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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is Suren Ratwatte's area of expertise?

2. What is the KIPP Academy?

3. What type of parenting style seems to be beneficial to the education of children?

4. What is one type of work Joe Flom does when he is just out of college?

5. What do the ask some college-aged men to do?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where is Harlan, and who settled it?

2. What is entailed in growing rice?

3. Why doesn't Joe Flom work for a large, prestigious law group when he graduates from law school?

4. What is Gladwell's interpretation of Cohen and Nisbett's experiment?

5. What does Gladwell think is the cause of families feuding?

6. How do Korean Airlines change their bad record of crashes?

7. What is the second part of the experiment and the final result?

8. What does Gladwell say about early American educational theorists?

9. What evidence is there that summer vacations may be hindering the success of many students?

10. How do the students at KIPP Academy differ from those of other public schools?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Gladwell cites the results of a study by a math professor named Alan Schoenfeld who looks at the way people learn math. Schoenfeld discovers that it takes time for most students to grasp a mathematical concept. Many western students simply give up on difficult math problems or concepts rather than take the time to fully grasp the concept. Students who are willing and able to put in more work are going to gain a more meaningful and deep grasp of math.

1. Do you agree with Alan Schoenfeld's assessment of Asians and math, that they spent more time learning it or do you think they just have brains that work better in a mathematical manner? Why or why not? Use examples from Outliers to support your answer.

2. Do you think children in America should attend school more hours and have more homework? Why or why not? Use examples from Outliers to support your answer.

3. Give an example of a skill you wish to learn that you would be willing to spend a great deal of time on and discuss a plan of how you would improve your skill. Use examples from Outliers to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

There are a number of interesting questions raised by Outliers. Questions that Gladwell most likely want readers to consider and think through carefully. Discuss the following:

1. What does the term "author agenda" mean?

2. Name one idea/concept you think may have been a part of the Gladwell' agenda. Analyze that idea throughout the book and discuss Gladwell' probable agenda concerning that idea.

2. Do you think writers who have an agenda for writing should point it out in a preface?

3. How often do you think fiction is written with a clear agenda in mind by the author?

4. Research the life of Gladwell and see if/where his life may have influenced his writing.

Essay Topic 3

Gladwell writes his opinions on education in the public schools as opposed to pilot schools or Asian schools. Discuss one of the following:

1. Discuss and analyze three major ideas Gladwell has about education.

2. How are Gladwell's ideas about education supported by his research? Or not? Discuss with examples.

3. Discuss what a school would be like that uses all of Gladwell's ideas about education. Use examples from Outliers to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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