Chunk #3 Precis: Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

In the 3rd chunk of Malcolm Gladwell's non-fiction text, "Outliers," he continues to explain the effect one's background and culture has on their level of success in life. For instance, those with parents that actually made their children do their school work and study tended to be more successful than those who parents were less involved. Asians are hard working people that consistently study and are actually willing to do their homework. Asians fully grasp the meaning of math because they actually try hard to understand the concept and they take more math classes. Asians also tend to be better at math than others because of their number system, their number system makes it easier for their students to count and calculate; for example instead of saying eleven and twelve they say ten-one and ten-two and instead of saying twenty-four they say two-tens-four. Many Asians are the outliers in our society because of their intensive study habits. Before explaining the lifestyles of the Asian, Gladwell states this quote, "No one who can rise before dawn three hundred sixty days a year fails to make his family rich." Basically this quote means the sacrifices that one makes when they are young will definitely pay off in the end.
Those who are outliers work hard to get where they are, yes some people are blessed with a quick mind which enables them to understand somethings faster, but they also study and practice their talent so that they can be the best. Some people have the intelligence to be an outlier in our society but their background can have an affect as to how far they will go in life. For instance the wealthy intelligent children have a better chance at being a big success than that poverty stricken Jew because sometimes it's not WHAT you know it's WHO you know.

Clarification Question: Why is at that Asians are so good in math?

Application Question: Now that you know hard work pays off would you actually try harder in school to make life easier for your future family?

Opinion Piece Precis #3: "Call Me!" by Joel Stein

Joel Stein's 2010 essay explains the lack of interest we have today in talking on the phone. Now a days many people don't like having to sit there with a phone up to their ear and pay close attention to what they have to say, they'd rather text or email because it can be done on their on time. Stein even admits when he's on the phone with someone and its their turn to talks he accomplishes some tasks in the mean while like washing dishes, look at new sites, and even files reciepts. But when Stein is talking, he expects his listener to be fully alret and attentive to what he has to say. These days people are to busy to just sit there and have a full blown conversation because they always have more important things to do, either that or they're just not interested in talking to that particular individual. One of Stein's friends says the inventions that were once wished upon when they were younger suck now, flying cars will block the light and moving sidewalks will make her hate fat people EVEN more. Stein even believes being on Skype (video chat) is rediculous because not only do you have to talk to that person but you also have to sit there and listen because they are watching your every move.

Application Question: Why would you rather text/email someone or than talk to that person on the phone? Or do you prefer talking than texting/emailing?

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1952314,00.html

Chunk #2 Precis: Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

In the second chunk of Malcolm Gladwell's non-fiction text, "Outliers," he continues to examine the reason behind why some people are geniuses and end up being more successful than their peers. Gladwell explains these outliers successions through statistics, he used the study done by Annette Lareau. Lareau observed the everyday lifestyles of 12 third graders and their families from different ethnicity's, and economic backgrounds. It was noticed the children from middle-class and high-class families were greatly supported in their schooling and their extra-curricular activities than the children from the low-class families. Children from the wealthier families were taught how to speak up for themselves and realize they don't have to be mute just because they're in the presence of someone in high authority. The children from wealthier classes also had parents that were involved in their education, these parents took the initiative to make sure their child received the attention they needed in order to a success. For example a young girl didn't pass a test to be admitted into the gifted program so her mother talked to the teacher and other administrators and was able to get her daughter a retake in private; the girl passed the exam. Gladwell pointed out that some people are born with the gift of intelligence with the potential of being a genius, but a big role in allowing that person to be a big success is his/her culture in which he/she was brought up. Those with parents that were involved in their lives and were taught how to speak up for themselves tend to be the most successful ones, the outliers that could make a name for themselves.

Clarification Question: How can the environment or culture a child is born into determine whether he/she will be successful or not?

Application Question: Would you be involved in your child's education and interests or will you leave it up to your child's teachers/coaches/instructors because it's on their time (their time their problem)?

