The Story of Success By Malcolm Gladwell Outliers The Story of Success By Malcolm Gladwell

What is an Outlier? out-li-er (n.) 1. something that is situated away from or classed differently from a main or related body. 2. a statistical observation that is markedly different in value from the others of the sample.

#1 National Bestseller “In understanding successful people, we have come to focus far too much on their intelligence and ambition and personality traits. Instead, Malcolm Gladwell argues in Outliers, we should look at the world that surrounds the successful – their culture, their family, their generation, and idiosyncratic experiences of their upbringing.”

Outliers and Argument Outliers presents its reader with a number of arguments. The effectiveness of the arguments are dependent on the author’s rhetorical strategies: diction, syntax, tone, imagery, figurative language, and appeals. While reading Outliers, consider not only what the book is saying about success, culture, race, upbringing, and the “American Dream”, but also how it is saying it.

Major Papers #3 and #4 #3: Write a rhetorical analysis of Gladwell’s argument in Outliers. The paper must be 2-4 pages (MLA format). DUE 11/13. Use your Dialectic Journal for support. #4: Write an expository essay on “Success” and the “American Dream”. Multiple sources should be referenced in creating an argument/claim. The paper must be 3-5 pages (MLA format). DUE 12/1.  Use your Dialectic Journal and the Jigsaw Presentations.

Dialectic Journal Related to Annotation. Using 2-column notes, copy significant quotes from the text (words, phrases, passages) on the left and respond to the right. Include page numbers. Respond to words, phrases, and passages that are significant (reveals something about the author, subject, or audience) and provide only the most insightful commentary. One response for every other page of text read. DJ can be used later to write an analysis essay.

Jigsaw Presentations In groups of 2-3 students, you will be responsible for presenting certain chapters of Outliers to the class as a lead-in to a general class discussion. During the presentation, groups should focus on the main points of Gladwell’s argument in the chapter they were assigned (what it says), as well as the author’s rhetorical choices (i.e. diction, syntax, imagery, figurative language, appeals, structure, etc.) (how it says it). Choose a rhetorically significant passage to share with the class. Groups will be graded on the content shared with the class, as well as the effectiveness of the presentation itself (projection, eye contact, preparedness, length (5- 10 minutes), etc.). Students in the audience should take notes based on the groups presentation. These notes could be used later in crafting one or both of a student’s major papers.

Outliers Reading Intro: The Roseto Mystery Ch. 1: The Matthew Effect Ch. 2: The 10,000 Hour Rule Ch. 3: The Trouble with Geniuses, Part I Ch. 4: The Trouble with Geniuses, Part II Ch. 5: The Three Lessons of Joe Flom Ch. 6: Harlan, Kentucky Ch. 7: The Ethnic Theory of Plane Crashes Ch. 8: Rice Paddies and Math Tests Ch. 9: Marita’s Bargain Epilogue: A Jamaican Story