Hi, guys and gals! Here are your last set of summer reading questions! I am looking forward to meeting and working with you all!
For WTDS: The last six chapters (pgs 293-410) were grouped by the title "Personality, Character, and Intelligence." Why do you think Gladwell did this? You must use support from each of the six chapters in your response. You also need to provide two words per chapter that you did not know, as well as two synonyms for each word (you DO NOT have to define them).
For LOL: For Part IV of LOL, compare and contrast your ability to communicate to Lincoln's. Explain how you and Lincoln differ AND are similar using specific examples from the book and your life/experiences. What is the greatest lesson you learned from this chapter? You also need to provide 10 words that you did not know from this section of LOL, as well as two synonyms for each.
Lastly, remember to bring ALL of your essays, your vocab journal and response journal to class on 8/22. I will see you on the first day, since my AP classes are periods 3 & 5. If you have Ms. Curbelo, never fear! You WILL ALL have a test on the summer readings, the vocab and the AP Terms to Know.
Smile!
19 comments:
1. Sometimes even good things have to come to an end. Thus, I’ve come to conclude that Gladwell named this last section of his novel: “Personality, Character, and Intelligence,” to leave behind a memorable ending. Gladwell makes it very evident that each and every article included can be easily related to the section’s name. And that’s a very prominent technique he managed to execute. The first article in the section “Late Bloomers,” can be easily interpreted under the category of intelligence. Everyone is born with genes and each gene has an underlying trait that develops at its own pace. The idea of whether you have it or you don’t, is the popular concept of giftedness. And it turns out to be that the conception of giftedness is wrong. A genius- is not only for the young as many people believe, age doesn’t really matter. Some people just tend to be “late bloomers,” and take a bit longer to reach their peak. The article “Most Likely to Succeed,” can be related to all three categories: Personality, Character, and Intelligence. But it doesn’t mean that all of them are required to be successful, everyone is just a unique being that has their own talent. If you either have friendly/open personality, a dedicated/confident/persevering character, or are intelligent it’s possible that you can easily be successful. But as the chapter states it’s not always apparent who will really be the most successful. Even though they may embody all those three great qualities, it doesn’t always mean they’ll end up being the most successful. The chapter “Dangerous Minds,” obviously deals with intelligence. Like the chapter says there are two types of serial killers, the organized and the disorganized. And even though one may not be organized they are both very intelligent; to specifically and cautiously plan out, detail by detail, each and every step, and every move they are going to make; illustrates a mind with great creativity. Sometimes it’s just that they are too smart that they end up loosing it and choose the wrong path to follow. In the case of “The Talent Myth,” we can certainly see that the article relates to intelligence. Everyone working for the Company-Enron was qualified as “smart,” therefore the company believed that they were without a doubt going to be extremely successful. And it turned out to be the other way around – they failed miserably. So it wasn’t that the smart people were overrated, but just that the company lacked a bit of intelligence. They were the ones who were wrong thinking that they would be successful if they only hired smart people. We can relate “The New-Boy Network,” with personality and character. The chapter talks about how in a job interview you can’t really get to know the person you want to hire. Because even though you sit down with them for an hour to talk, first impressions do matter but don’t always let you know everything about the person. In that moment the person tries to behave in their best behavior, with a wonderful personality, and vivacious character. But you can never really know for sure if they’re really like that. And the last chapter from this section “Troublemakers,” can be related to character. Like the story mentions in the chapter- sometimes people end up making wrong and unfair judgments, stereotyping, and generalizations. One thinks that based on something’s character the rest that’s in the same category will be the same and that’s not always like that. We can’t judge one by its character if not it would only be an unfair generalization.
2. Late Bloomers:
Querulous- Irritable; Petulant
Verisimilitude- Credibility; Validity
Most Likely to Succeed:
Stint- Assignment; Chore
Winnowing- Extract; Puff
Dangerous Minds:
Dastardly- Cowardly; Vile
Ruse- Artifice; Hoax
The Talent Myth:
Poaching- Rob; Smuggle
Unscathed- Safe; Sound
The New-Boy Network:
Heinous- Abhorrent; Atrocious
Panache- Charisma; Flair
Troublemakers:
Flibbertigibbet- Blabbermouth; Chatterbox
Muzzled- Gagged; Quieted
3. Similarly to Lincoln every time I have to do a public speaking engagement whether it be for a school presentation, project, or homework I always prepare myself thoroughly. I like to be educated on the topic I’m going to speak about, to correctly inform others with real facts and not give a phony exhibition. Sometimes it takes me several hours or days to get it right, but I always end up satisfied with my end result. Like Phillips says, “Lincoln’s most famous speeches were exhaustively researched, analyzed, and practiced. Every word of it was written, every sentence had been tested.” I also can compare myself to Lincoln because like him I like to sprinkle my conversations with witty stories and humorous anecdotes. When I’m around my friends I tend to randomly pull out a joke or sometimes a story that just tends to be the right one for the moment. And I’ve realized that sometimes with humor and anecdotes things get communicated more effectively. Being that Lincoln was President, he enjoyed talking a lot and with almost everything he spoke about he told a story that illustrated his point of view. So that’s the way I can differentiate myself with Lincoln- I’m very straightforward; I like to speak what’s necessary and not go on and on about things, like just straight to the point.
