BASIC COURSE INFORMATION
As an online course, the writing that we do in English 305 is substantially
different from a face to face course. As such, it is imperative that you
understand the course style from the start. Nearly all of your work in this
course will be posted on the course blog. EACH WEEK YOU WILL HAVE THREE BLOG
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. A BLOG ENTRY,
2. A READING, AND
3. A WRITING ABOUT
THE READING.
Your reading and writing on the blog must be completed by
the Friday (by midnight) of the week in which the reading falls. You have all week each week to complete the reading and writing for that week, but there are no late assignments accepted, so be sure to be disciplined about the
work from the start.
Let me re-state that point; if you do the assigned
work before or during the week it is due, you will receive full credit. If you do the work after the Friday of the week it is assigned, you will get zero credit for that week.
I found the part about connectors, mavens, and salesmen, in chapter two (The Law of the Few) quite interesting. I was trying to link someone I knew to anyone of these types of people. Out of the three, I found mavens to be the most interesting. All the information that they can acquire, research, come across, and still be able to remember it all in such detail was pretty amazing to me. Furthermore, how they enjoy spreading this information to others, not to gain anything from it, but for complete selfless reasons. They simply like to help others and inform them on tips to help them save, get the best deal, and find the best places to go. I believe that mavens are the most important part to information spreading because without their information to give to connectors for the "word of mouth" epidemics, there would be nothing to spread. Also, I believe that mavens have a little bit of the "connector" personality in them because they enjoy talking to people, are humble, and not arrogant with the information they hold in their brains. Finally, what is neat is how just one person can cause a phenomenon or craze over something, like a hole in the wall restaurant that no one would otherwise have known about. It makes me think of Sweet Surrender here in Bakersfield, how one person tried their “Matterhorn” cake, this person knew Giada De Laurentiis and boom – it was featured on a show on the Food Network. Word of mouth epidemic, spread by one person, perhaps a maven, who then spread it to Giada, perhaps a connector (or someone with ties), either way it was interesting to connect this concept with a place here in my hometown.
ReplyDeleteReally? I had no idea about this Giada story.
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ReplyDeleteI have been reading in this book for few days according to the available time I have. It’s an interesting book that presents a number of new ideas and concepts we may use to examine and evaluate a certain matter around us. However, the author presented a well-known concept, which is how little things can make a big difference. He tried to explain how small events or behavior dramatically transform into and cause a mysterious change that may affect all human beings. While I was reading the book, I tried to link what I am reading to my majoring in chemistry. How am I going to do so? I asked myself. Suddenly, I reached the tipping point where all the ideas came clear and well-connected in my mind. We can apply this concept to the melting point concept. In chemistry and physics, the melting point of a solid is the temperature at which it changes state from solid to liquid, it is a dramatic moment. In this process, a very small amount of heat is being constantly added to a type of solid, such as ice cubes, will eventually cause it to melt. Melting point is the tipping point in this case where a dramatic swift change has occurred. This little amount of heat could be added for hours, but at critical point the dramatic change occurs.
ReplyDeleteAs I started to read this book I began to realize how true it is that certain trends begin with a small group of people or an event. These small actions begin to catch momentum and call the attention of larger groups of people. This is how fashion, music, and basically everything that is used becomes widespread trends. Also, I agree that the people you know can have an impact on you and what you consider interesting.
ReplyDeleteI think it is kind of awesome that something so small can have such a big impact.
DeleteSo far in general what I have read from “The Tipping Point” I have found very interesting. It’s interesting to come across the idea of how trends develop and are catches on from one person to another. I would’ve never thought to compare these concepts, ideas, and trends, into social epidemics. I find it funny that they can be passed on the same way a disease can be passed on by contagiousness. In chapter one we are introduced into how trends and concepts are turned into the “it thing” but we are also introduced into how in a scenario where there’s a group of people the responsibility seems to diminish. What I mean by this is that if something is to happen such as an accident and there is a group of people there is a less likely possibility someone will call for help because they assume the other person is going to do it. I find that actually true people lack the need to react because they feel the responsibility could be passed to someone else. I found it striking that there is three rules of the Tipping point which they are the Law of the Few, the Stickiness Factor, and the Power of Context which helps explain the way epidemics work. The chapter that fascinated me the most was chapter two, because it made me realize how connected we are with people even if you don’t realize it at first. It was cool to learn that in a group of friends there’s always one friend that ends up being the connector the one that knows a lot of people. It made me look back to my group of friends how we all ended up hanging out together because of one specific person who introduced us all, also how you know people even if they aren’t part of your group of friends. So far I really enjoy the Tipping Point it seems like a very good book that has some relatable subjects.
