Exploring the Text

  1. The subtitle of Malcolm Gladwell’s article asks, “How different are dogfighting and football?” Does he explicitly answer the question? What does he think? What do you think?

    Question

    WvD/qlpt4lzzWb4zUwGWBQhKPjtDvqj8sRamu7J1DAyqPwYZ7lQ7Wr5WbEA=
    Chapter 9 - Offensive Play - Exploring the Text: The subtitle of Malcolm Gladwell’s article asks, “How different are dogfighting and football?” Does he explicitly answer the question? What does he think? What do you think?
  2. What elements of fiction does Gladwell use to create his story?

    Question

    WvD/qlpt4lzzWb4zUwGWBQhKPjtDvqj8sRamu7J1DAyqPwYZ7lQ7Wr5WbEA=
    Chapter 9 - Offensive Play - Exploring the Text: What elements of fiction does Gladwell use to create his story?
  3. Why do you think Gladwell introduces Kyle Turley so early in his piece? What are your impressions of Turley? How does Gladwell’s characterization of him help Gladwell develop his argument?

    Question

    WvD/qlpt4lzzWb4zUwGWBQhKPjtDvqj8sRamu7J1DAyqPwYZ7lQ7Wr5WbEA=
    Chapter 9 - Offensive Play - Exploring the Text: Why do you think Gladwell introduces Kyle Turley so early in his piece? What are your impressions of Turley? How does Gladwell’s characterization of him help Gladwell develop his argument?
  4. The article shifts gears in paragraph 9, moving from football to dogfighting. What strategies does Gladwell use to introduce the subject of dogfighting and Michael Vick? How does he establish his credibility on the subject?

    Question

    WvD/qlpt4lzzWb4zUwGWBQhKPjtDvqj8sRamu7J1DAyqPwYZ7lQ7Wr5WbEA=
    Chapter 9 - Offensive Play - Exploring the Text: The article shifts gears in paragraph 9, moving from football to dogfighting. What strategies does Gladwell use to introduce the subject of dogfighting and Michael Vick? How does he establish his credibility on the subject?
  5. Paragraphs 16–29 are about research into chronic traumatic encephalopathy (C.T.E.), a condition that has symptoms similar to Alzheimer’s but is the result of head trauma. How does Gladwell make this scientific study accessible to the lay reader? How does he bring the statistics of the disease to life?

    Question

    WvD/qlpt4lzzWb4zUwGWBQhKPjtDvqj8sRamu7J1DAyqPwYZ7lQ7Wr5WbEA=
    Chapter 9 - Offensive Play - Exploring the Text: Paragraphs 16–29 are about research into chronic traumatic encephalopathy (C.T.E.), a condition that has symptoms similar to Alzheimer’s but is the result of head trauma. How does Gladwell make this scientific study accessible to the lay reader? How does he bring the statistics of the disease to life?
  6. Why does Gladwell provide some personal background for neuropathologist Ann McKee in paragraph 28?

    Question

    WvD/qlpt4lzzWb4zUwGWBQhKPjtDvqj8sRamu7J1DAyqPwYZ7lQ7Wr5WbEA=
    Chapter 9 - Offensive Play - Exploring the Text: Why does Gladwell provide some personal background for neuropathologist Ann McKee in paragraph 28?
  7. Having read “Offensive Play,” what do you think is the answer to the question Gladwell poses in paragraph 29: “is the kind of injury being uncovered by McKee and Omalu incidental to the game of football or inherent in it?” How is that question connected to the questions he asks in the next paragraph: “So what is football? Is it dogfighting or is it stock-car racing?”

    Question

    WvD/qlpt4lzzWb4zUwGWBQhKPjtDvqj8sRamu7J1DAyqPwYZ7lQ7Wr5WbEA=
    Chapter 9 - Offensive Play - Exploring the Text: Having read “Offensive Play,” what do you think is the answer to the question Gladwell poses in paragraph 29: “is the kind of injury being uncovered by McKee and Omalu incidental to the game of football or inherent in it?” How is that question connected to the questions he asks in the next paragraph: “So what is football? Is it dogfighting or is it stock-car racing?”
  8. Gladwell describes early efforts to reform football in paragraph 31. The visual text on page 668 is a cartoon from that era. How are Gladwell’s arguments similar to and different from the argument made by the cartoon?

    Question

    WvD/qlpt4lzzWb4zUwGWBQhKPjtDvqj8sRamu7J1DAyqPwYZ7lQ7Wr5WbEA=
    Chapter 9 - Offensive Play - Exploring the Text: Gladwell describes early efforts to reform football in paragraph 31. The visual text on page 668 is a cartoon from that era. How are Gladwell’s arguments similar to and different from the argument made by the cartoon?
  9. Paragraph 49 comprises only two sentences. In what ways are those two sentences central to Gladwell’s argument? How are the ideas in that paragraph illustrated in paragraph 51?

    Question

    WvD/qlpt4lzzWb4zUwGWBQhKPjtDvqj8sRamu7J1DAyqPwYZ7lQ7Wr5WbEA=
    Chapter 9 - Offensive Play - Exploring the Text: Paragraph 49 comprises only two sentences. In what ways are those two sentences central to Gladwell’s argument? How are the ideas in that paragraph illustrated in paragraph 51?
  10. How does Gladwell appeal to logos in the conclusion of “Offensive Play”?

    Question

    WvD/qlpt4lzzWb4zUwGWBQhKPjtDvqj8sRamu7J1DAyqPwYZ7lQ7Wr5WbEA=
    Chapter 9 - Offensive Play - Exploring the Text: How does Gladwell appeal to logos in the conclusion of “Offensive Play”?