Post date: Aug 29, 2014 1:45:5 PM
So Good They Can’t Ignore You
Week 1
Tuesday 9.2
Learning Target:
Have students analyze and interpret author’s argument and evidence. Think critically about their majors and career choices.
Classroom Tasks:
Bell work: Have students write a summary of what a day in their work lives will be like 15 years from now. Or just summarize what field (or job) they would like to work in.
Watch Steve Jobs’ Stanford Commencement Speech. Each student will write down five take aways. Discussion of Jobs’ argument and evidence. Summarize his main point. Discuss whether this is good or bad. Apply Jobs’ speech to The Element, which we read in College Comp I.
Exit slip: List your top five passions. THEN list what skills each passion contains. Finally, list three careers per passion that you could seriously enter.
Homework:
Read “Introduction” and Ch. 1 (“Don’t Follow Your Passion”), Read Ch. 2 (“Passion is Rare” and Ch. 3 (“Passion is Dangerous”). Page total: 39. Answer questions on class blog.
Evidence of Learning:
Discussion of points; completion of bell work and share it with the class. Exit slip. Answer questions on the class blog.
Wednesday 9.3
Learning Target:
Continue to analyze and interpret author’s argument and evidence. Synthesize Jobs’ main point with Newport’s main point. Think critically about their majors and career choices.
Classroom Tasks:
Bell work: Why is following your passion such bad advice? Do you know anyone who actually ever really followed their passion?
Discussion of Newport’s claims. Address these main questions -
What is the point Newport hopes to illustrate through his story of the monk?
Why is it a bad idea to follow your passion?
Why is passion rare?
What on earth is so dangerous about passion?
Have each table address one of these questions and lead the discussion.
Exit slip: Watch this famous talk from Professor Alan Watts. How would Cal Newport react to this advice? Write a short response illustrating this.
Homework:
Read Chapters 4 “The Clarity of the Craftsman” and 5 “The Power of Career Capital: (29-58).
As students read, they will keep in mind (and answer in class) these questions:
What is the “craftsman mindset”?
How does it differ from the “passion mindset?”
Define - in your own words - what “career capital” is.
What three traits define great work?
What three things ruin the craftsman mindset?
Evidence of Learning:
Discussion of points; completion of bell work and share it with the class. Exit slip.
Thursday 9.4
Learning Target:
Continue to analyze and interpret author’s argument and evidence. Synthesize Jobs’ main point with Newport’s main point. Think critically about their majors and career choices.
Classroom Tasks:
Bell Work: Think back to the person you used as an example for someone who loves what they actually do. Do they embody Cal Newport's concept of the Craftman's Mindset? Offer an example.
Open the main part of class by talking about who they interviewed about having a complex origins.
Answer discussion questions in class.
Exit Slip: Text or email one of the “experts” on your list. Ask them these questions -
How did you wind up in your profession?
Did you follow a passion or discover that passion was a byproduct of your current work?
Do you have any of these three traits in your job (creativity, impact, and control)?
Homework:
Chapters 6 (“The Career Capitalists”) and 7 (“Becoming a Craftsman”) Read 59-100;
Evidence of Learning:
Discussion of points in Socratic Seminar session; completion of bell work and share it with the class. Exit slip.
Friday 9.5
Learning Target:
Continue to analyze and interpret author’s argument and evidence. Synthesize Jobs’ main point with Newport’s main point. Think critically about their majors and career choices.
Classroom Tasks:
Bell Work: Share their interview responses from Thursday.
Look at the skills necessary to compete in the knowledge economy and to be successful in college. Then apply Newport’s ideas to this.
Visit essay #2 (exploratory essay).
Exit Slip: List five topics you’re thinking of writing your exploratory essay on.
Homework:
Read chapters 8-11 (105-142). Answer questions on the class blog.
Evidence of Learning:
Discussion of points in Socratic Seminar session; completion of bell work and share it with the class. Exit slip. Completion of questions on class bog.