ReplyDeleteI also find that very interesting how trends change from one person to another.
DeleteI completely agree with you on enjoying this interesting book.
I also found this book to be quite interesting. It presents several key concepts about how trends and social epidemics occur. I also enjoyed reading about the connector and their abilities to connect several people together. This section made me really think about my own circle of friends and how one connector has been able to connect me to many other people.
DeleteI agree with all of you. I know that in the human services field, we as case managers, social service workers, etc., we play the connector role for various reasons. As connectors, we link the client's to services needed but we also attain the opportunity to develop connections between organizations and may be develop strong connections (or relationships) that we can also share with others.
DeleteI had never heard of this book before; it is extremely interesting. As I read the biography and noticed those numbers or crime rising; I stayed in total shock.
ReplyDeleteThere are clear examples of contagious behavior. Crime declines not those murderers suddenly stopped commenting crimes, police somehow managed to intervene in dramatic situations that were heading to deadly turnouts. Small number of people equals small number of situations in which police are forced in greater numbers. New York citizens were 'infected" with an anti-crime virus for a short time. Bu then negativity started happening.
Overall this book has struck me with interesting information.
So far, I'm most intrigued by the power of context and how it relates to the start of an epidemic. Raised in poverty, I am a big believer in the powerful effects of our environment. This chapter included the example of the broken window theory to explain the epidemic of crime. It stated the domino effects of disorderly environments such as graffiti, publice disorder, or panhandling. The perception of these run down environments is that no one cares and that crime is acceptable. This mindset then spreads to other criminals and the epidemic begins.
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ReplyDeleteThe one thing I find interesting about The Tipping Point is how Malcolm Gladwell is able to explain how a product can be successful by relating it to medical terms. He uses the “science of epidemics” to describe how marketing can reach it’s success. He’s right, it’s like a virus. It’s almost the same as a child who brings a disease to a 1st grade class, and other students can become infected. The moment the disease reaches its “boiling point,” an outbreak or epidemic can occur. I enjoyed reading about his examples because of the way he applied some of the concepts in medical terminology. I am a nursing major so I become easily fascinated by life science.
ReplyDeleteI agree it is fascinating how he relates medicine and marketing. I really like the epidemics that he mentions because I don’t really research anything like that and it is very fascinating to read about how some epidemics get started.
Delete“The Tipping Point” is an interesting and thorough book about change. I had always heard about this book but had never had the opportunity to read it. It creates new understandings about how often changes happen and how drastically and unexpectedly they occur. I enjoyed reading all the different examples of how little changes have huge effects and how there are several factors that contribute to a tipping point. One of the most interesting sections in the book that really caught my attention was Gladwell’s discussion about teen suicide in Micronesia. Gladwell in the seventh chapter describes this strange teen suicide epidemic that spread in Micronesia among males that typically were in their late teens, lived at home and were unmarried. He uses this example to demonstrate how ideas can be extremely contagious, in the exact same way that a virus is. Prior to 1960s suicide was almost unheard of in Micronesia. However, all of a sudden the teen suicide rate began to exponentially rise between the 1960s and 1970s. By the 1980s, Micronesia had more suicides than anywhere else in the world. For teenagers, especially males, suicide had become a contagious epidemic. It became a trend and boys that were extremely young had begun to experiment and imitate suicide attempts. Even children as young as eight years were claiming to already know what suicide was. I found this passage to be quite shocking. This devastating epidemic does show how behavior can spread like wildfire.
ReplyDeleteI am also enjoying this book and reading all of the examples of how little changes have huge effects. I have not read up to chapter seven yet but reading your blog, I can’t wait. I would have never thought of suicide as a contagious factor, which is what I like about this book. It makes you think and see some situations in a different way. This chapter sounds extremely shocking but very interesting.
