Thank You For Outliers: The Story Of Success

Summer reading is meant to be purposeful. Although I did not procrastinate, I found the task of reading two books and writing additional assignments daunting initially. However, once I began the first reading selection, Thank You For Arguing, in early July, I realized that the assignments were not useless drudgery. I rather discovered that the books had meaning and would further me as a reader, writer, and learner. Unlike other school required readings like Shakespeare, Dickens, and Golding, this book was contemporary and informal. I found that the relatable humor and personal anecdotes in the narrative created an enjoyable, lighter read. After completing each section, I was required to construct a response that details Heinrichs’s purpose. In result,
I typed notes on my computer, marking down significant terms and any material that reflected the author’s primary purpose. Ultimately, because my notes were compiled of what resonated with me personally, I found that the author’s purpose was usually what I initially noted. Therefore, when I began to write my responses, having a collection of key points and quotes tremendously benefitted my writing process. Furthermore, notes were especially useful because most of my peers either did not start their summer work or were on vacation when I began to write.
Also, I appreciated how there were multiple options for the second reading choice, which allowed students to choose which book best relates to their personal interests.
In result, I decided to read Outliers: The Story of Success, because I felt that the book would force me to think about ideas that I otherwise may not have as a junior in high school. For instance, my sister is a senior and working on the college application process. Sitting through information sessions with her, I recognized that being conscious of the future and success is valuable to understand in the upcoming years. I believe it is important that, when given a choice in which summer reading to select, you carefully consider which book will have the most significant impact on your development as an incoming junior. After completing the book, I chose a topic of my interest, a correlation between family wealth and success later on in life. Ultimately, I feel that, especially in writing pieces that involve outside sources, it is crucial to include some version of a pre-write organizer to make the writing process efficient and effective. Therefore, I made an outline, finding meaningful quotes, articles, and other sources that reflected my chosen
topic.
Generally, I usually do not have that much difficulty reinforcing my argument by incorporating outside sources and evidence. However, I could always improve my writing voice and organization, which ultimately could blur the focus of my writing. As I learned in many other English classes I have taken in high school, voice and tone are essential to writing any effective piece. While I understand that there is no formula for writing, most writings that achieve a purpose include structure and organization. Although my thoughts are often distorted by my voice, usually a few rounds of editing is enough to regain my organization, clarity, and personal tone. Also, I feel that the breadth of my vocabulary could also be improved. Since I feel that it is important to use vocabulary correctly, my current writing is primarily made up of practical vocabulary words that I can accurately use in context. Ultimately, after I complete this class, I hope to learn more about who I am as a writer and how to write more efficient and successful essays.