1A Lesson for Week 4: Follow Your Passion Or Not?

How to Make a Strong Thesis--Improving Your Thesis by Referencing the Text and Author

Poor Thesis with No Reference to Author or Text

The mantra “follow your passion” is dangerous not because passion is bad but because the definition of passion is vague, simplistic, and suggests an easy path to success.

Improved Thesis from Above

The mantra “follow your passion,” Georgetown computer science professor Cal Newport argues in his blog article “The Passion Trap,” is dangerous not because passion is bad but because the definition of passion is vague, simplistic, and suggests an easy path to success.

Another Example of an Improved Thesis That References the Author

In his best-selling book So Good They Can’t Ignore You, Georgetown computer science professor Cal Newport argues persuasively that the mantra “follow your passion” is dangerous not because passion is bad but because the definition of passion is vague, simplistic, and suggests an easy path to success.

Notice these sample thesis statements make a reference to the author:

Sample #1

While it should be self-evident that the over-simplistic mantra “follow your passion” for a career choice is fatuous, dangerous, and inaccurate, Cal Newport does us a great service by disemboweling this odious cliché because its sheer popularity has wreaked havoc and destruction on many college students’ lives by steering them away from the craftsman mindset and grappling with the fact that finding a passion is often a complex, convoluted road that one embarks upon with blood, sweat, and tears. 

Sample #2

My issue with Cal Newport’s argument isn’t that it’s wrong; rather, my problem is that he has simply eviscerated a cheap cliche and replaced the cliche with a work ethic to present a self-help book about the importance of hard work, tenacity, focus, and a compendium of predictable platitudes about pursuing success so that Newport has simply replaced one set of cliches with a set of others.  

Sample #3

Of course, “follow your passion” is a brainless, inane, and worthless slogan, which Newport rightly skewers with his rapier, but his roadmap to success creates a false optimism about mastering a career when in fact the road to mastery requires the kind of privilege, educational foundation, chunks of time, and economic support that only a small sliver of Americans are fortunate to possess; in other words, his roadmap ignores the systemic inequality that too often capsizes one’s dream of reaching the apotheosis of career success. 

Sample #4

While the above writer is correct that enjoying social privilege and economic support will increase one’s odds of finding success along the path Newport describes, this privilege for a small group of Americans doesn’t negate the truth that anyone, regardless of their economic station, will fare better if they follow Newport’s craftsman ideal over the cheap ineptitude of “follow your passion.” 

Sample #5

Cal Newport has written a timely corrective to a society addicted to dopamine and "passion" by refuting the fatuous idea that we need to "find a passion" that matches our "personality profile" to find success and replace this dangerous idea with a path of success that includes finding what we're good at, elevating our good skills to the realm of excellence, and having the patience of going through a trial-and-error period before we land on our feet. 

Antioch Signal Phrase Templates

https://www.antioch.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/MLA-Signal-Phrases-for-Quotes-and-Paraphrases.pdf

Templates for signal phrases, counterarguments and rebuttals, and concession thesis statements. 

Four. Signal Phrases

Using signal phrases to introduce textual evidence in the form of direct quotations, paraphrases, or summaries.

How Do Signal Phrases Strengthen Your Essay?

What is a signal phrase?

A signal phrase transitions the reader from your writing to a credible source. 

We use signal phrases to make that transition as smooth and clear as possible. 

Here is a link to a list of signal phrases. 

Why do we use signal phrases?

We use signal phrases to signal to the reader that we are going to cite research material in the form of direct quotes, paraphrases, or summaries.

You can also call a signal phrase a lead-in because it leads in the quotation or paraphrase. 

Grammarian Diana Hacker writes that signal phrases make smooth transitions from your own writing voice to the quoted material without making the reader feel a "jolt."

For students, signal phrases are an announcement to your professor that you've "elevated your game" to college-level writing by accessing the approved college writing toolbox. 

Nothing is going to make your essay more impressive to college professors than the correct use of signal phrases.