DeleteWhen I first received “The Tipping Point,” I was not interested on the book. I automatically judged the book by just looking at the cover. I will say that the “how little things can make a big difference” line caught my attention. I am a strong believer of how little things matter the most. The fact that I received the book with about four more, I could not spend my time reading it. Once I did start reading the book, I was wondering what the purpose of author of the book was. Like many of the other students, I became interested while reading about the connectors. I began to think of the people I socialize with and started to identify who would fit the connector criteria. I was able to apply this concept to my work as a case manager. I was able to identify myself as a connector in a way. As a case manager, we tend to be familiar with different community organizations and often have a contact person for each organization. In the social setting however, I do play the connector at times but I definitely know others that strongly carry this role. Another interesting section of the book was, “the stickiness factor.” The discussion provided was interesting to me because I know I grew up watching Sesame Street and Blue’s clues. I understand that there are so many educational programs now days but I have always considered Sesame Street legendary. I have not watched the show recently but I know when my children were younger, they too enjoyed watching it. A show like Sesame Street is educationally contagious.
ReplyDeleteIn "The Tipping Point" is interesting to me so far becuase it provides some explanations of how things like epidemics spread. For instance, the gonorrhea epidemic in Colorado Springs, Colorado originated from 168 people. This is crazy for me to even think about because it's hard to believe that such a small number of people could have such a huge effect on others. Then again. Gladwell has examples on pg.20 of two men who were major gonorrhea spreaders and how they did it that makes it easier for me to picture. Gladwell then points out that social epidemics work in the same manner as sexual ones. Obviously, trends and other things get spread by people who are popular and then others want to be just like them. So, a "cool" kid could be wearing something that looks completely ridiculous and it could potentially spread out to where people think it is cool. It's kind of like when boys wear their pants down low and underwear up high. This is the worst look ever and yet, other boys still immitate it. I like to dress myself in what looks good on me according to me and even if it isn't the next coolest thing, I'll buy it anyway.
ReplyDeleteI must admit I have not read as much of the book as would like to have read by this point. I found what I have read very interesting. This book is making me think of illnesses and trends because I have never stopped to think how illnesses become epidemics or how trends get to be worldwide. The Law of the few stood out to me because it just makes sense. Gladwell states, “Economists often talk about 80/20 principle, which is the idea that in any situation roughly 80 percent of the “work” will be done by 20 percent of the participants”. I found this to be very interesting. If you think of any situation it just might happen to be true. Gladwell gave many examples but one that I have seen is: in a party or a gathering where there is alcohol if you have a certain amount of alcohol and everyone is drinking but only a handful of people are the once that drink most of the alcohol. You could pretty much observe any situation and try to make the 80/20 connection. I am really enjoying this book and I can’ wait to keep reading. I want to find out how the three rules, the law of the few, the stickiness factor, and the power of content, contribute to epidemics and trends.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting because the author makes you think of how things get started and at one point do they tip. Also, the author makes you wonder does everyone and every aspect to life have a turning point? Also, do each one of us participate in these tipping points without even noticing? This author starts to make you wonder about all these things and is very interesting.
DeleteI am about halfway through. I find much of it interesting. When the author was the different personality types, or types of people that are needed to create epidemics, I found myself trying to identify people like this. I am not really a "Connector" nor am I a "Maven." I do not think I am even a bit persuasive but I found myself trying to fit my personality into these different types. There are few people who are like this and I found this section to be very interesting. The "stickiness factor" is something I have noticed about certain trends or shows before but I did not have a specific name to give it. I find the author's examples of it a little strange, yet he still gets the point across. The book is very intriguing, however, I find it difficult to explane to people what it is specifically about, even though I know what it is about. Well, people look confused anyway.
