Blogpost #3: What are the thesis and main points of your book so far? What points did you find most effective. Give examples from the text. Do you agree with the author's arguments and conclusions? What questions would you ask the author if you ever had the opportunity to meet him/her? Completed by Friday, May 23
21 Comments
Courtney New
5/22/2014 12:42:28 am
The thesis of "Quiet" by Susan Cain is that quiet, or being introverted, isn't a bad thing, and introverts are undervalued in today's society. Introverts are responsible for many things in the world, and people would be surprised what they can accomplish. Cain uses the example of an introvert in an important business meeting; she was nervous, but pulled through. The next morning she got a call and a job offer, "'We need someone who can help us put deals together without letting ego get in the way,' he said." Cain explains the "Extrovert Ideal" and its effects on the world. The Extrovert Ideal is described as "the omnipresent belief that the ideal self is gregarious, alpha and comfortable in the spotlight." She even offers advice to introverts and their parents. This book could change how people see introverts, and how introverts see themselves.
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Jon Graf
5/22/2014 03:31:46 am
There isn't a general thesis behind "Columbine" by Dave Cullen; rather, the author's purpose is to inform readers of what happened on April 20th, 1999, in an in-depth way. This includes citing newspaper articles and interviews of survivors. One example of graphic detail is, "The carpet in Science Room 3 was soaked in blood. The teacher was alive, barely." I do agree with the authors conclusions because these conclusions are based off of factual evidence that he cites in the book. The only question I would ask Dave Cullen would be, "what is your fascination with the Columbine tragedy, and what inspired you to write this book?"
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Kaly Snow
5/22/2014 03:57:27 am
The thesis of "Outliers" is that the author Malcolm Gladwell analyzes how intelligence and ambition relates to the successful of an individual. Gladwell focuses on a few main points such as the impact of being a genius, being born during a certain time period, how much practice a person obtains, the importance of a person's opportunities, and several others. Some of the most effective points that Gladwell makes is the importance of a person's birth date. The author gives several examples of how the certain month, year, or decade can impact your success and sprout opportunity. For example, he explains how this is true when discussing Canadian hockey players, "If you make a decision about who is good at an early...you're going to give a huge advantage to...[the] people born closest to the cutoff date.". After reading I agree with Gladwell's argument because convincing evidence exists that proves this theory that age can matter. If I had the opportunity to meet and talk with Malcolm Gladwell I would ask him about his research. I would ask if he continues this type of research today and if he plans to make more books that discuss strange human occurrences. In addition, after reading the majority of the book "Outliers" I agree with most of Gladwell's statements and findings regarding "the story of success".
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Olivia Bryant
5/22/2014 05:44:36 am
David Cullen's thesis in "Columbine" is to inform readers about what happened in April of 1999, and give a deeper look as to the survivors as the killers. The points that Cullen makes, such as the rush to closure most of the survivors felt, and how that was not the way to handle the situation. Cullen states, "Healing Begins, the Denver Post announced Thursday morning. The headline spanned the full width of page one thirty-six hours after the attack." This statement shows just how quickly most people began to attempt the healing process, which Cullen claims was too early. I do agree with Cullen's argument. I believe if you rush the healing process, then it could prove ineffective. It's a process, healing should be done slowly and in steps, you should not rush the process. Some may never feel that closure and still be seeking answers, but when you take it slowly, no matter how much you want to have the answers, taking it slow helps you heal.
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Oriana Perkins
5/22/2014 10:17:01 am
There is not a clear thesis in Carlotta Walls Lanier's novel "A Mighty Long Way" it is rather a personal narrative that's purpose is to inform the reader of the issues of segregated school and racism in the south that she encountered being part of the Little Rock Nine. "Would they really try and lynch us? I couldn't understand their fury. All of this because they didn't want their children to sit next to me in school?" "For me it was more of an internal battle: How do I dodge the heel walker? How do I hold my books to avoid attack?" "Sometimes when one of us experienced a particularly tough day, the car would fall silent. We'd notice a pair of watery eyes, and we knew." I believe with the author's conclusions about racism because she pulls from first hand experience so she remembers the scornful looks and the fervent hatred burning within the patrons of the south.
