Author's Argument #2 Outliers

In the book Outliers (2008) by Malcolm Gladwell the main idea is to show the reasons certain people achieved success and to prove that one can't do so without a given opportunity. First the author addresses his argument by giving examples of the life stories of those who have achieved great success, then he states his theories using statistics and charts, and lastly he briefly summarizes his ideas from the previous chapters. The purpose of this book is to correct people's perception on how one succeeds. The intended audience includes people who could be considered young, for example ages 15-30.

1.brevity-shortness of time or duration
2.antecedents-preceding or prior
3.aquiesced-agreed
4.irascible-easily provoked with anger; very irritable

The tone of the book is informative.

1. telegraphic sentences (pg. 123, 142, 150, 171)
2. statistics (pg. 134, 152, 154)
3. epigraph (pg. 91, 116, 161)
4. dialogue (pgs. 91-176)
5.listing (pg. 140, 141, 149, 161)

• How does when one is born determine whether or not they will succeed?
• Why did the author choose to split the book in two parts?
• Will this book help the people who read it and in what way?

"So far in Outliers we've seen that success arises out of the steady accumulation of advantages: when and where you were born, what your parents did for a living, and what the circumstances of your upbringing were all make up a significant difference in how well you do on the world."(176)