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Name: __________________________________________
Date: _________________
CW: Reviewing Gladwell’s Theories of Success
Period: _______________
Part I: Malcolm Gladwell Video Clip 1
Website: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hz4hPbHIZ6Y
Directions: Before we watch the video clip, read the following six questions below. Then
answer the following questions while you are watching the video clip. You will be given 2
additional minutes to complete your notes at the end of the clip.
1. Does Malcolm Gladwell believe that people become Outliers because they are simply
born with “genius”, amazing talent, or “luck”? Circle One
Yes
NO
2. According to Gladwell, is the “self-made man” an illusion, or can it actually be done?
Circle One
An Illusion
Can Be Done
3. What is the definition of an “Outlier”?
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4. What do you think Gladwell means by “cultural legacy”?
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5. What is the “10,000-hour rule”?
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6. What is Gladwell’s overall purpose for writing this book? Circle One
Self-Help
Community-Help
Part II: Malcolm Gladwell Video Clip #2 (2:20-7:20)
Website: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXviNQW2xuo
Directions: Before we watch the video clip, read the following four questions below. Then
answer the following questions while you are watching the video clip. You will be given 2
additional minutes to complete your notes at the end of the clip.
1. What extraordinary opportunity was presented to Bill Gates that led him to become
an “Outlier”?
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2. Gladwell mentioned two parts to Bill Gate’s success; state the one opportunity that
no one else could have had.
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3. What led to The Beatles’ success? Circle One
10,000-Hour Rule
The Era
Opportunity
Talent
All Answers
4. What are some of the elements that played into Michael Jordan’s success?
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*** Bonus: The following question was not discussed in the aforementioned video clips.
How does cultural legacy connect to the plane crashes in Korea? What point is Gladwell
trying to make with this example in his text?
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Part III: Independent Practice / HW
Directions: Choose one of the following “Outliers” by selecting an article posted below.
Then write a detailed analysis explaining how these people became “Outliers”. Be sure to
incorporate Gladwell’s explanations/ reasons of success into your analysis. Most, to all of
the lines must be filled to receive full credit.
ELI MANNING BIOGRAPHY
College Football Career
Eli Manning was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1981. In 2000, he enrolled at the University
of Mississippi (Ole Miss), where both his father and brother Cooper went to college. He played
quarterback for the Rebels for four years while at Ole Miss, and put up outstanding numbers.
During his senior year he won several awards, including the Maxwell Award as the nation's best
all-around player and the SEC Player of the Year award.
The Move to the NFL
In 2004, six years after his brother, Peyton, entered the NFL as the Indianapolis Colts' QB, Eli
Manning was drafted first overall by San Diego. But Manning had said all along that he would
not play for the Chargers, and the team traded him on draft day to the New York Giants.
Manning had a rocky rookie year, and was benched at one point in favor of Kurt Warner,
longtime NFL quarterback. But Warner soon retired, and in 2005 Manning was named the
Giants' starter once again. Under the Giants' new head coach, Tom Coughlin, Manning led the
team to average results over the next three season, compiling a 25–23 record with two playoff
appearances—both losses.
Super Bowls XLII and XLVI
The Giants made the playoffs in 2005 and 2006, and they finished 2007 with a record of 10–6.
Manning led the team through the playoffs that year and into the Super Bowl, where they were
huge underdogs to the undefeated New England Patriots. The Giants won the game, 17–14, and
Eli Manning was named the game's MVP. He completed 19 of 34 passes for 255 yards (152 of
which came in the decisive fourth quarter), and threw two touchdown passes.
With the victory, Eli and Peyton Manning were the first brothers to become back-to-back Super
Bowl winners and MVP quarterbacks, Peyton having achieved the feat the year before, with the
Indianapolis Colts.
In 2011, Manning led the Giants to a record of 9–7, finishing the season with 4,933 passing yards
(the most in Giants history), and 29 touchdown passes. Manning then led the team into the
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playoffs, going through powerhouse teams such as the Green Bay Packers and the San Francisco
49ers to gain entry to Super Bowl XLVI (again taking on the New England Patriots).
Beyond the Gridiron
Off the field, Eli Manning has been active in the efforts to rebuild New Orleans after Hurricane
Katrina, and to raise awareness in conjunction with the Gulf oil spill of 2010. He also hosts
Guiding Eyes for the Blind's Golf Classic, an annual charity event, and has undertaken a
campaign to raise $2.5 million for the construction of the Eli Manning Children's Clinic at the
University of Mississippi Medical Center's children's hospital.
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LEBRON JAMES BIOGRAPHY
Synopsis
LeBron James, born on December 30, 1984 in Akron, Ohio, showed an early talent for basketball
and continued to shine on the court throughout high school. He was the first player picked (by
the Cleveland Cavaliers) in the 2003 NBA draft. During the 2003-04 season, he became the first
member of the Cavalier franchise and the youngest player (at age 20) to win the NBA Rookie of
the Year award. James played on the 2004, 2008 and 2012 U.S. Olympic teams, winning a
bronze medal and two consecutive gold medals, respectively, along with teammates Kevin
Durant, Carmelo Anthony and Kobe Bryant, as well as several other top players.