How does a signal phrase strengthen your essay?

Signal phrases not only establish authority and credibility. They provide context or explain why you're using the sourced material. 

A signal phrase can do the following:

• Show disagreement
• Show agreement
• Present facts and support for your claim
• Bridge someone else’s words with your claim or observation
• Present a credible source giving a caution
• Present a credible source offering a speculation
• Describe your source to give your reader context and to achieve credibility

To Show Disagreement:

As a counterpoint to Yuval Noah Harari's contention that Foragers lived superior lives to Farmers, we read in culture critic Will Day Brosnan: "Elsewhere, I wondered the extent to which Harari was projecting an idealistic (even Rousseauian) vision of a noble savage on pre-state peoples. His depiction of a foraging lifestyle (‘A Day in the Life of Adam and Eve’) unencumbered by the complexities and worries of civilisational living could be read as reactionary atavism."

To Show Agreement:

Concurring with my assertion that Harari is misguided in his Noble Savage mythology, we read in culture critic Will Day Brosnan: "Elsewhere, I wondered the extent to which Harari was projecting an idealistic (even Rousseauian) vision of a noble savage on pre-state peoples. His depiction of a foraging lifestyle (‘A Day in the Life of Adam and Eve’) unencumbered by the complexities and worries of civilizational living could be read as reactionary atavism."

To show added support and agreement:

Further supporting my contention that not all calories are equal, we find in science writer Gary Taubes' Good Calories, Bad Calories that there are statistics that show . . ."

To bridge someone else’s words with our own claim or observation:

We are fools if we think we were put on Planet Earth to be happy. That is the fantasy of a four-year-old child. Ironically, this infantile pursuit of happiness makes us unhappy. In the words of John Mellencamp: “I don’t think we’re put on this earth to live happy lives. I think we’re put here to challenge ourselves physically, emotionally, intellectually.”

To make reference to a credible text that gives credence to your claim:

The idea of a meritocracy is that a healthy society allows people with merits, regardless of their economic privilege, to rise to the top of the power hierarchy. However, such a meritocracy does not exist as privilege, not merit, is the dominant force of acquiring power. As we read in Yale Law School professor Daniel Markovits' essay "How Life Became an Endless Terrible Competition": "Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, and Yale collectively enroll more students from households in the top 1 percent of the income distribution than from households in the bottom 60 percent. Legacy preferences, nepotism, and outright fraud continue to give rich applicants corrupt advantages. But the dominant causes of this skew toward wealth can be traced to meritocracy. On average, children whose parents make more than $200,000 a year score about 250 points higher on the SAT than children whose parents make $40,000 to $60,000. Only about one in 200 children from the poorest third of households achieve SAT scores at Yale’s median. Meanwhile, the top banks and law firms, along with other high-paying employers, recruit almost exclusively from a few elite colleges."

Not to show fact or reinforce a claim so much as to present an opinion, a caution, a warning, or speculation.

To show speculation:

Futurist Yuval Noah Harari speculates that in the next 100 years we may evolve from home sapiens to a sort of android or robot sapien.

To show caution:

Carnivore advocate Ron Blesswith cautions that some people who are not hard-wired for the vegan diet may find that after six months or so they will become anemic and their hair will fall out. 

Sometimes a Signal Phrase Can be Two Sentences When Describing an Author

English instructor Jeff McMahon chronicles in his personal blog Obsession Matters that his opinion toward comedian and podcaster Nate Nadblock changed over a decade. As McMahon observes: "Since 2010, I had found a brilliant curmudgeonly podcaster Nate Nadblock a source of great comfort & entertainment, but recently his navel-gazing toxicity, lack of personal growth, and overall repetitiveness has made him off-putting. Alas, a 10-year podcast friendship has come to an end."

Common signal phrases

We read in Author X’s essay that:

We read in Corbin Smith’s essay “Alan Ritchson’s ‘Reacher” Is a Gigantic, Unstoppable Force” that Jack Reacher embodies “The four virtues of Stoicism.”