4. Without a doubt I can say that the greatest lesson I’ve learned by far is from- Chapter 15 “Preach a Vision and Continually Reaffirm it,” and it’s that, one needs to preach their vision constantly. In life you really really need to know what you want and know where you’re going to make it happen. It must be something that you adore, something you are passionate about, and are willing to give it your all. To succeed in life you need to have a vivid visualization of what you really want; basically you have to map out your future step by step. By visualizing what you want beforehand, you attract positive vibrations into your life and before you know it, you get to achieve your goal. Like they say, to achieve big things you must be willing to think big.
5. 10 Words from LOL Section:
Consecrate- Bless; Sanctify
Droll- Comical; Humorous
Emollient- Soothing; Healing
Endeared- Captivate; Engage
Extemporaneous- Impromptu; Spontaneous
Quipped- Mock; Ridicule
Revved- Expedite; Stimulate
Stump- Baffle; Bewilder
Uncouth- Barbaric; Vulgar
Vehemently- Frantically; Monstrous
Gladwell grouped personality, character and intelligence to sum up the book in the three controversial topics. Personality, Character and Intelligence innate gifts we all possess. In “Late Bloomers” it is quoted “I felt like I stepped off a cliff and I didn’t know if the parachute was going to open”. He took to take a bigger step in his life that would lead him to what he really wanted instead of just settling for what he had. It was something that takes a lot of character to do because you really have to trust in yourself that you can achieve what you are heading for. “Most Likely to Succeed” appeals to Character Intelligence and Personality, “who do we hire when we can’t tell who’s right for the job?” To come across as a good candidate for hiring you need to have several character traits that will be applicable to the job. It is what you do when others aren’t around to see that really defines your character. Some people with horrible character are the most successful because they step over whomever to get to the top and achieve their goals. The person with the most potential to be successful might have a weak personality and be left at the bottom. I believe you must have a balance of all three to be successful. “Dangerous Minds” apply to all three of the titles but more inclined towards personality and intelligence. Serial killers have different personalities and sometimes it’s the personality disorders that lead them to be disorganized or extremely organized with their murders. “The Talent Myth” relates to intelligence. “It never occurred to them that, if everyone had to think outside the box, maybe it was the box that needed fixing.” The company Enron shouldn’t have thought outside the box and should have looked deeply at the smaller picture. They made a critical mistake over estimating their success to be achieved on the ability of their workers just because they were being perceived as “smart”. “The New Boy Network” relates to personality and intelligence. When you go out looking for a job you’re going to try your best to get it. If you are intelligent you will know the qualities they are looking for and how to act like the perfect candidate for the job. You will know whether to act serious or approachable. You will never know what that person is really like until their character speaks for them. Anyone can be perceived as whatever they want to be and that’s why you never really know who it is that is perfect for the job, you can only assume. “Trouble makers” has a mix of intelligence and character into it. “Now are they chained because they are aggressive or aggressive because they are chained?” I overanalyzed this sentence because you can’t really answer it. It is a little bit of both. Some dogs bite because they are chained and are not used to seeing people as a result of being isolated. They don’t know whether the human being or in this case a little kid is going to harm him or just want to play with him so they attack. It can easily go both ways.
Late Bloomers
Inextricably-accordingly, agreeable
Exuberance-animation, cheerfulness
Most Likely to Succeed .
Nimbly-carefully, eagerly
Advent-appearance, approach
Dangerous Minds
Dastardly-cowardly, contemptible
Upholstery-cushioning, padding
The Talent Myth
Orthodoxy- divine, faithful
Fawning- cater to, bow
The New Boy Network
Truism: adage, apothegm
Superfluous: Unnecessary, extra
Trouble makers
Disembowel: clean, empty
Precincts: division, county
“It’s not what you say but how you say it” applies to Abraham Lincoln’s communication style and it also applies a lot to mine. Lincoln would say that no work would be finished until published or until the speech was made. When I have to give a speech about a certain topic I keep adding details until the last moment to make my work better. Good enough is never enough for me. When I am speaking I have noticed that by making the audience laugh what I said was remembered. When speaking, people will pay more attention to you if your speech is not dry and dull. When making my teachers laugh and the students I receive a better grade and they are all pleased with my presentation. Lincoln’s communication ways are consistent and clear. You cannot be giving mixed messages to an audience or they will not even remember what you said. When I say something, I do it. If you don’t follow through with your word eventually your word won’t count for anything and nobody will listen to you. Lincoln does not like to be seen as superior to others even though he might be. When I speak or im giving my opinion I don’t like to disregard anybody else’s ideas because I think we all have the potential to have a bright idea. I don’t think mine is better just because it’s my idea. When Lincoln would be speak his voice would project and he was heard by even the ones further back. That is how Lincoln and I differ in our communication style. When I am talking something I lack is voice projection. I need to learn how to speak louder so my voice can be heard.