High School Basketball Star
As a freshman, James averaged 18 points per game. He helped the team to a Division III state
title by scoring 25 points in the championship game. Word of his advanced basketball skills
spread, and James received several honors for his performance. As a high school sophomore, he
was chosen for the USA Today All-USA First Team. James was the first sophomore ever selected
for this award. He team also won the Division III state title for the second year in a row.
The following school year, James was named PARADE magazine's High School Boys Basketball
Player of the Year and Gatorade Player of the Year. Sportswriters were comparing him to such
legendary basketball stars as Michael Jordan.
Deciding to finish his education, James had a tremendous senior year on the court. He averaged
31.6 points per game, helping his team clinch their third state title. The team also earned the top
national ranking that year.
Career with Cleveland Cavaliers
With his impressive record, it was no surprise that James was the first player picked in the 2003
NBA draft. Around this time, James also signed several endorsement deals, including one with
Nike for $90 million.
During the 2003-04 season, James made history, becoming the first member of the Cavalier
franchise to win the NBA Rookie of the Year award. He was also the youngest player ever (at
only 20 years old) to receive this honor. Averaging 20 points per game, James was one of three
rookies to accomplish this feat, putting him in the same company as Michael Jordan and Oscar
Robertson.
NBA Star
James continued to excel professionally in the NBA the following season, upping his average
points per game to 27.2. He again made NBA history in 2005 by becoming the youngest player
to score more than 50 points in one game. He was selected for the NBA All-Star game for the
first time, a feat he would repeat several times over the next few seasons.
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While his team wasn't at the top of rankings, James himself continued to receive special
recognition for his abilities. He was named the Most Valuable Player in the NBA All-Star Game
in 2006.
Career with Miami Heat
Shortly after becoming a free agent, however, James announced that he would be joining the
Miami Heat for the 2010-11 season. His fans in Cleveland were less than pleased, and many
considered his departure a betrayal to his hometown. Unfazed, James finished second in the
league during his first season with the Heat, scoring 26.7 points per game.
The 2011-12 season also saw major success for James and the Miami Heat, which ended the
season with an NBA Championship win. It was James's first NBA championship win. In the final
game, James scored 26 points, and had 11 rebounds and 13 assists. "I made a difficult decision to
leave Cleveland but I understood what my future was about," James told FOX Sports following
the game. "... I knew we had a bright future (in Miami)."
James competed at his third Olympic Games in 2012, at the Summer Olympics in London, along
with teammates Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony and Kobe Bryant, as well as several other top
players. The U.S. basketball team took the gold medal—James's second consecutive Olympic
gold.
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LADY GAGA BIOGRAPHY
Lady Gaga was born as Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta on March 28, 1986 in Yonkers,
New York. She attended New York University's Tisch School for the Arts but left to find
creative expression. She wrote songs for other artists until being discovered by R&B singer
Akon. Her debut album, The Fame, was a huge success, and the single "Poker Face" topped
charts in almost every category, in almost every country.
Early Life
Gaga learned to play the piano by the age of 4. At the age of 11, she was accepted to the Juilliard
School in Manhattan, but instead attended a private Catholic school in the city. She continued
studying music and performing, writing her first piano ballad at the age of 13, and she held her
first performance in a New York nightclub at the age of 14.
A few years later, Gaga was granted early admission to New York University's Tisch School of
the Arts—she was one of only 20 students in the world to receive the honor of early acceptance.
While there, she studied music and worked on her songwriting skills. She later withdrew from
school to find creative inspiration. To make ends meet, she took three jobs, including a stint as a
go-go dancer, while she honed her performance-art act.
Professional Debut
In 2005, Lady Gaga was briefly signed by Def Jam Records, but was dropped just months later.
Being dropped by the label propelled the singer to perform on her own in clubs and venues on
New York City's Lower East Side. There, she collaborated with several rock bands, and began
her experimentation with fashion.
In 2007, at the age of 20, Gaga began work at Interscope Records as a songwriter for other artists
on the label, including Britney Spears, New Kids on the Block, and The Pussycat Dolls. R&B
singer Akon discovered Gaga while she was performing a burlesque show that she created,
called "Lady Gaga and the Starlight Revue." Impressed, Akon signed the performer to his label
under the Interscope umbrella, Kon Live. Through 2007 and 2008, Gaga wrote and recorded her
debut album, The Fame. The record was received positive reviews and popular success in the
United States. With the help of her own creative team, "Haus of Gaga," the performer also began
to make a name internationally.
