1. “Marita’s Bargain” by Malcolm Gladwell
Main Idea
“Marita’s Bargain” by Malcolm Gladwell

2. Truly successful decision making relies on a balance between deliberate and instinctive thinking. -Malcolm Gladwell

3. Why this Text? Analyze for MAIN IDEA
Understand how details and elements of the story deliver the author’s significant points about education.
Experience how text structure emphasizes information the author is trying to convey.
Employ visual aids/infographics to improved understanding of a text.

4. Academic Vocabulary Accumulate Appreciation Conform Persistence
Due Wednesday
Accumulate
Appreciation
Conform
Persistence
Reinforce
Part of speech
Definition
Exemplar sentence

5. As you read List details that describe KIPP students
Write questions that come up during reading.
Pay attention to visual aids and graphics included with the text.
Summarize chunks of the text that cover similar ideas.
Use the following TEXT FOCUS slides to guide you through the text.

6. Text focus
Lines 1-17 (1112.RI.1.2)
The author only includes details that will help accomplish his purpose.
Reread the first two paragraphs and explain why Gladwell includes the information he does.

7. Text focus
Lines 9-17 (1112.RI.3.7)
Gladwell provides specific factual details. He chooses different formats to communicate these facts in ways that make sense to the reader.
Reread the second paragraph. What statistics does Gladwell provide? Why does he write it out instead of including a chart or table?

8. Text focus
Lines (1112.RI.1.2)
Knowing the author’s perspective on his topic can help a reader better understand the central idea he wants to convey. Words that show judgement or opinion reveal perspective.
Identify statements or phrases in this passage that reveal Gladwell’s perspective on KIPP.

9. Text focus
Lines (1112.RI.3.7)
Gladwell is including facts in the text again.
Identify two phrases from the passage that reveal Gladwell’s perspective on KIPP academy.

10. Text focus
Lines (1112.RI.1.2)
Paragraphs, passages and sections have main ideas. Main ideas contribute to the “bigger” central idea of the entire text. To find the main idea of any part of a work, examine the details to see what shared idea they develop.
State the main idea of these two paragraphs.

11. Text focus
Lines (1112.RI.3.7)
Review the direct quotations Gladwell uses in this section.
Explain how these quotations affect your understanding of the ideas in this part of the essay.

12. Text focus
Lines (1112.RI.1.1)
Use details to predict, draw conclusions or make judgements.
What conclusion does Gladwell want you to make about Asian work ethics?

13. Text focus Chart Page 6 (1112.RI.3.7)
Sometimes charts and tables are a better way to present information.
Look at the numbers and how they relate to each other. Summarize the information provided in this chart into one sentence.

14. Text focus Chart Page 7 (1112.RI.3.7)
Tables and charts will sometimes have titles to help you understand them. Gladwell doesn’t use titles for the charts in his essay.
Why would he choose to omit titles? If you were to give this table a title, what would it be? Provide evidence to support your title choice.

15. Text focus Chart Page 8 (1112.RI.3.7)
The table on page 6 shows the low socioeconomic group is lagging behind the other groups. The table on page 7 shows that those same students are keeping up with the other groups. This table explains the discrepancy between the two. The “missing link” is what happens during summer vacation.
Why would Gladwell include all three as opposed to just this one? How do the tables affect your perception of the credibility of Gladwell’s information? Explain why you feel the way you do.

16. Text focus
Lines (1112.RI.1.2)
Some main ideas are stated directly in the text, usually near the beginning or the end of the passage.
Reread this section and identify the sentence that expresses the most important point of this paragraph.

17. Text focus Photograph page 9 (1112.RI.3.7)
Photographs help the author convey information as well.
Why is this photograph included in this essay?

18. Text focus
Lines (1112.RI.1.2)
In order to be a main idea, an idea must be supported by most or all of the details in a paragraph or passage.
Find details that support the idea that taking advantage of an opportunity involves hard work.

19. Text focus
Lines (1112.RI.1.2)
Sometimes authors combine types of details to support and develop a central idea.
What types of details does Gladwell use in these paragraphs to help readers understand how spending more time in school affects KIPP students and their education?

20. Text focus
Lines (1112.RI.2.4)
Gladwell includes a direct quote from Marita.
What tone, or attitude, do Marita’s words convey in this passage? Why does Gladwell want readers to hear this tone for themselves?

21. Text focus Lines 351-359 (1112.RI.1.1;1112.RI.2.4)
In a non-fiction work, the author’s feelings toward the subject are often revealed through the words he uses.
What do Gladwell’s words suggest about his views of Marita? Support with specific evidence from the text.

22. Text focus
Lines (1112.RI.1.2)
Here, Gladwell repeats objections he has voiced earlier to the measures often proposed as ways to fix the American education system.
How does this repetition help you understand what Gladwell believes is important.

23. Group practice Determine Central Idea
Identify the topic.
Analyze the details.
Review text features.
Evaluate structure.
Integrate and Evaluate Information
Quantitative Formats
Tables

24. Individual Practice Due Friday Analyze the Text p. 16.
Answer 1-8 in complete response format.
Performance Task p. 16.
Complete the writing activity.
Critical Vocabulary p.17
Define the five words, then complete 1-5.
Vocabulary Strategy: Context Clues
Practice and Apply 1-4