According to Author X,

As Author X writes: 

According to Corbin Smith, the Stoical Hero balances his passion with his powers of reason. As Smith writes: “You are passionate, but not completely driven by your baser instincts.” 

Author X argues that

As Author X observes:

Corbin Smith argues that Reacher’s appeal rests largely in the sheer physicality of its star Alan Ritchson. As Smith observes: Ritchscon “is a slab of rock-hard marbled beef with an unnerving square jaw and blue eyes that cut holes through steel.”

Introducing Sources Study Guide

There are many more signal phrases. When you use them in a research paper, you need to include parenthetical citations. For a brief primer, consult this video:

 

Use the above templates and don't worry: you're not committing plagiarism.

As a counterpoint to X, 

As a counterargument to my claim that X, 

Giving support to my rebuttal that Writer A makes an erroneous contention, Writer B observes that . . .

Concurring with my assertion that X, 

Further supporting my contention that X, 

Writer X chronicles in her book. . . . As she observes: 

Purpose of Credentials:  Establishing Authority and Ethos

We often include credentials with the signal phrase to give more credibility to our sourced material. 

The acclaimed best-selling writer, history professor, and futurist Yuval Noah Harari excoriates the Agricultural Revolution as "the greatest crime against humanity." 

Lamenting that his students don't enjoy his music playlist in the writing lab, college English instructor Jeff McMahon observes in his blog Obsession Matters: "Two-thirds of my students in writing lab don't hear my chill playlist over classroom speakers because they are hermetically sealed in their private earbud universe content to be masters of their own musical domain."

You don't have to put the signal phrase at the beginning. You can put it at the end:

"The Agricultural Revolution is the greatest crime against humanity," claims celebrated author and futurist Yuval Noah Harari in his best-selling book Sapiens (144). 

You can also put the signal phrase in the middle of a sentence:

Racism, sexism, worker exploitation, and pestilence afflicted the human race during the Agricultural Revolution, claims celebrated futurist Yuval Noah Harari, who goes on to make the bold claim that "the Agricultural Revolution was the greatest crime perpetrated against humanity." 

"Covid-19 fears make me recall Don Delillo's novel White Noise," writes Jeff McMahon in his blog Obsession Matters, " especially the Airborne Toxic Event chapter in which pestilence affords us a rehearsal for our own mortality."

Varying placement and types of signal phrases help you avoid monotony, make you a more impressive writer, and give you more ethos. 

Partial List of Signal Phrases

acknowledges  adds admits affirms agrees answers argues asserts claims comments concedes confirms contends counters counterattacks declares defines denies disputes echoes endorses estimates find grants illustrates implies insists mentions notes observes predicts proposes reasons recognize recommends refutes rejects reports responds reveals speculates states suggests surmises warns writes

Examples of signal phrases:

We are fools if we think we were put on Planet Earth to be happy. That is the fantasy of a four-year-old child. Ironically, this infantile pursuit of happiness makes us unhappy. In the words of John Mellencamp: “I don’t think we’re put on this earth to live happy lives. I think we’re put here to challenge ourselves physically, emotionally, intellectually.”

The idea of a meritocracy is that a healthy society allows people with merits, regardless of their economic privilege, to rise to the top of the power hierarchy. However, such a meritocracy does not exist as privilege, not merit, is the dominant force of acquiring power. As we read in Yale Law School professor Daniel Markovits' essay "How Life Became an Endless Terrible Competition": "Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, and Yale collectively enroll more students from households in the top 1 percent of the income distribution than from households in the bottom 60 percent. Legacy preferences, nepotism, and outright fraud continue to give rich applicants corrupt advantages. But the dominant causes of this skew toward wealth can be traced to meritocracy. On average, children whose parents make more than $200,000 a year score about 250 points higher on the SAT than children whose parents make $40,000 to $60,000. Only about one in 200 children from the poorest third of households achieve SAT scores at Yale’s median. Meanwhile, the top banks and law firms, along with other high-paying employers, recruit almost exclusively from a few elite colleges."

