Blink is a book about how we think without thinking, about choices that seem to be made in an instant-in the blink of an eye-that actually aren’t as simple as they seem. Why are some people brilliant decision makers, while others are consistently inept? Why do some people follow their instincts and win, while others end up stumbling into error? How do our brains really work-in the office, or in the classroom? And why are the best decisions often those that are impossible to explain to others?
Book Club Assignment 1:
The Introduction
Due: Tuesday, August 19, 2014 at 8:00 am
Read pages 1-17
Answer questions 1-4 on the answer document provided. You will need to print this document for use in class on Tuesday.
Be prepared to discuss all follow-up ideas in a group setting
Introduction- The Statue That Didn’t Look Right
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What was the problem with the kouros?
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Explain the Iowa experiment- Highlight the two things did researchers find about how our brains make sense of certain situations?
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What is the adaptive unconscious? How does he metaphorically explain this?
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What are the three tasks of Blink?
Based on the introduction, generate 2 more substantial discussion questions of your your own. These questions may be used during your group discussion tomorrow.
Look at the photo of the Getty's kouros located at the following link:
http://blogs.artinfo.com/lacmonfire/files/2011/03/Kouros_anavissos.jpg
Looking at a photo like this helps in understanding the reading at a higher (deeper) level.
Find at least 3 more links (photos, videos, articles, websites, etc) that will help readers gain a better understanding of this material.
Book Club Assignment 2:
Chapter 1: The Theory of Thin Slices
Due: Tuesday, August 26, 2014 at 8:00 am
Read pages 18-47. Annotate as you go.
Be prepared to discuss all follow-up questions in a group setting.
Answer questions1, 2, 3 and 6 on a WORD document. Include a proper heading and title. You will need to print this document for use in class on Tuesday.
Chapter 1:
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What is John Gottman’s claim to fame? How does he do this?
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What is “thin slicing” (p 23)?
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Gottman decodes a couple's relationship and predicts divorce by identifying their patterns of behavior. Can we change our natural and unconscious patterns of behavior? Would awareness of these patterns with our partner be enough to avert an inevitable break-up- why or why not?
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What emotion does Gottman consider the most important of all when looking at marriages and their stability (p 32) ?
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If scrolling through someone's iPod or scanning their bookshelf can tell us more about that individual, what other kinds of 'thin-slicing' exercises could reveal aspects of their personality?
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Wendy Levinson’s research has some powerful outcomes for doctors and patient confidence- what did she find?
Based on Chapter 1, generate 2 more substantial discussion questions of your your own. These questions may be used during your group discussion tomorrow.
Find at least 3 links (photos, videos, articles, websites, etc) that will help readers gain a better understanding of the material presented in Chapter 1. Include these links at the bottom of your answer document.
Upload this WORD doc to your class English course page on Schoology.
Book Club Assignment 3
Chapter 2: The Locked Door: The Secret Life of Snap Decisions
Due: Tuesday, September 9, 2014 at 8:15 am
Read Chapter 2 in the following "chunks"
pages 48-60 (Tuesday and Wednesday).
Pages 61-71 (Thursday and Friday or Sat)
Annotate as you go.
Be prepared to discuss all follow-up questions in a group setting.
Answer questions 1, 2 and 3 on a WORD document. Include a proper heading and title.
Chapter 2:
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Priming refers to when subtle triggers influence our behavior without our awareness of such changes. An example of this occurs in Spain where authorities introduced classical music on the subway and after doing so, watched vandalism and littering drastically decrease. Think of another situation when priming occurs?
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Should we introduce priming in schools to encourage better behavior or more diligent work patterns? What about the service industry? Could employers prime their staff to be more polite to customers? Would this work or would it be beneficial to all parties involved?
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What is a “mental valet” (p 58)?
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The Iyengar/Fisman study revealed that what the speed-daters say they want and what they were actually attracted to in the moment didn't match when compared. What does this say for on-line dating services? Can we really predict what kind of person we will 'hit it off' with? Is it better to let friends decide who is more suited for you as opposed to scanning profiles that correspond with your notion of what you think you are looking for? Explain.
Based on Chapter 2, generate 2 more substantial discussion questions of your your own. These questions may be used during your group discussion tomorrow.