The greatest lesson I learned was in page 155 where I read “Though Abraham Lincoln was an outstanding writer and public speaker; he was even more adept at the art of conversation. He could talk to anyone, brilliant scientist, wily politician, visiting head of state, or simple backwoods farmer “This taught me that anyone is worth talking too. You shouldn’t shut people out just because of what they seem to be. I have seen people make remarks about others just because they are not as well-known as them or just don’t like to be associated with certain type of people. I believe to be a great leader you need to know how to communicate with everyone and appeal to everyone so that you have more success and background knowledge on your followers.
1. Extemporaneous: as one wishes, at will.
2. Formidable: bold, challenging.
3. Ungainly: awkward, klutzy.
4. Admonition: advice, forewarning.
5. Meticulously: exactly, flawlessly.
6. Prevailing: dominate, control.
7. Adage: saying, rule.
8. Subordinates: assistant, aid
9. Intently: closely, fixedly
10. Adept: accomplished, capable.
I think Gladwell grouped up the chapters in this matter because each of the chapters describes how the perception of personality, character, and intelligence in our society can affect what we think of others and ourselves. In “Late Bloomers”, the author states “ The Cézannes of the world bloom late not as a result of some defect in character, or distraction, or lack of ambition, but because the kind of creativity that proceeds through trial and error necessarily takes a long time to come to fruition.” In other words, youth isn’t always the only producer of talent. Harvard psychologists Howard Gardner states that “The most creative lyric verse is believed to be written by the young” Yet, many famous books and paintings were created by those older in age. In “Most Likely to Succeed”, the author tries to bring to light how certain methods of analysis and evaluations are overrated. For instance, a teacher can have her class pass their state test but that doesn’t mean she is a good teacher. That may just mean that she taught for the test. Like the author states, “It’s only a crude measure, of course. A teacher is not solely responsible for how much is learned in a classroom and not everything of value that a teacher imparts to his or her student can be captured on a standardized test.” In “Dangerous Minds”, he also points out how although certain behaviors can be conjoined to certain characters “The fact is that different offenders can exhibit the same behaviors for completely different reasons…you can’t just look at one behavior in isolation.” In “The Talent Myth”, it demonstrates how we give more importance to intelligence rather than experience in the workplace. “We hire very smart people and we pay them more than they think they are worth.” Intelligence is important but it is worthless without having experience in what you are doing, which, in my opinion, has caused the companies like Enron their downfall. In “The New Boy Network”, the author shows us how interviews relate nothing to us but a first impression. Although he liked Nolan Myers, for instance, but “I have no idea from our brief encounter how honest he is, or whether he is self-centered, or whether he works best by himself or in a group, or any number of other fundamental traits…they color all the other impressions that we gather over time.” Lastly, In “Troublemakers”, generalization in profiling is the issue brought up. Like pit bulls, many races are associated with crime. For example, “Could a terrorist dress up as a Hasidic Jew and walk into the subway, and not be profiled. Yes. I think profiling is just nuts.”
“Late Bloomers”
Verisimilitude: Genuineness; Authencity
Stipend: Pension; Payment
“Most Likely to Succeed”
Rudimentary: Basic; elementary
Subpar: poor; shoddy
“Dangerous Minds”
Shrapnel: ammo; weaponry
Whodunit: secret; occult
“The Talent Myth”
Ardently: vigorously; animatedly
Braggadocio: nerve; ego
“The New-Boy Network”
Panache: Flair; style
Heinous: horrifying; atrocious
“Troublemakers”
Perilous: risky; unsafe
Infinitesimal: miniscule; small
Lincoln’s way of communicating is very similar to mines. For instance, we both give ourselves the respect we deserve despite what anyone thinks. Although he was called an ungainly man by a reporter, for instance, Phillips goes on to state that the audience “…cheered and applauded through out Lincoln’s speech, and when he had concluded they gave him a standing ovation while waving hats and handkerchiefs overhead. People also rushed to the podium to shake his hand and congratulate him.” The reporter went on to say that he forgot his clothes and appearance. Likewise, I give myself the same respect when speaking by planning what I want to speak and making sure that it’s said at the right time. For example, while debating in medical class, I spoke respectfully and with confidence. At the end of the debate, the class was clapping. This section has shown me that when your actions match your words, you can move mountains. All in all, I feel like I can relate to everything Phillips has stated about Lincoln and from my point of view, I don’t see any difference from the way I communicate from him.