Variation of the above:

The idea of a meritocracy is that a healthy society allows people with merits, regardless of their economic privilege, to rise to the top of the power hierarchy. However, such a meritocracy does not exist as privilege, not merit, is the dominant force of acquiring power. According to Yale Law School professor Daniel Markovits in his essay "How Life Became an Endless Terrible Competition": "Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, and Yale collectively enroll more students from households in the top 1 percent of the income distribution than from households in the bottom 60 percent. Legacy preferences, nepotism, and outright fraud continue to give rich applicants corrupt advantages. But the dominant causes of this skew toward wealth can be traced to meritocracy. On average, children whose parents make more than $200,000 a year score about 250 points higher on the SAT than children whose parents make $40,000 to $60,000. Only about one in 200 children from the poorest third of households achieve SAT scores at Yale’s median. Meanwhile, the top banks and law firms, along with other high-paying employers, recruit almost exclusively from a few elite colleges."

What do we do after we present a signal phrase and cited material?

You should explain what you’ve just cited.

Toolbox of Explaining Transitions

After you present the signal phrase and quoted, summarized, or paraphrased material, what do you write?

You explain what you just cited.

To do so, you need a toolbox of transitions:

Writer X is essentially saying that 

In other words, X is arguing that

By using these statistics, X is making the point that 

X is trying to make the point that 

X makes the cogent observation that 

X is essentially rebutting the philosophical movement that embraces the position that 

X's main point is that

The essence of X's claim is that 

Here is a good college link for in-text citations.

Here is a good Purdue Owl link for in-text citations. 

Review Complete Package of Signal Phrases

One. Vary your transitions so you're not only using "say" and "write."

Two. Transition from your own writing to quoted or paraphrased material. 

Three. Vary your location of the signal phrase, beginning, middle, or end.

Four. Provide credentials of the person being cited in your signal phrase.

Five. Provide correct in-text citations for MLA format, as provided by Purdue Owl. 

Six. Return to what you just cited and analyze its significance to your argument. 

For an elaboration of quotations, paraphrases, and summaries, you can consult this video:

The best video I have seen for integrating sources in your essay with the correct format is the following:

Counterargument Templates

When you write an argumentative essay, most likely you will be required to write a counterargument-rebuttal section in which you address your opponents’ objections to your argument. The following are templates for counterarguments followed by rebuttals:

• Some people may object to my point X, but they fail to see Y.
• Some people will take issue with my argument X, and I will concede their point to some degree. However, on balance, my argument X still stands because______________________________.  
• It is true as my opponents say that my argument fails to acknowledge the possibility that Y, but I would counter-argue by observing that ___________________. 
• I would be the first to agree with my opponents that my argument can lead to some dangerous conclusions such as X. But we can neutralize these misgivings when we consider __________________________. 

Five. Correct MLA format for essays in a college writing class. I recommend you consult this video:

Six. You need reasonable authority and clear thinking about your subject based on developing an informed opinion. This informed opinion and clear thinking will result in confident, clear writing that has the whiff of someone who knows what they’re talking about. When you write with clear thinking and confidence, you present an essay that has the quality of authorial presence. You can only achieve authorial presence by reading, rereading, and comprehending the reading materials. 

  

Know the Difference Between Fake Passion and Real Passion

As I was talking to some of my students about Cal Newport’s rebuke of “Follow Your Passion,” it occurred to me that this is a difficult topic because it has taken me five years of teaching this topic to understand it to my satisfaction.

I want to pass on my five years of thinking about this topic with you. When you examine Cal Newport’s argument that “Follow Your Passion” is dangerous, realize he is not against passion. He is against fake passion. He wants you to replace fake passion with real passion. 

Fake Passion

So what is fake passion?