Opinion Piece Precis #2- "Celebrity Chefs Show How to Lose Weight," by Joel Stein

Joel Stein's 2009 essay, "Celebrity Chefs Show How to Lose Weight," explains the efforts many chefs are making to lose weight and care more about their physical image. Alton Brown, a Food Network host and the author of a best selling cookbook, noticed how "heavy" he was when he watched himself on television, it was then he wondered if he looked like this how did his audience, fans, and consumers look. Stein believes putting chefs on television could be a way for ending the obesity epidemic. After chefs starting debuting on television they began cutting back on unnecessary foods and they started to lose a substantial amount of weight. These chiefs started sharing healthier recipes with their fans allowing the fans to take part in living a healthy lifestyle along with them.

Application Question: Would you be a fan of a slim chef even though chefs are known for being in love with food therefore being overweight? Why would/wouldn't it matter?

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1945362,00.html

Opinion Piece Precis #1- "Who Will Inherit Joel Stein's Kid," by Joel Stein

Joel Stein's 2009 essay, Who Will Inherit Joel Stein's Kid?, explains that people tend to have more in common with their friends or who they associate themselves with than their fanily. Stein just had a son and was contenmplating on who he should label with guradianship over his son if anything was to unexpectedly happen to him or his wife, whether it should be his parents, parent-n-laws, a brother-n-law, or an old college roomate. In the end Stein and his wife chose Stein's old college roommate to be the God-Parents of their son because they had the same views on education, money, discipline, family, etc. Although it didn't seem like it initially, Stein's purpose was to inform his audience that people will most likely have more in common with their friends than their family, and this is not saying that people will necessarily love their friends or associates more than their parents but to point out, people chose who they will befriend or who they will hang out with based on their similarities with each other (for the most part).
http://time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1940678,00.html

Application Question: Why would you pick someone that shares the same views of the world as you as a supppose to someone who was the COMPLETE opposite of you to raise your child in case something was to unexpectadly happen to you and your spouse?

Chunk #1 Precis: Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

Malcolm Gladwell's non-fiction text, "Outliers," examines the reasons behind success in different aspects of life. Gladwell explains why some hockey players tend to do better than others and how one's age has alot to do with achievments, whether it's physically or mentally. Gladwell is able to do this with statistics and research that has been gone over and over by psycologists. Students that are older and more mature tend to do better in school than their peers, even if they are only months older. Being physically and mentally mature are key aspects that determine whether someone will be gifted, education wise, and talented in extracurricular activities like hockey for example. If a child, for instance, was born in February and another child was born in September, that "February baby" has a 7 month maturation head start, which means he would most likely play sports better that his peer because he will have sarted training first, and he would comprehend things better because his brain is more mature. Gladwell isn't necessarily saying that one's birthday will determine their success but it does contribute to it in a way. And that age difference plus practice is a recipe for success.

Application Question: If your child was born at the end of the year (say late December) would u hold him/her back one year so that he/she can excell in school with peers that are one year younger than him/her?

Clarification Question: Why is it that the hockey players that tend to be the best in their age group leagues and play professionally are mostly born in January, February, and March?

"The Narrative of Frederick Douglass"

On a scale from 1-10 I would have to say my level of interest for this book would have to be a 7. For the most part I enjoyed reading the narrative and learning the abuse, trials, and tribulations that Frederick and other slaves had to under go and why they became accustomed to it as if it was ideally "normal". While reading this narrative I was able to point out the privileges that I now have and view as a necessity but Frederick didn't have and was able to live without, for instance a bed. On the other hand I did not really like the depth of Frederick's syntax. I had to reread sentences and think about why he wrote some sentences telegraphic (straight forward) and others cumulative. Sometimes I didn't even have a clue of what Frederick was talking about until I asked Tierra or until Ms. Guy went over it in class.
My favorite scene from Frederick Douglass's slave narative was when Frederick tried to escape from Master Covey's plantation and go back to MAster Thomas Auld's plantation. This was funny because in the beginning Frederick did not like being Master Thomas's slave but after he was abused numerous times by Master Covey he wanted his previous master back. Frederick left Master Covey's plantation in hopes of freedom from him and an easier lifestyle as a slave with Master Thomas. Frederick walked about 5 miles to get to Mastser Thomas's plantation all to be sent back because he was under contract to work for Master Covey for a year. Even though this scene was kind of harsh and Frederick was suppose to get a beating for his escape, it was rather hillarious because Frederick actually thought he was going to be finally free from the abusive hands of Master Covey that he dealt with for 6 months.