Treble: high; acute
Vehemently: brutally; violently
Shrill: High pitched; noisy
Uncouth: clumsy; awkward
Ungainly: awkward; weird
Admonition: caution; carefulness
Impromptu: Unrehearsed; improvised
Curtailed: abridged; cut short
Adage: saying; proverb
Albeit: Although; even though
WTDS:
1. Malcolm Gladwell titled the last six chapters "Personality, Character, and Intelligence" may be because these three characteristics differentiate us from animals. In "Late Bloomers," brings us our intelligence development and how do we know when we are good at doing something or not, but what if maybe it is not our time yet. Our motivations that bring us ideas for different things come with time. "The Cezannes of the world bloom late not as a result of some defect in character, or distraction, or lack of ambition, but because the kind of creativity that proceeds through tria and error necessarily takes a long time to come to fruition" (page 303). In "Most Likely to Succeed," we have our character determine our success, but how could this be? The way that we do things and the amount of effort we give out for something that we really want can close or open doors for us to our future. For example, teaching requires you to put your character behind in order to reach out to those children and teach them something, but if you come across them the wrong way they will not listen to you. "But there's a hitch: no one knows what a person with the potential to be a great teacher looks like" (page 319). In "Dangerous Minds," our personality defines in what way we can do damage to another human being? Also, intelligence comes in on this too because a murderer or a rapist has a way of thinking and a conscious that is at peace to be able to keep up your character walking down the street or being next to an officer. "Some nights I'd lie awake, asking myself, 'Who the hell is this BTk?''What makes a guy like this do what he does? What makes his tick?" (page 340). " In "The Talent Myth," we face a battle between our personality and our intelligence because if we have the capacity and the mind to have a better future, but we reject it is due to the fact that we are to ignorant. We, as human beings, believe that we do not need help and that is where we fall to the ground. On the other hand, there are people who think low of themselves and think that they are not capable of succeeding in this world. Thanks to the prospect of "life, liberty, and freedom" you can do whatever you want with your life. "We allow people to go in whichever direction that they want to go" (page 367). In "The New-Boy Network," talks about all three aspects because our personality tells the boss if we are dedicated, our character shows the way we bring ourselves up to the boss, and intelligence is what even lets us be sitting in that very chair of that interview. Unfortunately, an interview just looks for one thing and one thing only: if you qualify for the job or not, and they do not care who you are, which is the most important thing in a person. "But what, exactly, can you know about a stranger after sitting down and talking with him for an hour?" (page 380). Lastly, in "Troublemakers," we face intelligence and our personality because we make generalizations about things due to fear. Once something impactful happens our personality and intelligence comes in to make a decision, but when it is as something as banning pitbulls due to dog bites and identifying smugglers, we must be smarter than that. Smugglers can be anybody, but we must be attentive. "How do we know when we've made the right generalization?" (page 397).
2. "Late Bloomers"
-inextricably: completely, inevitably.
-exuberance: exaggeration, liveliness.
"Most Likely to Succeed"
-obscurity: uncertainty, darkness.
-tumult: disturbance, turbulence.
"Dangerous Minds"
-dastardly: despicable, cowardly.
-stilted: unnatural, affected.
"The Talent Myth"
-prestigious: important, impressive.
-lavish: unreasonable, exaggerated.
"The New-Boy Network"
-heinous: horrendous, outrageous.
-precariously: problematic, indecisive.
"Troublemakers"
-perilous: treachrous, vulnerable.
-dislodge: displace, disturb.
LOL:
1. My abiloty to communicate, I can relate it to Lincoln's because I speak in a way that everybody can hear me and I make myself very clear in a way that everybody understands me, but at times to make what I am saying have more emphasis by saying an old saying like he always tells jokes. "Remember that people are more easily influenced through the medium of a broad and humorous illustration than in any other way" (page 161). I, also,tend to move a lot when I am speaking due to my ethnicity of being a hispanic. "Use a variety of body language when you speak" (page 154). I do not stay quite in any conversation that I may have with an individual because I always have something to say to everything. Unlike Lincoln he says, "Remember that there will be times when you should simply not speak. Say to your listeners: 'Kindly let me be silent." (page 154). The greates lesson I learned from this chapter is that when you have reached the highest rank that anybody can reach always remember those that helped you, have been there for you since day number one, and now it is your turn to help them. We must not forget those that did not forget about us in our time of need.
2. -dwarfed: predominate, overshadow.
-eloquent: significant, impressive.
