Success Stories: On the Radio

As we have seen in our readings of The Great Gatsby and Outliers, in addition to our own experiences and former readings, there are personal and social constructs embedded in how we define and achieve success. Five speakers from the TED Radio Hour 

Essential Questions

  • What does it mean to be successful? 
  • To what extent does society play a role in our definitions and achievement of success?
  • What makes an argument effective?


Seminar Questions

Core Question: What does it mean to be successful?

1. Facilitated Question 1: What are different commentaries on what it means to be successful?

    • Each group shares completed sentences, "(Speaker) would say that the key to success is ______________________________." Each member should add evidence to support this statement. 
    • What are different cultural perspectives?

2. Facilitated Question 2: How are different ideas of success discussed in literature? 

    • What are examples from Gatsby?
    • from Outliers?
    • from other literature or film?

3. Facilitated Question 3: How do these different interpretations impact our own lives?


Final Reflection

Based on your analysis and today's group discussion, write on side two "What I'm Thinking Now" of your Quick Write T Chart your belief about what it means to be successful. Explain how discussion of the radio episodes and literary examples support your new ideas. 

Share your ideas at the end of the class seminar.

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