These two
texts analyze a very common problem: procrastination, the underlying reasons
and possible solutions. Being a very widespread issue, students ought to be
able to identify with what is said, extrapolate and perhaps benefit from the
take home points. The purpose of the writing task is to bring information from
both texts and the students’ personal experience together and is such a
challenging but eminently useful activity. The students should be encouraged to
annotate the texts and make notes.
One word of advice: this is a difficult level** mainly
due to the writing task so make this one of the last activities in this
level that you do.
Now, take the test
BEFORE YOU READ
·
If
something needs doing, do you delay it or get stuck in at once?
·
What
are your typical delay tactics? What do you tell yourself?
·
Why
do you think you self-handicap yourself?
·
How
do you feel the longer you put off doing the job?
TEXT ONE: WHY WRITERS ARE THE WORST
PROCRASTINATORS
“The psychological origins of waiting (…and waiting, and waiting) to
work”
By: Megan McArdlefeb
Published: The Atlantic, February 12, 2014
Level of Difficulty: ** (This a tough level**)
QUESTIONS
1.
What
does the writer have in common with the book editor described in the text?
2.
Look
back at the first paragraph. Have you ever had this experience? Explain.
3.
What
eventually gets the writer’s well-known colleague to complete his “8000 word
features”? The fact that ……………………………………………………………………………………………..
4.
The
writer says “This sounds crazy”. What is he talking about?
5.
Look
at the paragraph beginning “Most writers”. Identify the topic sentence and the
concluding statement. What do you notice about them? Why is this the case?
6.
Why
do professional writers in general procrastinate?
7.
Which
sentence best summarizes the main idea of the paragraph beginning “If you’ve
spent…”?
·
Writers
procrastinate because they want to put off the inevitable: they are terrible
·
Writers
procrastinate because they lose their natural ability and have to face a
referendum.
·
Writers
procrastinate because they are basically like Proust, Oscar Wild and George
Orwell
·
Writers
procrastinate because they are afraid they might not measure up.
·
All
of the above
·
None
of the above
·
Other:
please specify
8.
What
does “this theory” in the paragraph beginning “Exactly…” refer to? Be explicit.
9.
What
does the phrase “some people thrived under the challenge” mean? Do not use your
own words!
10.
What
is the reason for the difference in attitude between people who dislike
challenges and those who don’t?
11.
What
kind of people engage in self- handicapping? Those who have…………………………..
12.
Can
you give your own examples of self-handicapping?
13.
For
what reason does Dweck criticize some teachers?
·
For
praising all the students
·
For
telling them that work is easy
·
For
telling them that they need to overcome challenges
·
For
giving them the wrong message
·
All
of the above
·
None
of the above
·
Other:
please specify
14.
What
conclusion can be drawn from the two examples in the text concerning the
English class and the science survey class?
15.
What
exactly does Pastor Steven mean in the comment he made? Use your own words.
16.
How
does “The Trophy Kids” upbringing impact their attitude to and expectations of
work?
17.
What
is the problem when employees “think they know more than they know”?
18.
One
can conclude from what Todd says that young people in their early twenties:
·
Are
not innovative or creative
·
Are
bad at taking initiative
·
Are
hard working
·
All
of the above
·
None
of the above
·
Other:
please specify
19.
In
what respect are modern kids compared to little Dalai Lamas? With respect
to………………….
20.
What
conclusion can be drawn from the last couple of paragraphs you read?
21.
What
phenomenon has resulted in Whiffle parenting?
22.
What
does “That” refer to in the phrase “That is probably…”?
TEXT TWO: TO STOP PROCRASTINATING, LOOK TO SCIENCE OF MOOD REPAIR
“New Approach Focuses on Helping People Regulate Their Emotions”
By: Sue Shellenbarger
Published: The Wall Street Journal; January 7, 2014
Level of Difficulty:**
QUESTIONS
1. What two conclusions can we draw from procrastinators’ typical feel-good tactics?
2. Why exactly does giving into feel-good not work?
3. What was the underlying reason for Gisela Chodos’ predicament?
4. Why is Dr. Pychyl’s advice to just get started sensible?
5. What does “This” refer to in the phrase “This remedies procrastinators’ tendency…”?
6. Which thoughts Sean Gilbertson entertained turned out to be true?
7. What is the prognosis as far as career goes for prognosticators?
8. If not dealt with, procrastination can have serious long term effects such as…………………..
9. What is the real reason for the negative internal dialogue procrastinators have?
10. The case of Thomas Flint proves that ……………………………………works very well.
WRITING TASK
Write an essay in which you discuss the reasons for and the solutions to the problem of procrastination. Remember to use the notes you made; do not copy paste. This is your essay not a hotchpotch of other people’s
In your introduction, explain what procrastination is and how it occurs.
In your first developmental paragraph, use the information you gleaned from the first text to discuss the reasons for procrastination.
In your second developmental paragraph, use the information in the second text to discuss solutions.
In your conclusion, write a restatement
KEY AND TEACHER’S NOTES
The two texts that make up this activity slot into place beautifully as the first analyses reasons and the second focuses on solutions. Bringing all the information together along with their own experience in the writing task will constitute a wonderful cognitive challenge, which should prepare them for future reading and writing. The issue is one many students have to wrestle with so it is hoped the activity will be of personal use too.
TEXT ONE: KEY
1. They are both procrastinators; they are inveterate procrastinators. “For writers, procrastination is a particularly common occupational hazard” won’t answer fit in with the question. Read them together to see why
2. Personal answer. The answer you give to this question is important for the writing task.
3. He is missing his deadline
4. The fact that writers are too good in English class
5. The concluding statement is a restatement of the topic sentence – paraphrased version. This is natural as the writer set out to prove a point, he proved it with the support he provided and ended up with the argument he started with.
6. Because they are forced into a challenge they are not prepared for.
7. The last one
8. The theory that writers procrastinate because they seem paralyzed by the prospect of writing something that isn’t good.
9. They positively relished things they weren’t very good at – for precisely the reason that they should have. When they were failing they were learning.
10. The people who dislike challenges think that talent is a fixed thing that you are born with or not. The people who relish them…
11. Imposter syndrome
12. Personal answer. The answer to this question will be important when you reach the writing task.
13. The fourth alternative
14. You never see the mistakes or the struggles
15. We compare the process we go through to complete the final work to other’s final work
16. The new graduates expect the workplace to replicate the cozy well-structured atmosphere of school.
17. It is very hard to give them negative feedback without crushing their egos.
18. All of the above
19. The intensive early grooming they get
20. All this help can be actively harmful.
21. The fact that spots at the elite schools – the top 10 percent – have barely kept up with population growth.
22. The ability to learn from mistakes, to be knocked down and to pick themselves up – the ability, in other words, to fail gracefully
TEXT TWO: KEY
1.
If
you’ve tried building self discipline and you are still putting things off,
maybe you need to try something different; procrastinators’ attempts at mood
repair are sabotaging their efforts to regulate their emotions in more
productive ways.
2.
Because
procrastinators feel worse later and negative emotions can derail attempts at
self control.
3.
She
was trying to run away from the feelings and the discomfort – the anxiety she
often feels that her work won’t be good enough and that someone will
disapprove.
4.
Because
a real mood boost comes from doing what we intend to do.
5.
Time
travel; OR its explanation: projecting themselves…
6.
The
good feelings he would have after completing the project well and pleasing his
client and his employer.
7.
Lower
salaries and a higher likelihood of unemployment
8.
Failing
to save for retirement and neglecting preventive healthcare
9.
Concerns
and doubts about themselves
10.
Self
forgiveness; OR, forgiving himself and starting with a single step