-adept: skillful, capable.
-wily: deceitful, knowing.
-laudable: excellent, worthy.
-curtailed: contract, decrease.
-quaint: enchanting, fantastic.
-venture: propsition, speculation.
-treble: penetrating, piercing.
-meticulously: conscientious, painstaking.
Gladwell grouped the last six chapters by the title "Personality, Character, and Intelligence” because all the chapters have to do with how we judge people. Normally when we make a judgment and then get to know the person we were completely wrong they were the complete opposite. In late bloomers we judge creative people and think they are suppose to be young because they have a lot more energy then old people. That’s completely wrong some people will start young and others will start later in life. In Most likely to succeed, picking a NFL quarterback you are never positive that they will succeed at it or will fail you have to give them a chance to find out. Most of the time people judge college quarterbacks and once they make a bad move they are out of the list to be choose to play for the NFL. In Dangerous Minds, we cant categorize criminals in two categories they cold have both. The fact is that different offenders can exhibit the same behaviors for completely different reasons. In The Talent Myth, Companies where looking for talented people to think outside the box. It never occurred to them that, if everyone had to thing outside the box, maybe it was the box that needed fixing. In The New-Boy Network, Interview most of the time don’t work because you are judges as soon as you walk through the doors. Structure interview works because it isn’t really an interview; it isn’t about getting to know someone, in a traditional sense. Its as much concerned with rejecting information as it is with collecting it. In Troublemakers, we judge pit bulls and they suffered by noting being able to be in some states. Not all pit bulls are dangerous. Most don’t bite anyone.
Late Bloomers
Precocity- brilliance, wisdom
Dilettante- rookie, unskilled
Most Likely To Succeed
Prowess- accomplishment, excellence
Deviancy- unnaturalness, anomaly
Dangerous Minds
Dastardly- despicable, underhanded
Upholstery- stuffing, filling
The Talent Myth
Gurus- authority, leader
Shrewdly- carefully, intelligently
The New-Boy Network
Superfluous- excess, remaining
Finicky- critical, difficult
Troublemakers
Perilous- delicate, risky
Dysfunction-error, malfunction
My ability to communicate is horrible compared to Lincoln’s ability. I hate giving presentations in front of class. But talking to people one on one to me is easier that talking in front of everyone. Lincoln is good at giving speeches and talking to a group of people and keeping them enjoyed the whole time he is talking. I cant do that, when I have to present a project I try to be one of the last ones because I would rather not present. We are similar in that I think just like Lincoln people understand better and listen to you when its just you and them not a group of people. We are also similar in that Lincoln prepares himself before giving a speech and makes sure he doesn’t give any fails information he searches over and over to make sure everything he says is true I do that to because it would be pretty embarrassing if you are presenting something and your information is all wrong. The greatest lesson I learned from the chapter was Lincoln’s principle of remember that there will be times when you should simply not speak. Say to your listener: “Kindly let me be silent.” This is really true I have don’t this and let me tell you I can honestly say I will keep using it and up it always works and no one takes it offensive.
Dwarfed- low, petite
Eloquent – affecting, significant
Extemporaneous- automatic, immediate
Formidable- dangerous, fearful
Vehemently- roughly, angrily
Uncouth- rough, rude
Admonition- warning, caution
Quipped- disregard, scorn
Meticulously- exactly, flawlessly
Adage- maxim, motto
Lincoln on leadership:
Lincoln's ability to communicate is very similar to mines because we both try to carefully convey our feelings so we won't get misunderstood. I also don't talk just to hear my own voice. I talk to get point across so people can understand what I am trying to say. We both use body movements as we try to communicate with others.The differences are that I don't think I ever motivated anybody when I talk unlike Abraham Lincoln because just have a way with words that apparently do not.
Th obvious difference between Abraham Lincoln and I is that he is a man and I am a girl. He is tall and I am short. More importantly he can persuade people by his humorous anecdotes and witty jokes while I can't. He was president of the United States and I am currently a high school student. The way we are both alike is that we both believe in one war at a time.We both are flexible, and open-minded. We also don't feel insecure of feel threatened by others either.One day like Abraham was I will become a great leader as well.The greatest lesson I learned are ways to improve my communication skills. I also want to have the talent that Abraham Lincoln had. To be able to persuade people by using words and also a little humor.
Words I did not know???