ReplyDeleteThis book has really caught my attention in a way I didn't think it would at first glance. Gladwell brings up many important points that are at the least, every eye opening about the world we live in. Some of his comparisons and examples from true life experiences are amazing. The chapter that discusses the Stickiness factor really blew my mind. When he points out the strategies and evolutions of children's shows like Sesame Street and Blues Clues it really opens you up to strategies employed by creators of shows and this big business like mentality of always making sure you spread your ideas and make them "stick." As I keep reading, I am getting more and more ideas for my essay, because more and more things that Gladwell points out, relate to my current profession as well as my desired future profession. This book is very interesting so far.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised as well. I didn't think the book would be as interesting as it has turned out to be. I liked the stickiness idea as well. I hadn't ever considered it quite like that before so it was interesting to read
DeleteI found the section about connectors to be interesting. I hadn’t really thought about how many people I know until I sat down to write a list for my wedding. The amount of people my fiancé and I know was amazing. After reading that section I went back and looked at the list to see who my connectors are and I realized my dad is one. I was amazed at how many people I know because of him. The idea that a handful of people are the reason why so many people know others is very interesting. Gladwell is pointing out there are cluster networks with a single person or a few key people that link others together. I’m not sure if I should be concerned about the idea or just amazed. I am also curios to know how homogenous the clusters, for the most part, are. If most of who we know is through even a few people, then it is possible that we will know mostly those who are like us. I am curious to see if he elaborates at all on this.
ReplyDeleteThe overall idea of a “tipping point” is also interesting. I am familiar with the 80/20 concept and had not really put it into this kind of perspective. This book, so far, is one of those that hasn’t presented anything knew, but it has organized the information in such a way as to present it in a matter that I had not considered before. I am curious to see how Gladwell will further this argument. I am also curious to know whether the idea has ever been considered in term of voting behavior. I would be very interested in seeing how this concept may apply to elections.
I find many things interesting about this book. I did research on this book before I started reading it because I wanted to know more about it. I had never heard of this book before. I find it interesting how the book explains many different epidemics in the world. It does a good job of this. It explains how the world comes together in a mysterious way. I am definitely curious to see how the book explains more details about the epidemics. I find it interesting how the book talks about the different social talents that people have.
ReplyDeleteThe Tipping Point is interesting because it shows to connection between one person and the rest of the world. I have only gotten about fifty pages in, but I am already hopelessly addicted to this book. When I find something interesting, I’m able to get into it really easily and read it fast. I found the correlation between poverty, budget cuts, and STDs especially interesting. When politicians make cuts to public programs they don’t realize how much of an impact it makes. Also, the way word-of-mouth spreads is intriguing, just like in the case of the Hush Puppy shoes. I remember one instance in my family where I was eighteen years old. I told a friend of my cousin’s that my friend was going into exotic dancing. Two days later I got a call from my dad, who had heard from my grandma who heard from my aunt who heard from my cousin who had heard from her friend that I was a stripper. This floored me! Of course I cleared it up, but word of mouth information does travel quickly among people, especially if it’s juicy gossip. I look forward to reading the rest of this book.
ReplyDeleteWhat I find most interesting about this book is that it transcends even itself in explaining the very behavioral nature of people as it intersects with the products and ideas they consume. Being a product, an idea, and a consumable entity in and of itself, this book serves an interesting role, because it delves into the phenomenon of popularity that is most likely the author's intended outcome for the book. The book has a self-awareness in a sense, because it delves into the duty of analyzing the mechanisms that determine whether or not its own readership and popularity will tip in the right direction. It takes a risky role of analyzing the abstract concept of interconnectedness between various facets of popular modern culture, while at the same time taking the somewhat safe, objective role of a somewhat omniscient voice, which makes its own ideas transcendent to all ideas in general by dissecting and defining the essence of a popular or potentially popular idea.
ReplyDeleteI never heard of this book but I like its introduction as it uses examples of "tipping points". The fact that the author used fashion trends of the hush puppies that was a shoe style that was dying out but as soon as a few people were bold enough to wear them it became a trend. The author also states about the violence in New York and how it reaches its highest peak of 2,154 murders and then tips over to 770 murders. Thus, I think it is interesting that he tries to use a couple of examples to give the reader of an idea of what a "tipping point" will be. I enjoy the author's examples because it gives the reader a perspective that anything has a tipping point of turning around. And that even from small fashion trends and to the importance of violence trends can change from bad to good or vice versa and at any point. Also it usually starts from small ripple effects.
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