Essay Notes: An Example of an Excellent Response
1. What is the title of this essay (Note: you will need to post a link to your
article and include an MLA formatted reference)?
“The Physical Genius.”
2. Who is the writer/author?
Malcolm Gladwell.
3. What does the writer want to say? What is his or her thesis? (Please quote or
paraphrase in MLA format.)
Gladwell discusses the different characteristics and habits of several different
people who are considered to be “physical geniuses.”
“If you think of physical genius as a pyramid, with, at the bottom, the raw
components of coordination, and, above that, the practice that perfects those
particular movements, then this faculty of imagination is the top layer. This is
what separates the physical genius from those who are merely very good”
(Gladwell 221-211). I thought this to be the thesis because he references all of
the characteristics discussed throughout the essay.
4. What type of support or evidence does the author give for this thesis?
Gladwell discusses several different characteristics and habits of physical
geniuses, and he explores each one in an accompanying vignette. For
example, a large portion of the essay is concerned with a famous surgeon
named Charlie Wilson. He opens the essay with a description of Wilson in
the operating room, performing an amazingly complex procedure in a very
relaxed, but precise manner. As Gladwell moves through a discussion of
different “genius” characteristics, such as “practical-minded obsession” (217),
he discusses each trait by referencing different physical geniuses such as
Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky, etc., and he takes time to include short
narratives and quotes from these figures. He also references stories from
writers and friends of these figures, and he includes information from the field
of psychology as well.
5. What strategy or strategies does the writer use? How does the writer's
strategy suit his or her subject and purpose?
As I said above, Gladwell features informal narratives accompanied by quotes
and references to outside witnesses and other sources. The narratives are
structured in very interesting ways, and he provides details in each of his
vignettes. For example, he details Charlie Wilson’s operations on rats, and he
also takes us into the mind of Wayne Gretzky and the training of tennis
player Greg Rusedski. By including specific details, Gladwell draws the
reader into his narrative. Gladwell also frequently shifts his focus. Although
Charlie Wilson is featured throughout the essay, he discusses other physical
geniuses as well. Because he often switches his focus, this keeps the reader
interested. Lastly, Gladwell accompanies his vignettes with direct quotes and
other “testimony,” and these lend credibility to his narrative.
6. How is this essay organized or structured?
The discussion of Charlie Wilson runs throughout the essay, but it is
primarily organized around the different characteristics/habits of physical
geniuses such as devotion to practice, determination/obsession, “faculty of
imagination,” (Gladwell 221) etc. Following each characteristic/habit is
another discussion of a physical genius.
7. How does the writer introduce the topic?
Gladwell begins by describing a scene that brings the reader immediately into
the essay. He discusses Charlie Wilson as he begins an intensely important
surgery on an older man. He then uses this scene to illustrate how gifted Mr.
Wilson is.
8. How does the writer conclude the essay?
Wilson ends by discussing how the physical genius must enjoy what he or she
excels at. At some level, the individual must be happy with his or her skills
and pursuits.
9. Describe the writer’s style and tone.
Gladwell alternates between informal and formal styles of writing. He also
relies on including the voices of others alongside his own. His sentence style
varies, and he does a good job alternating between simple and complex
sentences. His tone is also varied, as he can be very serious (such as when
describing Wilson’s surgeries), but then he can just as easily become more
lighthearted (like when he takes a jab at Karl Malone).
10. Who is the implied audience?
Gladwell’s writing can appeal to anyone, but this would especially appeal to
someone interested in athletics, the medical field, or psychology. The writing
is not overly academic, and it reads easily enough to be accessible to most
people.
11. Give your commentary on the essay (what strikes you?). Are you convinced?
Do you have any objections to the writer’s argument? Do you like the essay?
Why? Why not? Explain.
I was struck by many different things here. I think we always admire
“physical geniuses,” but we rarely examine the habits and characteristics that
truly make them different from everyone else. Gladwell states, “The
temptation is to treat physical genius in the same way that we treat
intellectual genius-to think of it as something that can be ascribed to a single
factor, a physical version of I.Q.” (215). He states this relatively early on in
the essay, and he spends the rest of it arguing why we should not view
physical acuity in this way. I was struck by this because he really breaks down
some of the things that make people physical geniuses, and I was surprised by
some of this. For example, I never thought about the incredible imaginations
that these athletes possess. Someone like a Wayne Gretzky or Roger Federer
would not only have to be physically gifted, but they would also have to “see”
things differently than their opponents.
I was also struck by his discussion of obsession. Many of these
geniuses are obsessed with their craft, and they are intensely driven. This,
however, has a negative connotation to many of us, as it is easy to associate
obsession with all sorts of negative things. Here, however, Gladwell argues
that the obsession is not only necessary, but it also comes from a place of
happiness. As he closes the essay, he alludes to the fact that this obsession is
driven by enjoyment. This seemed strange and contradictory to me, but it was
interesting. Overall, Gladwell convinced me of this and many other things as
well.
My only real objection is that I feel that Gladwell does not spend
enough time discussing other things that mold physical geniuses, such as their
backgrounds and support systems. It is easy to assume that someone with an
incredible amount of talent will be discovered and supported, but I find it
hard to believe that this always happens. All of the geniuses he mentions here
benefitted from family members, mentors, schools, coaches, etc. It if wasn’t
for these support figures, we may never have heard of some of these people.
Generally, I enjoyed the essay. As I said before, Gladwell’s strength as
a writer is that he can create a narrative that can easily interest any reader
because he discusses a variety of different things. His tone is also lighthearted
enough to create interest but formal enough to create credibility.
This is an example of an excellent (A) response, as it:
1.) Contains articulate discussion with few grammatical/spelling
errors.
2.) References the essay in BOTH general and specific ways. It
makes overall points about the essay while referencing specific
sections of it.
3.) Includes cited textual evidence.
4.) Fully answers all questions (elaboration occurs).