1.eloquent-articulate;fluent
2.oratorical-bombastic,windy
3.extemporaneous-extempore, impromptu
4.peculiarities- eccentricity, quirk
5.curtailed-elide,syncopate
6.concisely-brief,capsule
7.roving-errant, fugitive
8.battalion-host,legion
9.detract-: abstract, call off,
10.interweaving-enlace, entwine,
1. Gladwell grouped the last six chapters of What the Dog Saw as “Personality, Character, and Intelligence.”The reason for this is because each chapter consisted of, at least one character that had at least one of these characteristics. In “Late Bloomers “Ben Fountain was the late bloomer, just like Alfred Hitchcock, mark Twain, and Cezanne. These men had intelligence, but they’re intelligence halted them from publishing a random piece of work as they thought of it. A Late bloomers approach is experimental, causing them to publish their ideas and works later on in life, when they feel their work has reached perfection. Their personalities would be described as tentative, and cautious. These men were perfectionist, causing them to be late bloomers. Chase Daniel is one of the characters of “Most likely to succeed”. Daniels was in college the promising Tiger’s QB. This kid had personality, character, and intelligence, but when he reached the NFL he had to sign as a free agent because he was not selected in the draft, he ended up with the Washington Red Skins, and has yet made any news. Maybe having all these characteristics might not be the recipe for success. In “Dangerous minds” we find James Brussel, a man with plenty of character and intelligence. Brussel claimed that there was a way to make criminal profiling easy, but it turns out that what seemed to be his intelligence at work was lady luck. The predictions he made were just a party trick. The people with an overwhelming amount of intelligence are some of the characters from “The Talent Myth”. Enron was jam packed with “stars” but for some reason is in bankruptcy, maybe their stars had too much of one thing and not enough of the other.
For some people, having a good personality, character, and intelligence is the recipe for success. This recipe worked for Nolan Myers, one of the characters from “The New-boy Network”. Myers personality outshined the other characteristics though, he was able to make a good first impression, which lead him to having more and more opportunities, that with his intelligence he overcame. “Troublemakers” is a chapter full with character; don’t judge the hound by its jaw, but by its owner. Different things trigger different people (or animals) to do something, so don’t make a generalization, on a generalization, on a generalization. You can tell that Gladwell believes that interesting things happen around people who have “Personality, Character, and Intelligence”, but just because all these people have similar characteristics, there is no pattern; everything is different, and difficult.
2. “Late Bloomers”
Thwarted: Disappointed, defeated
Incandescent: Glorious, light
“Most likely to succeed”
Galvanized: Inspire, stimulate
Prowess: ability, skill
“Dangerous minds”
Ruse: trick, deception
Huffily: disgruntled, annoyed
“The talent myth”
Acolytes: aid, assistant
Epitaph: commemoration, sentiment
“The new-boy network”
Superfluous: abounding, unnecessary
Gauge: benchmark, standard
“Troublemakers”
Preemptively: assume, commandeer
Hybrids: composition, mixture
1. Gladwell named the last six chapters “Personality, Character, and Intelligence because all of the stories are about the workings of the mind. In the story “Late Bloomers” Gladwell compares late bloomers with geniuses and poses the question whether they are equally great. People such as Mark Twain and Picasso were analyzed relating to the sections title portion of character. The characters of each of the experts were observed to prove that they are both equally significant. In “Most Likely to Succeed” Gladwell observes through several example how unpredictable one’s character and work ethic is after hiring or when choosing who to hire. In the story “Dangerous Minds” Gladwell claims that criminal profiling is strictly a bunch of generalizations where in many cases are proved wrong. This relates to the intelligence portion of the title where Gladwell sets out to prove whether or not criminal profiling is real intelligence that can be consistently used. In the story “The Talent Myth” Gladwell showcases Enron and its employees using the star system which uses talent rather seniority in regulation. In the end this use of personality and talent fails the company who goes bankrupt. In the story “The New Boy Network” personality is also showcased at the center of job interviews and how a small amount of likeability or lack thereof affects the entire interview and what the interviewee thinks of the other. Finally, in “Troublemakers” Gladwell shows us our own incorrect use of generalizations through the example of pit bulls. This goes perfectly along with the notion of character because our own personal judgment affects our decisions greatly which parallels Gladwell’s overall theme of the way the mind works.
2. - Precocity: advanced, mature
-verisimilitude: credibility, truth
-desist: cease, refrain
-naught: zero, useless
-shrapnel: ammunition,weaponry
-ineffable: ethereal,indescribable
-intrinsically: essentially, fundamentally
-ardently: fervently, eagerly
-ingratiate: flatter, curry favor
-gregariousness: friendship, camaraderie
-mauling: biting, beating
-proxy: substitute, alternative
3. While I believe I have considerable speech skills Lincoln’s are far superior. With his telling of jokes and anecdotes he was able to connect with almost everyone on a personal level. I am good at giving speeches and talking in front of people. However, my ability to connect with everyone on a personal basis is something I can work on.
