By: Charles Wheelan
Published: The Wall Street Journal, April 27,
2012;
Level of Difficulty: *
BEFORE YOU READ
Discuss
what kind of advice you think a commencement speaker should offer.
QUESTIONS
1.
What
was ironic about the writer’s first job on graduating? Use your own words
2.
What,
according to the writer, is the most important mistake made in commencement
speeches?
3.
Your
time in fraternity basements and clubs was well spent because …………………………..Be
very specific.
4.
What
does "them” refer to in the phrase “Be prepared to work through them” in
paragraph three?
5.
What,
exactly, is the writer advising graduates to do in paragraph four?
a.
To
serve society to the best of their abilities
b.
To
be wary of overstepping certain boundaries
c.
To
be regular players in the modern world of capitalism
6.
What
are the writer’s views concerning married women and work? Why? You will need to
tweak the text.
7.
The
writer ends paragraph six with the following sentences: “Bob Smith died
yesterday at the age of 74. He finished life in 186th place”. What
fact is the writer criticizing in these sentences? Be careful!
8.
Why
did Theodore Roosevelt’s mother probably want him to be a doctor or a lawyer?
9.
In
paragraph nine, what exactly is the writer advising you to do? Use your own
words.
10.
According
to the writer, there is a negative correlation between
…………………………….and………………………………………………………..(you will need to tweak the text)
WRITING TASK
Write a
paragraph expressing your opinions on what you have just read.
TEN THINGS YOUR COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER WON’T TELL
YOU KEY AND TEACHER’S NOTES
This simple yet enjoyable little text allowed
me to introduce some of our classic tricks in the questions. Look out for
questions 1, 7 and 9; these will encourage students to think, and prepare them
for the multiple choice questions you get on tests. There are a few vocabulary
items you will have to explain but this is class work so where is the harm in
that? All and all, should be challenging yet fun.
1.
Possible
answer: He was writing speeches for 22 year olds but he was only 23 at the
time.
2.
They
are over-optimistic.
3.
One
of the most important causal factors associated with happiness and well-being
is your meaningful connections with other human beings.
4.
Periods
of grinding self doubt and failure.
5.
B
6.
He
is for it. You will be better off in life if you have a second economic oar in
the water.
7.
The
fact that life is becoming ridiculously structured and competitive.
8.
Because
there is a natural instinct to protect our children from risk and discomfort.
9.
Possible
answer: To balance various aspects of your life.
10.
Thinking
about being great; becoming great.
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