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Troy Campbell
5/22/2014 01:03:17 pm
In this book the thesis could be stated as "Crime really does pay" and that a strong community of strong friend in a weak community can make nearly anything possible, another main point can be that when you follow the orders given to you, you earn respect, and earning respect is worth more than money will ever be worth. I find the point that a strong community of strong friends in a weak community is the most effective due to all that they are able to achieved through this system. "For Henry and his wiseguy friends the world was golden. Everything was covered. They lived in an environment awash in crime, and those who did not partake were simply viewed as prey." With the author arguments I disagree with his view of the "law abiding citizens" I believe that they are the ones who still keep the city somewhat sane in its entirety. If I had the opportunity to ask Mr. Pileggi any questions I would ask if he would have rather stayed in his school bound life instead of his life of crime? Also does he have many regrets in life associated with his mob life?
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Johnny Perry
5/22/2014 01:58:40 pm
The main thesis behind "Night" is faith. No matter how hard things had gotten for Elie he was determined to not give up. In every chapter Elie is praying to god hoping things are going to get better after witnessing mass murders and hangings. At the beginning of the book when Elie is first seperated from his family he sees many others getting tortured when first entering the concentration camps. Elie then bowed down on his knees saying "For the first time, I felt revolt rise up in me. Why should I bless His name? The Eternal, Lord of the Universe, the All-Powerful and Terrible, was silent. What had I to thank Him for" Even though he couldnt believe god was there for him after the things he saw he still had enough faith in him to bow down and pray in hopes that things would get better. With the authors quote I do agree that some faith could be lost. I could not imagine what I would think if I was put in this situation, to be honest I dont even think praying would cross my mind. I would have so many other things running through my head like worrying about my mother and sister. If I could ask a question to the author of the book I would like to know how much of an impact the holocaust really put on his life such as what changes he made in having trust for others. If I could ask Elie another qustion I would want to know how he was able to be so strong knowing half of his family was somewhere else. Throughout the whole book Elie was clueless to know if his parents were still alive or not.
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Kennedy Korn
5/22/2014 10:47:27 pm
The thesis in Lance Armstrong's It's Not About the Bike; My Journey Back to Life, is make the best out of any situation and hard work truly does pay off. Lance explained how ever since he was a kid he would bike everywhere he went and trained harder than any other teenage boy in his home town. After he got diagnosed with cancer he maintained a positive attitude and kept making the best out of his situation and never gave up. I am inspired by how hard he worked to get where he is today with fighting cancer. He inspired me to work hard in my sports and I have no reason to give up; he didn't give up and he had cancer, so I have no excuse. If I ever had the chance to meet him I would love to ask him how did he remain so calm, and did he continue to bike because he really fell in love with it or did he just continue to do it because that was the one thing he found he was really good at?
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Kristen Jansen
5/23/2014 12:17:09 am
Gladwells thesis in his book, Outliers, is that success can be influenced by much more than intelligence and ambition. There are surrounding factors that influence hoe successful a person can and will be. He show this in many ways, one of which being birth dates. Most successful hokey players have more than just talent an dedication in common. The majority of professional hokey players have birthdays in January, February and March. The reason for this is Canada's cut off age for eligibility age-class is January first. "A boy who turns ten on January second could be playing along someone who does not turn ten until the end of the year...". He uses points like this throughout his book to show that success can be more than talent, some people just have an advantage.
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Kelsea Schloemer
5/23/2014 01:10:06 am
The main point of my book includes Melissa's life while her husband is at war. This is a book to show people how rough it truly is to be an Army wife. I do agree with her points. I believe it would be a very big struggle to care for children on your own. This ties into being a single parent, but it might be worse due to the fact that being an Army wife would include missing the one you love the most. If I ever got to meet her, I'd question how she did it. Specifically how she was so strong for her children in the absence of her husband.
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Derek Knabe
5/23/2014 03:18:19 am
The thesis or outline for the book starts with the beginning and motivation behind the start of the TOMS company. After learning of the struggles and the success of the TOMS company, the author describes the adversity and creative solutions he discovered along the way that have been beneficial to his company. The author speaks of a problems and then gives real life examples of these problems, then proceeds to share how he solved them and how effective these solutions were. If i had met the author (Blake Mycoskie), I would ask him how he got over his fears and doubts that his company had such small margin for success.
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Jessica Gourley
5/23/2014 03:19:39 am
The thesis of Look Me in the Eyes is that anything is possible, regardless of one's past or limitations. He continuously talks about his experiences from when his drunken dad would beat him but how he overcame the abuse to become successful. I completely agree with the arguments throughout the book because I truly believe a child can overcome any obstacles and become a successful adult if they are determined enough to do so. When one thinks of a nonfiction book, they think of history and life struggles, however, this novel makes one think of actual physical and mental limitations that nobody was aware of. If I could talk to the author and ask a question, I would ask how he overcame his limitation of aspergers and believe in himself enough to fulfill his self prophecy.
