Outliers Summer Reading Project

Choose one of the topics below, and brainstorm, plan and write an argumentative, thesis-driven essay of at least 600 words. Use your copy of Outliers to help pull textual evidence. If you are using the audiobook, come to us for citation support.

Your essay, as always, should:  Provide a short, separate introduction that presents the issue and then segues into an explicit thesis with several concrete reasons to back it up.  Develop each reason in a body paragraph that offers textual evidence (quotes and/or paraphrases) and your own analysis of the issue. Make sure you cite quotes or any other sources you use in developing your body paragraphs.  Provide a conclusion summarizing your main points and leaving a closing thought.  Don’t forget to proofread for grammar errors, as they can bring your grade down. Good luck!

OUTLIERS: You may choose one of the following to help guide your response.

1. Early in Outliers, Gladwell quotes Robert Winthrop on Benjamin Franklin. “Look at the image of a man,” he said, “who rose from nothing, who owed nothing to parentage or patronage…” Gladwell writes in response that “people don’t rise from nothing” and that “we do owe something to parentage and patronage,” as well as a myriad of other factors. Define Gladwell’s point of view on the issue of success and its origins, based on your reading. Then, in a careful crafted essay, support or challenge Gladwell’s point of view, using examples from your reading and your own knowledge.

2. Gladwell argues that success is not determined solely by talent and that successful people work much, much harder than others. Do you agree or disagree with this argument? Why?

3. Gladwell argues that socio-economic status, or class, greatly contributes to an individual’s success. Do you agree? Write a persuasive response in which you offer specific sports-related examples of socio-economic status contributing to success or proving irrelevant.

Due Date: October 5th Turnitin.com

Please follow directions on the webpage to sign-up for a Turnitin.com account or come to your teacher during a free period/lunch for assistance.