Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Rice Paddies and Outliers


In chapter eight, “Rice Paddies and Math Tests,” Malcolm Gladwell continues to explore his claim that cultures can have significant impacts on various aspects of success. He takes an in-depth look at the work ethics of farmers in southern China and reveals how rice cultivation can be an intricate, laborious, and, if done well, rewarding process for an entire family. And over long periods of time, the processes and culture of rice cultivation appear to yield benefits to a people well beyond the farms.

According to Gladwell, rice farmers, the majority of whom have limited resources, improved the returns on their labor by “becoming smarter, by being better managers of their own time, and by making better choices.” In other words, more than simply working hard, they worked intelligently and strategically. Gladwell proposes that cultures “shaped by the tradition of wet-rice agriculture and meaningful work” tend to produce students with the fortitude to “sit still long enough” to find solutions to time-consuming and complex math problems, for instance.

What skill intensive processes or time-worn cultural practices are you aware of in our own society that have been especially important for preparing students for high achievement at SIUE? How so?

Or, try this.

You’ll recall the proverbs Gladwell cites that emerged in southern China such as “No one who can rise before dawn three hundred sixty days a year fails to make his family rich.” Help us come up with local remixes to that saying. In no more than 10 additional words, compose useful and creation insertions to complete the following sentence:
No one who can __________________________________ throughout a semester fails to achieve academic success at SIUE.

20 comments:

Daniel Shields said...

No one who can put their course studies first,before partying and social events ,throughout a semester fails to achieve academic success at SIUE

This chapter really opened my eyes and makes perfect sense to me. To be honest I dont see alot of Time worn cultural practices that prepare us. I believe it is a family thing. If you have a strong, supporting, but stern family behind you, its hard to fail

Morris Pearson, Jr. said...

No one who can study for 2 hours out of class for every credit hour there in class throughout a semester fails to achieve academic success at SIUE.

H. Rambsy said...

No one who can come up with inspiring and useful proverbs throughout a semester fails to achieve academic success at SIUE.

S. Curry said...

No one who can envision their own success, both now and in the future, throughout a semester fails to achieve academic success at SIUE.

Great Chapter, this defiantly gave me a much needed push to keep trying to figure something out before just giving up, and looking for the solution to a problem elsewhere.

Trenesa Atkins said...

No one who can overcome what society says about their culture and inspire others, throughout a semester fails to achieve academic success at SIUE.

Although I come from a community that is severely lacking, I refuse to become a statistic. I always thought that I needed to be an inspiration for my siblings but reading this chapter opened my eyes and enabled me to believe that I can inspire many within my community. It is up to me to succeed to show others that just because we come from this small town doesn't mean we can't do better.

Chardae Gray said...

No one who can communicate with teachers,study intensively and apply these concepts fails to achieve academic success at SIUE.

Anonymous said...

Teresa Grizzle

I have to go with the proverb option. Unfortunately, I can't think of any time-worn cultural practices that involve hard work in our society that still exist for the majority of the society. If anyone can think of one it would be great because I'm having a really hard time analyzing our society. Those who still farm, landscape or are involved in other forms of manual labor might relate to the rice paddy society. It seems as though things are becoming easier instead. I was just watching a show on MTV during which a teenage girl did not know how to even begin washing dishes. She stated that she has only used a dishwasher. Even though its only TV, I don't think it is far from the truth.

But my proverb for the students at SIUE is:
No one who can take advantage of the knowledge and experience of his professors throughout a semester fails to achieve academic success at SIUE.

Laura McCulley said...

no one who can put course work before any extra activities throughout a semester fails to achieve academic success at SIUE

WHen it comes to this chapter I agree with Gladwell that these cultures who teach a strong work ethic can transfer that ethic into the classroom. In america we are so busy with our computers and video games and how everything changes we get so bored and can't focus on the task at hand nor will we sit long enough to come up with a solution

If we as students here at SIUE sit and focus on what are we here for and what is most important i feel that some of us will be even more successful than we already are. Nothing worth while comes easy you have to work hard for it

Precious Wu said...

No one who can maintain a highly motivated character and understands the value of learning and education throughout the semester fails to achieve academic success at SIUE.

Anonymous said...

Cultural practices that are important for preparing students for success at SIUE would be poetry. I think that poetry is similar to oral history and when we allow students to express their poetry, in a sense its like telling a story. It's a way to engage students outside of the classroom.
Another aspect would be just joining something at SIUE. In highschool I was constantly apart of a sport or a club, it keeps you focus. So to join student government or do recreational basketball are engaging positive aspect. I think the most important thing people need on this campus is to know why they're here and also to know their talent.
-Cassaundra Sampson

Robin Caffey said...

No one who can actively participate in evry class throughout a semester fails to achieve academic success at SIUE.

I also agree that cultures that teach a strong work ethic can easily transfer that same work ethic into classroom scenerios , I also believe they can use the same work ethic to positively solve real life issues they may face. Being from Chicago, I wish the African American culture their would teach stronger work ethics to the youth because it would help to improve their academic performance. It would also aid in reducing the violence and deaths among the African American youth there.

Hayoung Yu said...

No one who cares more about their future and dreams than their night of fun throughout a semester fails to achieve academic success at SIUE

I can really relate to this chapter, being a Korean myself. Hardwork and frequent studying is a MUST DO that has been instilled in my head since I was a child and it is a lifestyle that I have chosen and want to live. These ideals have made a huge impact on my life with great academic, work, and social accomplishments to show for it.

Ian Caveny said...

No one who can enjoy what they are learning about (or be diligent about subjects they don't enjoy) throughout the semester fails to achieve academic success at SIUE.

Concerning our own culture, though, I would have to look the opposite direction. Our culture is an entitlement society, where we believe everything is handed to us on a silver platter. I think explains why we are having more than a few of the problems we are having...

Perhaps we can solve this by starting rice paddies in America... hmmm...

Sydney Nulsen said...

No one who can ask questions when confused of peers, teachers, counselors, etc will fail to achieve academic success a SIUE.
I think learning to be inquisitive is a good practice that is instilled in us through our culture. People are taught that they are valued members of society and should contribute in every way possible.

Tamika Glover said...

No one who can go to class everyday, pay attention, and do all assigned work throughout a semester fails to achieve academic success at SIUE.

Katie D. said...

I liked what Ian said about our culture being one of entitlement. I've always liked to phrase it as: 'being born on third base and spending your whole entire life thinking you've hit a triple.'

I don't think its society that influences how we work, but the family environment in which we were raised.

Anonymous said...

No one who can allow themselves to experience new things and learn from them throughout a semester fails to achieve academic success at SIUE.

-jes.

Mitchell Martineau said...

I was very interested in this chapter. Often we get the whole statistic of how the U.S. Ranks in education all across the world, and wonder how we do so bad compared to quite frankly "lesser" countries. We get caught up in believing in our standard of living compared to others dictates our education we often are distraught about such information. As a whole, our country is overall one of the most hard working on the planet, if not the most, but we genrally don't teach our kids that enough. That's what I learned from this chapter, the top ranked countries do well because of the values impressed on them. In high school, we were told to study and be active to go the college, but truthfully I never took studing seriously untill college. Studing now is a definite must if one wants to succeed in college.

Amanda Monla said...

No one who can put forth the effort and do their best in all that they do throughout a semester fails to achieve academic success at SIUE.

Quince Zackrie said...

No one who can focus in the classroom and apply that knowledge outside the classroom throughout a semester fails to achieve academic success at SIUE.