Commercial Breakthrough
Lady Gaga's debut single, "Just Dance," was released to radio in early 2008, and received both
popular and commercial acclaim. The song was then nominated for a Grammy Award (for best
dance recording) in 2008. The second single off of The Fame, "Poker Face," earned Gaga even
more success. The song topped singles charts in almost every category, and in almost every
country. The following year, Gaga released an album of eight songs, The Fame Monster,
followed by 2011's Born This Way.
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ALBERT EINSTEIN BIOGRAPHY
Synopsis
The German-born physicist Albert Einstein developed the first of his groundbreaking theories
while working as a clerk in the Swiss patent office in Bern. After making his name with four
scientific articles published in 1905, he went on to win worldwide fame for his general theory of
relativity and a Nobel Prize in 1921 for his explanation of the phenomenon known as the
photoelectric effect. An outspoken pacifist who was publicly identified with the Zionist
movement, Einstein emigrated from Germany to the United States when the Nazis took power
before World War II. He lived and worked in Princeton, New Jersey, for the remainder of his life.
Early Life
Born on March 14, 1879, in the southern German city of Ulm, Albert Einstein grew up in a
middle-class Jewish family in Munich. He dropped out of school in 1894 and moved to
Switzerland, where he resumed his schooling and later gained admission to the Swiss Federal
Polytechnic Institute in Zurich. In 1896, he renounced his German citizenship, and remained
officially stateless before becoming a Swiss citizen in 1901.
While at Zurich Polytechnic, Einstein fell in love with his fellow student Mileva Maric, but his
parents opposed the match and he lacked the money to marry. The couple had an illegitimate
daughter, Lieserl, born in early 1902, of who little is known. After finding a position as a clerk at
the Swiss patent office in Bern, Einstein married Maric in 1903.
Miracle Year
While working at the patent office, Einstein did some of the most creative work of his life,
producing no fewer than four groundbreaking articles in 1905 alone. In the first paper, he applied
the quantum theory (developed by German physicist Max Planck) to light in order to explain the
phenomenon known as the photoelectric effect, by which a material will emit electrically
charged particles when hit by light. The second article contained Einstein's experimental proof of
the existence of atoms, which he got by analyzing the phenomenon of Brownian motion, in
which tiny particles were suspended in water.
In the third and most famous article, titled "On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies," Einstein
confronted the apparent contradiction between two principal theories of physics: Isaac Newton's
concepts of absolute space and time and James Clerk Maxwell's idea that the speed of light was a
constant. To do this, Einstein introduced his special theory of relativity, which held that the laws
of physics are the same even for objects moving in different inertial frames (i.e. at constant
speeds relative to each other), and that the speed of light is a constant in all inertial frames. A
fourth paper concerned the fundamental relationship between mass and energy, concepts viewed
previously as completely separate. Einstein's famous equation E = mc2 (where "c" was the
constant speed of light) expressed this relationship.
From Zurich to Berlin
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Einstein continued working at the patent office until 1909, when he finally found a full-time
academic post at the University of Zurich. In 1913, he arrived at the University of Berlin, where
he was made director of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Physics. In 1915, Einstein published the
general theory of relativity, which he considered his masterwork. This theory found that gravity,
as well as motion, can affect time and space. The general theory of relativity was the first major
theory of gravity since Newton's, more than 250 years before, and the results made a tremendous
splash worldwide, with the London Times proclaiming a "Revolution in Science" and a "New
Theory of the Universe." Einstein began touring the world, speaking in front of crowds of
thousands in the United States, Britain, France and Japan. In 1921, he won the Nobel Prize for
his work on the photoelectric effect, as his work on relativity remained controversial at the time.
Einstein soon began building on his theories to form a new science of cosmology, which held
that the universe was dynamic instead of static, and was capable of expanding and contracting.
Move to the United States
A longtime pacifist and a Jew, Einstein became the target of hostility in Weimar Germany,
where many citizens were suffering plummeting economic fortunes in the aftermath of defeat in
the Great War. In December 1932, a month before Adolf Hitler became chancellor of Germany,
Einstein made the decision to emigrate to the United States, where he took a position at the
newly founded Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey. He would never again
enter the country of his birth.
Later Life
In the late 1930s, Einstein's theories, including his equation E=mc2, helped form the basis of the
development of the atomic bomb. In 1939, at the urging of the Hungarian physicist Leo Szilard,
Einstein wrote to President Franklin D. Roosevelt advising him to approve funding for the
development of uranium before Germany could gain the upper hand. Einstein, who became a
U.S. citizen in 1940 but retained his Swiss citizenship, was never asked to participate in the
resulting Manhattan Project, as the U.S. government suspected his socialist and pacifist views. In
1952, Einstein declined an offer extended by David Ben-Gurion, Israel's premier, to become
president of Israel.
In the decades following his death, Einstein's reputation and stature in the world of physics only
grew, as physicists began to unravel the mystery of the so-called "strong force" (the missing
piece of his unified field theory) and space satellites further verified the principles of his
cosmology.
Write your analysis here:
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