Defining your ideas about a successful life
WHO AM I, AND WHERE AM I GOING?
QUICKWRITE
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What does a successful life look like? What
does it include?
WHAT IS YOUR CALLING?
“Your calling is where your greatest joy meets the
world’s greatest need”
-Frederick Buechner
How many of you see a “calling” in your vision of
success?
QUICKWRITE: WHAT IS YOUR CALLING?
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What is your calling? What is important to you?
What are some of the things you feel are
important to accomplish in your lifetime? Why?
CHATTERBUGS INTERVIEW/MIXER
Think about your own ideas about success,
goals, heros, interests, and passions, and get
to know your peers. What do they have in
common with you?
 For each question, seek out a new person to
answer
 Ask follow up questions to get good answer!
Your grade depends on it!
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CHATTERBUGS PERSONAL INVENTORY
Now fill out the left side of the Chatterbugs
handout for yourself.
 Carefully think about your answers!
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CHATTERBUGS REFLECTIVE SUMMARY
Think about: What are your core principles?
Mottos? Philosophies for good living? What
character traits do you think are important to
have? How do you live these principles and
ideas daily? How do these relate to your
future? Goals?
 Summarize your findings about yourself in the
Chatterbugs activity (develop 3-4
ideas/examples)
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BASIC PARAGRAPH
You have written a summary of who you are as
a person, hopefully, developing 3-4 key ideas.
 How did you organize this basic paragraph?
What key components were included?
 Let’s look at the format for the basic
paragraph. Take notes on the information, and
use it to REVISE your paragraph. You will be
graded on the quality of your REVISED
PARAGRAPH: WHO ARE YOU?
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ELEMENTS OF A BASIC PARAGRAPH
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Include one strong topic sentence to focus your ideas.
Support your topic sentence with 2-3 examples/reasons including scenespecific details and a telling quote (when applicable).
End with a conclusion sentence (if a stand alone paragraph) or transition to
the next paragraph (if part of a larger essay).
Be specific with details. Avoid ambiguous pronouns like she, someone, etc.
If discussing a particular text or person, include author, title, character’s
name, etc.
Elaborate on your examples/reasons; don’t simply list!
When referring to a text, refer to the author as the informational source
rather than the book (Elie Wiesel wrote rather than The book said).
Avoid informal colloquial expressions, symbols, 1st person, and contractions.
“MY IDEAL WORK DAY”
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Visualize your future work environment:
A. Complete “My Ideal Work Day” Visualization
activity.
 B. Write a summary of your ideal work day.
Don’t forget the basic paragraph format!
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HOW DO OTHERS VIEW SUCCESS? ICHART
We will complete an activity, read 3 articles,
and view a speech to analyze how others define
success.
 After these experiences, hopefully you will have
developed a more thorough understanding of
how YOU view success.
 You will then draw on these experiences to
write about your viewpoint.
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ICHART SAMPLE: WHAT ARE THE MOST
IMPORTANT SKILLS WANTED IN EXECUTIVES?
(FORBES)
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What is the text’s big issue? Figuring out what skills translate to the
business world
What claim does the text make? Broad skills are needed to be
successful in business – speaking, writing, org, music, and athletics
What are the text’s examples? Evidence? Executives rated the skills
they wanted in employees
What do you think about the text’s claim? Overall, agree w/ skills
needed; the last 2 skills wanted shouldn’t be taken LITERALLY!
What are your examples? You could be artsy-don’t have to play the
flute, for example
Summarize the text. Future execs should not only have good
speaking, writing, and org skill but should also be well rounded and
energetic
ARTICLE 1: TIGER MOM “WHY CHINESE
MOTHERS ARE SUPERIOR”
Read the article and fill out the iChart.
 In small groups, compare answers, and discuss
in large group.
 What is Amy Chua’s view on success?
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ARTICLE 2 “FRESH PATHS TO SUCCESS”
In pairs, read the article, and complete the
iChart.
 Discuss article and iChart in class:
 What assumption about the American Dream
mentioned at the beginning of the article?
 What, according to the Harvard analysts, is the
problem with high schools?
 What is Koch’s view of success?
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ARTICLE 3: “STEVE JOBS WAS A JERK. GOOD
FOR HIM.”
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Discuss w/iChart
“THE LAST LECTURE” BY RANDY PAUSCH
1.
2.
3.
4.
What were Pausch’s childhood dreams?
Which of them does he achieve, and how?
What lessons does R.P. impart to his
audience? List the ideas as you hear them.
What details from R.P.’s childhood do you
think led to the successes he had later in life?
Why has this lecture/book struck a chord with
so many people?
CONTINUED Q’S
5. What are some of your own childhood dreams?
How might you achieve them? How might these
dreams help you achieve “success” in life?
6. What life lessons have you learned from this
lecture? What wisdom would you choose to
impart to the world if it was your last chance?
What are the lessons of your own life that you
feel would benefit others?
HOW WOULD R.P. DEFINE SUCCESS?
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Having fun w/life and reaching childhood dreams
Brick walls, determination, and imagination
Whatever makes you feel happy and you want to accomplish
Having dreams or goals no matter how big or small
Bring happy with what he has got, what he’s accomplished,
and wants to accomplish
Not just accomplishing your dreams but enabling the dreams
of others
Freedom, Self-reflection, Achieving dreams/passions,
Helping others along the way, Learning valuable lessons
RECAP ON SUCCESS: THEY SAY, I SAY
Set up a T-Chart.