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Nick Griffin
5/23/2014 03:29:06 am
"Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage" is not a book of opinions. It is a collection of personal accounts from survivors and their journals about the amazing obstacles that they faced on their journey to cross the Antarctic continent. The novel is entirely fact driven and there is no opinion from the author included.
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Hayley Pearson
5/23/2014 03:35:12 am
The main point of my book "Heaven is for Real." is to see the struggles the family went through but were still able to have faith. The author describes all the issues his child had to go through and the results of them. The most effective point of this book is when Colton Burpo, the authors son, start describing his experience in heaven. He explains how he met this little girl that looks like him and it is his sister. This was a baby his parents had lost before him and it was a very effective turning point in the book.If had the chance to ask the author anything, I would probably ask him how this experience has influenced him to help others.
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Carissa Craft
5/23/2014 03:36:59 am
So far, "David and Goliath" by Malcolm Gladwell highlights how people automatically refer to their problems as disadvantages in their life. Gladwell believes "it is time to turn our attention to the other side of the ledger. What do we mean when we call something a disadvantages?" (69) These so called disadvantages actually help people grow, earn self trust, and stick up for themselves. I strongly agree with the author simply because I am able to directly connect to his claim. I have faced several obstacles in my life but something better always lied ahead. If I were to meet up with Gladwell I would simply ask him what his inspiration was for writing this book and why he did not include any personal references.
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Tanner McElroy
5/23/2014 03:39:04 am
For Lone Survivor, the book doesn't really have a thesis. The book revolves around the real life experiences and training of an enlisted Navy SEAL. The book is full of action and in depth descriptions of what Marcus Luttrell had to go through to get where he is. He lived through the worst lost of life in Navy SEAL history, and not only did he live through it, he wrote a book about it.
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Andrew Sampson
5/23/2014 03:40:06 am
The main purpose of Wiseguy is to show how much power the has, or at least had back in the day.The most effective way of showing how much power the mafia had was displayed well with a quote by Henry Hill at the end; "We ran everything. We paid the lawyers. We paid the cops. Everybody had their hands out. We walked out laughing. We had the best of everything." I really liked the way Pileggi told the story of Henry Hill by using first-person stories from the Henry and his wife. I fell this was the best way to present the story of Henry Hill. I would ask Pileggi how Henry acted as he told him the stories of crimes and going against his former friends in court.
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Katie Urban
5/23/2014 03:40:52 am
"A Mighty Long Way" is a narrative story about the life of Carlotta Walls LaNier, a member of the Little Rock Nine. Since the book is a narrative there isn't really a thesis statement outside of bringing awareness to the racism and discrimination that was prevalent in the south. She illustrates this by describing a trip she took to New York and comparing it to the life she lived in Little Rock. I agree with everything Carlotta describes. As much as I would prefer to believe the events that happened in her life are made up, it is clear they are very, very real. If I ever met Carlotta I would ask more about her experiences because I'm sure they would be very interesting.
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Michal Beth
5/23/2014 12:24:51 pm
"Killing Jesus" doesn't really have a thesis. The book is a nonfiction that reads like a novel telling the historical story of the life and crucifixion of Jesus. The book not only covers Jesus' life but also Rome of the time and the time leading up to the crucifixion. If I was to talk to the book's authors I would ask them how long it took them to to gather the information and where they found it.
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bekah
5/26/2014 06:19:47 am
There is not exactly a thesis in the book "Twelve Years a Slaves", the author is just telling a story. The story has a point though. That point being too explain what really occurred during this time, and to show that just because you are a freeman doesn't mean you will stay that way. I think the most effective example of this would be when the main character is first abducted and is beaten until he no longer claims to be free. I agree with the author's argument that; history books and schools do not tell the whole story of slavery. If I could ask the author anything it would be what encouraged you to write this book?
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Emily Strochinsky
5/28/2014 01:10:39 pm
The main topics of Heaven is For Real is to stress the importance of family and religion. The Burpo family is extremely dependent on their close knit family and community and they use this support to get through their many struggles. The strength of their religious beliefs is shown as it solidifies through the amazing story of how Colton went to heaven. The most effective part of the book is Colton's tales of heaven and how Burpo recounts them, making his argument that heaven is for real that much more believable.
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