4. - Extemporaneous: unrehearsed, unprepared
-treble: threefold, triple
- Vehemently: fervently, strongly
- Admonition: rebuke, reprimand
- curtailed: shortened, condensed
- Adage: saying, proverb
-wily: crafty, clever
-reticent: reserved, restrained
-emollient: soothing, healing
-intuitiveness: innate, inborn
WTDS
Precocity: genius, aptitude
Visceral: instinctive, automatic
Galvanize: inspire, stimulate
Crestfallen: disappointed, depressed
Audacious: reckless, daring
Sterling: admirable, marvelous
Orthodox: accepted, traditional
Tactic: gambit, ploy
Stoicism: endurance, patience
Disposition: being, constitution
Neuter: alter, mutilate
Infinitesimal: little, minute
Lincoln
Curtail: chop cut
Reticent: bashful, hesitant
Extemporaneous: automatic, casual
Battalion: gang, group
Reverence: admiration, adoration
Aspiration: aim, ambition
Drastic: desperate, dire
Cadence: beat, count
Anecdote: episode, incident
Albeit: despite, though
What the Dog Saw
1. I believe that every chapter in Part 3 ties in with either personality, character, or intelligence. In what I consider the iron triad of WtDS ("Most Likely to Succeed", "The Talent Myth", and "The New-Boy Network"), Gladwell challenges the impact and importance that all three qualities have in determining the path of one's future employment. In all three chapters, Gladwell expresses that there seems to be no way of guaranteeing someone’s success at a specific job based on prerequisites. In "Most Likely to Succeed", college football prodigy Chase Daniel qualified for the NFL draft because he had all the right prerequisites. But he ended up failing in the pros. In "The Talent Myth" the managers of Enron assured that because all their employees were MBA graduates and superbly intelligent, Enron would inextricably succeed. But, their true fate proved them wrong. In "The New-Boy Network" Gladwell points out that the personality and character projected from the interviewee can be potentially misleading. In all three chapters, people believed to be meant for the job turned out to be quite the contrary.
In "Late Bloomers", Gladwell questions society’s belief of genius, the acme of intelligence. People too often assure that the only type of genius comes from a person showing extraordinary skill at a young age. But true genius can ripen at both dawn and dusk, as seen with Cézanne, among others.
"Dangerous Minds" deals with both intelligence and personality. In order for the detectives to execute accurate criminal profiles, they must detect how much of the criminal’s personality is projected through the crime. The detectives and psychologists seem to ooze with intelligence, drawing strikingly accurate conclusions based on ambiguous facts. Gladwell contradicts this later in the chapter, however.
In "Troublemakers" Gladwell pokes at character, demonstrating how the character of one specific individual cannot be used as a general rule of thumb for a larger group. The character of one dog from a whole breed or one person from a whole race is not an accurate portrayal of the general population.
2. New Words:
a. “Late Bloomers”
-inextricably: inescapably, unavoidably
-anthologized: compiled, amassed
b. “Most Likely to Succeed”
-galvanized: inspire, stimulate
-rudimentary: basic, elematray
c. “Dangerous Minds”
-bridle: flair up, boil over
-ineffable: indescribable, inexpressible
d. “The Talent Myth”
-acolytes: disciple, follower
-tacit: inferred, implied
e. “The New-Boy Network”
-gregariousness: sociability, companionability
-stoicism: indifference, passivity
f. “Troublemakers”
(No new words learned)
Lincoln on Leadership
1. I can relate to Lincoln’s form of communication in various ways. For one, I enjoy public speaking. I have done it multiple times in the past, and I do consider it an "art" that can be mastered. In mock trial competitions, I always jump at the job of making the closing arguments, because with my words and gestures, I can sway the jury another direction at the last moment. Closing arguments, unlike opening arguments, are vastly extemporaneous. One has to create it as he/she tells it. When I do get the chance to rehearse a speech, I work on it constantly and don’t consider it "finished until [I] deliver it." (Phillips, pg. 147) I also like to inject witty jokes into my arguments to lighten the mood, both inside mock courtrooms and out. As well as Lincoln, I try to persuade people to understand my point of view, rather than force it onto them. Perhaps the only difference between us is that I find it a bit more difficult to be silent when the moment calls for it. I am very outspoken and sometimes realize I should have asked to "kindly be let silent" after the fact.
2. New Words:
-extemporaneous: unrehearsed, improvised
-uncouth: rude, uncivilized
-reticent: reserved, quiet
-laudable: praiseworthy, commendable
-vehemently: intensely, fervently
-admonition: caution, warning
-adage: saying, proverb
-shrouded: masked, concealed
(no other words learned)
1. Gladwell properly titled the section “Personality, Character, and Intelligence” because each chapter deals with one or more of these characteristics. In Late Bloomers Gladwell discusses how artists are either geniuses and can make creations from their vision, or late bloomers who learn through experience and research, thus touching upon intelligence. In Most Likely to Succeed, Gladwell tells us how we attempt to predict the character and intelligence that an individual will display under different, more stressful circumstances and how we usually fail. In Dangerous Minds, we are informed how profilers attempt to imagine the personalities of the wanted criminals through the crime scene in order to give the authorities and idea of who to look for. In the Talent Myth we are educated on the fact that organization in an organization is much more efficient than having intelligent people do as they please. In The New-Boy Network, we are informed that we instinctively attempt to determine a stranger’s character through first impressions. As for Troublemakers, Gladwell tells us how we tend to generalize similar looking groups into one category and then believe that everyone/thing in this category share the same personalities and character.