 Left side (They Say): Capture the essence of each
author’s view on the definition of success by
choosing one quoted line that shows his/her view.
 Right Side (I Say): Agree or disagree with each
viewpoint giving specific reasons to support your
idea.
 Conclusion: Write down a 2-3 sentence conclusion
showing your definition of success.
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DEFINITIONS OF SUCCESS
SAMPLE T-CHART
They Say (about success)
I Say (about success)
1. “Quote” or summary of this author’s
definition of success (Chua 2)
My response
2. “Quote” or summary of this author’s
definition of success (Koch)
3. “Quote” or summary of this author’s
definition of success (Marks)
4. Summary of R.P.’s definition of success
(Pausch)
TIMED ESSAY: REDEFINING SUCCESS
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In this unit, we have looked at many different views on success –
from those expressed in “Why Chinese Mothers are Superior,” to
“Fresh Paths to Success,” to “Steve Jobs Was A Jerk. Good For Him.,”
to “The Last Lecture.” Now it is time to consider your own viewpoint
on what success is- and what it is not.
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Directions: In this essay you will define success and relate/compare
your definition to at least 3 of the viewpoints we have studied in
class. Your goal is to discuss what success is and what it is not – and
you will discuss other views to clarify your own view AND maximize
the persuasive quality of your definition.
You may include additional support for your definition of success by
providing examples from experience, observations, and readings.
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ESSAY: REDEFINING SUCCESS
DON’T FORGET TO INCLUDE….
 You definition of success
 Highlight 3 viewpoints from class
 Whether you agree or disagree (and to what
extent) with the other viewpoints on success
 Include an intro, body, and conclusion.
 Remember to use your best polished essay
style!
QUESTIONS TO GET YOU STARTED
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-Who are you? Traits, values, philosophies, interests,
expertise?
-What is a successful life to you?
-How have you changed/redefined your views on
success?
-What goals do you have for the future?
-How might others view these goals?
-How are you already working toward those goals?
-Where do your goals stem from – passion? Interests?
Expertise? Parents?
PASSION PROJECT/SPEECH:
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Share something you are good at or passionate
about:
CONTENT
-Introduce yourself and your passion/area of expertise
-Tell how/why you got involved with your topic; what value
does it have for you?
-Story tell: give details about how this passion/area of
interest plays a role in your life
-Contemplate the future: tell how this passion/area of
interest might play a role in your future; relate to how
this adds to you as a SUCCESS…Lessons Learned???
MY PASSION SPEECH CHECKLIST
_Imaginative introduction
_Introduces self and passion topic clearly
_Explains how got involved with passion/bkground.
_Shares an anecdote/provides vivid details about topic (show rather than
tell)
_Clearly shares passion’s value/role it plays in current life
_Discusses lesson(s) learned from this passion/Makes connections to the
future
_Clear conclusion restates main ideas/gives sense of closure
DELIVERABLES:
_A visual aid (poster, prop, etc.)
_0utline of your speech due on day of speech
_2-3 minute speech
_Note cards (in the amount/variety of your choice)
PEER EDIT: EVALUATING THE WRITER’S USE OF
ARGUMENT AND COUNTERARGUMENT
In COLOR ONE, highlight any text in which you see
the author’s viewpoint/opinion/perspective (“I
SAY”) – WRITER’s ARGUMENTS
 In COLOR TWO, highlight any text in which the
author has mentioned/shared another view
(“THEY SAY”) - COUNTERARGUMENTS
 Review/Feedback: Does the writer include enough
argument? Support? Does the writer bring up at
least 3 views we learned about in detail and
respond effectively, showing critical thinking?
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REWRITE YOUR ESSAY
1. Discuss essay structure
 2. Mark up/edit your original
 3. Make a detailed outline for your essay
 4. MLA style required!
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NOW REFLECT TO POWER AHEAD!
Make a tee shirt that reflects who you are and
where you are going. Symbolize the following
elements:
 -A character trait that is valuable to you
 -An important value or motto
 -A passion or area of expertise
 -A career goal
 -An academic goal
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REDEFINING SUCCESS UNIT DELIVERABLES:
+5
QW What is a successful life? 8/31
+5
QW: What is your calling? 8/31
+20
HO: Chatterbugs Questionaire 8/31
+5
QW: What are your mottos/traits? 8/31
+10
Summary: Who am I? (Basic Paragraph w/3-4 ideas) 8/31
+10
Revised Basic Paragraph: Who am I?
+20
“They Say, I Say” Chart 9/18
+20
“The Last Lecture” Discussion Q’s 9/18
+25
iChart: Views on Success 9/18
+50
Essay: Redefining Success 9/18
+20
Passion Project Outline
+30
Passion Project Speech
+10
Reflection Goals Tee
Total= 230 points
BONUS POINTS: REDEFINING SUCCESS POEM
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You have the chance to earn 10 extra points for
this unit by constructing a poem in which you
consider the meaning of success to you.
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Requirements:
 75-100
words (unless you use another approved format)
 Show insight using ideas from the unit
 A nice picture/drawing/image so I can put it up on the
wall!