Author Eric S. Page says UCSD made one of the biggest oops one can make. Accidentally, UCSD sent an acceptance e-mail to the 46,377 applicants, including 17,000 who were accepted and the 29,000 who were denied admission. Two hours later a second e-mail was sent apologizing for the mistake, shattering the hopes of the students who applied. Assistant Vice Chancellor Mae W. Brown felt remorse for the students who were let down and said "No member of this department is more acutely aware of the emotional roller-coaster that this could cause for our applicants," If this had occured and i was one of the refects, I would have been devastated.

Clarification
Is the author condemning the school for the mistake made?

Application
How would you react if this happened to you and you were a student who was rejected?

Million Dollar Basketball Babies

The author conveys two opposing opinions: The NBA has set a rule stating a senior out of high school can not join the NBA draft until one year after he graduates; in Europe, age isn't a factor, as long as the young man is ready, has the skills, and is mature enough to play then it is ok. "Qualified players, he [Vaccaro] told me, should be able to earn a good salary playing basketball when they want to, not when the NCAA or NBA decides they can." Vaccaro recommends any player who has the talent and is ready to go pro should come to Europe to fulfill their dreams. Stephenson, a senior interested in going pro, is ready for the NBA, says his high school basketball coach and father. He is 6 foot 5, has 38 points, and 14 rebounds.

Clarification:
Is the author of the article for or against NBA's rule that a student-athlete has to wait a year after he graduates?

Application:
If you, as a basketball player, had the opportunity to go to college or play basketball over seas, which would you do? Why?

Chunk #3 pg.151-224

Students are now doing anything do get into colleges known for their name. They are beginning to hire SAT tutors that cost a fortune and are really stressing themselves out to do their best. There is nothing wrong with striving to do your best to get into the best colleges, but pressure from parents needs to cease. Students already have enough pressure; they don't need any irrelevant stress added. I have just learned of a new influence, teen novels. Teens are really influenced by these novels and have done drastic things like running away from their homes. There is also an upside to this influence; most of the authors are teenagers. Teens can really become inspired by that and have teens to look up to. There is a new type of teens from generation Y that we haven't heard about, those who are unbranded. There are many protest held against advertisements and these adults who try to manipulate teens. They shop and thrift stores so they won't be categorized with the branded obsessed teens. As I read, i really began to see that teens are confused. They're at an age where their trying to find themselves. They go from one trend to another to see where they fit in, although some might confuse it as following what's "in". Is there an in between trendiness and anti trendiness? Is it totally wrong to want to dress like the style that's currently a hit?

Vocabulary:
dogma (pg. 195) - a system of principles
imbroglios (pg. 218) - a misunderstanding or disagreement

Rhetorical terms:
hyperbole - " ' My kid has to get into Harvard or Princeton or I will kill myself,' " (pg. 157)
apostrophe - " 'As a teen you are only the money that you spend,' " (pg. 210)

Discussion questions:
Clarification- What would the world be without ads? How else will products (clothes, movies, etc.) be known or advertised?
Application- While reading about the branded teens, did you feel the need to attack or become against advertisers, and reading about the unbranded teens, did you defend these same advertisers? Explain.

Quote:" 'Everything is about purchasing. We are not allowing them to be kids. In fifth grade suddenly they now have to have 'a look' and 'a behavior' and there are sexual expectations at that age as well -- this is adulthood without the age and the power,' "

Chunk #2 (pg.77-150)

Messages in movies have greatly influenced teenagers over the years. Teen movies have centered their focus on the "popular crowd" to increase sales. Because these movies are mainly about the "in" teens, it pressures the teen audience to be like these characters. The biggest influence movies have is that it makes teens want to change their outer appearance. These movies are called the "make-over" films. The films include: how to become popular, what to wear, who to hang out with. It somewhat discourages their audience to just simply be themselves. Now days, teens think a "new" them is changing their outer appearance, such as a new dress, etc. These girls think their becoming their "true" selves, when in reality, their becoming what society wants them to be. The moral of the story isn't to be yourself, but rather someone else. Movies are being such a great influence that now even teenagers are looking to change themselves through surgery. Also they have placed a standard of the way teens bodies should be and their views of body image changes. No longer are teens comfortable with their bodies, but now are longing to become skinnier.

Vocabulary:
divest (pg. 103) - to take away or alienate
rhinoplasty (pg. 119) - plastic surgery of the nose

Rhetorical terms:
imagery- "The nerd, lean with a scraggly mop of blonde hair and buggy eyes," (pg. 78)
irony- "When Elle goes to Harvard Law School, however, she is an outcast -- because of the very qualities that made her so popular at CU." (pg. 79)

Discussion Questions:
Clarification- Do you think by placing brands on video games truly increases sales for those brands? If not, what do you think is a better way to advertise their products?
Application- If you ever came across a girl like Carolyn, (pg.113) what advise would you have for her? How could you help her change her mind about her wanting larger breast?

Quote:"Teenagers now alter their bodies extremely and proudly." (pg. 1150)