Find at least 3 links (photos, videos, articles, websites, etc) that will help readers gain a better understanding of the material presented in Chapter 2. Include these links at the bottom of your answer document.
Upload this WORD doc to your class English course page on Schoology.
Book Club Assignment 4
Chapter 3: The Warren Harding Error (72-98)
Due: Tuesday, September 16, 2014 at 8:15 am
Read Chapter 3 in the following "chunks"
Pages 72-88 Section 1 and 2 (Tuesday and Wednesday).
Pages 88- 98 (Thursday and Friday or Sat)
Annotate as you go.
Be prepared to discuss all follow-up questions in a group setting.
Answer questions 2, 3, 5 and 7 on a WORD document. Include a proper heading and title.
Chapter 3 Analysis Questions:
Based on Chapter 3, generate 2 more substantial discussion questions of your your own. These questions may be used during your group discussion tomorrow.
Find at least 3 links (photos, videos, articles, websites, etc) that will help readers gain a better understanding of the material presented in Chapter 3. Include these links at the bottom of your answer document.
Upload this WORD doc to your class English course page on Schoology.
Book Club Assignment 5
Due: Tuesday, September 23, 2014 at 8:15 am
Chapter 4: Paul Van Riper's Big Victory (99-146)
Read Chapter 4 in the following "chunks"
Pages 99-111 Section 1 (Mon).
Pages 111-117 Section 2 (Tuesday)
Pages 117-125 Section 3 (Wed)
Pages 125-136 Section 4 (Thursday)
Pages 136-146 Section 5 (Fri-Sun)
Annotate as you go.
Be prepared to discuss all follow-up questions in a group setting.
Answer questions 1-6 on a WORD document. Include a proper heading and title.
Chapter 4 Analysis Questions:
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What was the Millennium Challenge? What was Paul Van Riper part in this? What was the ultimate outcome?
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“Improv is an art form governed by a series of rules, and they want to make sure when they are up on stage, everyone abides by those rules” What is the most important rule of improv (p114)?
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What is “verbal overshawdowing”? Give an example.
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Gary Klein’s story of the firefighter and his split second decision Gladwell calls a “beautiful example of thin-slicing in action” Why( p122-124?
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What are the two important lessons Gladwell would like the reader to take from this chapter ( p141)? What do they mean?
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Gladwell states( 142)-“When we thin slice, we recognize pattersn and make snap judgments, we do this process of editing consciously.” When does he believe we “get into trouble”?
Based on Chapter 4, generate 2 more substantial discussion questions of your your own. These questions may be used during your group discussion tomorrow.
Find at least 3 links (photos, videos, articles, websites, etc) that will help readers gain a better understanding of the material presented in Chapter 4. Include these links at the bottom of your answer document.
Upload this WORD doc to your class English course page on Schoology.
Book Club Assignment 6
Chapter 5: (Pages 147-188)
Read Chapter 5 in the following "chunks"
Pages 147-155 Section 1 (Tues)
Pages 155-167 Sections 2 and 3 (Wed)
Pages 167-176 Section 4 (Thursday)
Pages 176-188 Section 5 and 6 (Fri-Sun)
Annotate as you go.
Be prepared to discuss all follow-up questions in a group setting.
Answer questions 1-8 on a WORD document. Include a proper heading and title.
Chapter 5 Questions:
1. How did the music industry react to Kenna’s music? How did the radio community?
2. What was the Pepsi Challenge? What does the outcome mean for consumers- what are our two reactions when drinking colas?
3. How did Masten and Rhea research come out about product taste and packaging (p165)?
4. Herman Miller spent millions of dollars and countless hours creating the perfect chair, when it turned out the focus groups were not impressed- what were Millers three choices? What did he decide? What was the result (p171-172)?
5. What “is true of everything we call ugly”(p 173)?
6. Do you believe our unconscious reactions come out of a locked room that we can't ever truly see inside? Can we ever know ourselves wholly and understand the motivation and reason behind our every move (p183)? Explain.
7. How do “experts” deal with the locked room?
8. What does the gift of their expertise do for people like Heylmun and Civille ( p 179)?
Based on Chapter 5, generate 2 more substantial discussion questions of your your own. These questions may be used during your group discussion tomorrow.