2. I have followed many of Lincoln’s strategies for communication throughout my life. While Lincoln stayed silent for his campaign in order to keep himself from alienating voters, I kept my silence while my friends fought to keep myself from losing a friend. While Lincoln had to laugh to avoid depression after losses both from the Union and his kin, I laughed in order to go through the pain of my parents’ divorce and aunt’s breast cancer diagnoses. While Lincoln conferred privately with his generals and fellow politicians to make them allies, I talked with several individuals in private to make them my friends. When Lincoln made his vision of a unified and slave free country clear to his troops, I clearly stated my goal of winning competitions to my teammates. I have followed Lincoln’s teaching without even knowing it. However, one of his teachings has eluded me until now. To renew your vision you have to connect the past and the present with the future.
1. Words to Know:
Querulous: hot temper
Verisimilitude: appearance of the truth
Rudimentary: simple
Tumult: clamor
Ruse: scam
Whodunit: mystery
Braggadocio: empty
Huffily: moody
Heinous: shocking
Finicky: picky
Preemptively: taken as measure
Perilous: risky
2. Gladwell showed us on how human nature compare and criticized on everything we see even hear. In late bloomers he talked about how young teenagers like me would laugh at people older than us from 10 to 40 years. We believe just because we’re young we can defeat anybody in our way. In Most Likely to Succeed, presented us that people who are stuck in their book or studying every minute of their life. They can make it big we might not know if they’re afraid of taking tests and fail every each one of them. In Dangerous Minds, it tells us that we don’t know who can be a murder or a robber because they can be your neighbor for a long time and not know who they are. Plus, they can look normal but in reality they’re completely different. In The Talent Myth, major companies like Dominos, Publix, and other great companies are looking for advertisers who can give them a new idea to sell a product or making a new product to sell. In the New Boy Network, shows us that many doors can close on you because of your stress level or on the person whose giving you the interview isn’t very nice at all. But you must always remember that when one door closes another one opens.
3. In truth, my ability of communication isn’t that great compared to Lincoln. He was a man who can listen and remember to everything what they told him. I’m not that type of person. When you tell me something in secret I’ll forget in the next five minutes or so. I can listen or act like I am but in reality I really give up after a while. Now not always when a person is going through something real tough I can listen and hear what they have to say. I care for they’re well concern and how they are. If they tell me, everything I happen and give them suggestions on how I can help. I would do that but not advice them. Lincoln was a man who didn’t have a problem in hearing or giving advice.
Maria m.
WtDS:
1. Part 3 was grouped by the title “Personality, Character, and Intelligence” because Malcolm wanted to portray the infinite varieties of human character through our childhood, adult lives, and senior age and how time can only determine who would come out the victor. In Late Bloomers Malcolm highlights the idea of how no matter your age when can all reach genius status. In Most Likely to Succeed he teaches the readers trough teacher videotapes and football choice analysis that you never know the worthy employee until years of evidence has accumulated. Dangerous Minds suggest how not all geniuses are providers to our community and “just” men. The Talent myth confirms that our world is talent crazy and suggests that no talent means nothing and so people are frenzied to come on top and find their rank as best in talent searches. The New-Boy Network just tells the readers that with new styles there is always place for new ways of analyzing a possible employee and that age and experience have become jumbled and helpless. Troublemakers tend to bring out that caution in people yet we learn that fighting and raving can lead to more discoveries. It’s about how there’s more tied to our emotions, intellect, and position.
2. Vocabulary Synonyms per chap:
1. Late Bloomers:
Precocity: Genius and Intelligence
Inextricably: Completely and Totally
2. Most Likely to Succeed:
Galvanized: Animate and Provoke
Rudimentary: Uncompleted and Undeveloped
3. Dangerous Minds:
Dastardly: Cowardly and Low
Shrapnel: Cartridge and Chemical
4. The Talent Myth:
Inordinately: Powerful and Remarkable
Correlation: Correspondence and Interconnected
5. The New-Boy Network:
Subsidiaries: Help and Obliging
Riff: Scan and Skim
6. Troublemakers:
Epidemiological: Study and Epidemiologists
Infinitesimal: Inappreciable and Inconsiderabl
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