MKT 100 Classroom Exercise (Fall, 2011) Later: What Does Procrastination Tell Us About Ourselves? (James Surowiecki) MKT 100 Classroom Exercise (Fall, 2011)

Team 1. Q1. What is the thesis (main idea) of this essay? Q2. In what ways does the author develop the thesis? Q3. Identify five difficult words in this essay.

Team 2. What part(s) of this essay does your team agree with the most and why?

Team 3. What part(s) of this essay does your team agree with the least and why?

Team 4. Mr. Surowiecki states that “…it’s possible to see procrastination as the quintessential modern problem.” Provide one or more arguments (if any) that support this premise. Provide one or more arguments (if any) that challenge this premise.

Team 5. Mr. Surowiecki reports on academic research that suggests that “…short-term considerations [tend to] overwhelm long-term goals.” Provide two examples from two different team members that best illustrate this type of situation. What recommendations do you have for keeping your long-term goals in perspective?

Team 6. Mr. Surowiecki states that “[from a philosophical perspective]…we could not want what is bad for us; if we act against our own interests, it must be because we don’t know what’s right.” Provide one or more arguments (if any) that support this premise. Provide one or more arguments (if any) that challenge this premise.

Team 7. Mr. Surowiecki reports on research that suggests that “…people underestimate the time ‘it will take them to complete a task, partly because they fail to take account of how long it has taken them to complete similar projects in the past and partly because they rely on smooth scenarios in which accidents and unforeseen problems never occur.’” Do you agree? Why or why not? Provide an example from your own experience.

Team 8. Mr. Surowiecki reports on research that suggests that “…willpower is, in some ways, like a muscle and can be made stronger.” Mr. Surowiecki also reports on research that suggests that “…most of us have a limited amount of willpower and that it’s easily exhausted.” Do you agree (or disagree) with one or both of these statements? Explain. What other visceral (gut) reactions do you have to these statements?

Team 9 (if needed). Assume that the instructor (me!) asks you to come in and speak to my freshman MKT 100 class next Fall. What advice would you give to the freshman regarding procrastination, punctuality, or anything else related to “time management”?