Fake passion is the fleeting desire that you forget a few weeks later.

Fake passion is telling people you’re passionate about something, but you don’t invest any time or effort to take this thing you’re supposedly passionate about off the ground. 

Fake passion is the guy who says he loves his wife but he forgets it’s her birthday.

Real Passion

So what is real passion?

Real passion is being consistent in the work that you do even on days you don’t feel like it. 

Real passion is investing time in making constant improvements.

Real passion is making preparation to achieve a level of mastery at what you do. 

Real passion is knowing the high stakes of life through your mentors who show you how to succeed and how to avoid making yourself your own worst enemy.

In this context, one student mentioned Beyonce. No doubt about it, Beyonce is passionate about her art, and make no mistake Beyonce prepares to be her best self all the time. Beyonce prepares through training, voice lessons, nutrition, dance, choreography, marketing--the list goes on. Her passion is complemented by her professional level of preparation. 

 

Counterarguments and Rebuttals to Follow Your Passion

Before you reach the conclusion, you will need a counterargument-rebuttal paragraph, so let us look at some counterarguments and rebuttals to Cal Newport’s claim that following your passion is dangerous:

Counterargument #1: 

Look at Steve Jobs. He’s a great success story and he made a viral video about the importance of following your passion. 

Rebuttal:

In fact, Steve Jobs became successful, according to Cal Newport, precisely because he didn’t follow his passion. Rather, he pursued an opportunity and developed a unique ability that made him valuable to others.

Let us be clear:

• Following your passion is a lie.
• Following your passion is canard.
• Following your passion is the kiss of death.
• Following your passion is an empty cliché spewed by sanctimonious, brain-dead mediocrities.
• Cal Newport points out that Steve Jobs became passionate AFTER he mastered his craft, AFTER he honed his talent, AFTER he developed unique skills that allowed him to navigate a world-dominating computer company.

Counterargument #2:

You need that passionate spark to motivate yourself to achieve greatness.

Rebuttal:

Cal Newport explains that we can’t know what our passion is in the beginning. It’s rare that people have a clearly defined passion at a young age.

Why? 

Because real passion takes time and mastery.

“Passion takes time.” You have to cultivate it with deep work, undistracted focus on your craft.

Counterargument #3: 

If you give up looking for your dream job, you’ll settle to be a cog in a machine, a soulless functionary who lives a life of quiet despair.

Rebuttal:

Finding a dream job, according to Newport, is a fallacy. 

Mastery is greater than passion as a factor for happiness. 

Having a “dream job” isn’t the key to happiness, according to Cal Newport’s research. Rather, it is time spent on the job and mastery of the job.

Newport’s findings contradict the lame Passion Hypothesis, that childish, infantile myth that all you have to do is find your passion and as soon as you get the job you are instantly happy. “You followed your bliss! Oh happy you!”

Counterargument #4:

You begin with passion, which is the seed that grows into mastery. 

Rebuttal:

According to Cal Newport, you don't have a passion and build a mastery of your craft; quite the contrary, you may have to build a mastery or at the very least a baseline of competence in order to have enough knowledge to have an authentic passion. 

Cal Newport observes: “Passion is a side effect of mastery.”

Develop your mastery first. Then the passion comes as a natural result.

This reminds me of something Viktor Frankl writes: Don’t aim to be happy. Aim for a life of purpose and meaning and then happiness will be an unintentional byproduct.

Passion Should be Replaced by Preparation or "Deep Work":

Philosopher Brian Johnson gives an explanation of Cal Newport's book Deep Work, which explains how to create the foundation from which passion arises. 

Two Sample Rebuttals to Cal Newport

Sample #1

My issue with Cal Newport’s argument isn’t that it’s wrong; rather, my problem is that he has simply eviscerated a cheap cliche and replaced the cliche with a work ethic to present a self-help book about the importance of hard work, tenacity, focus, and a compendium of predictable platitudes about pursuing success so that Newport has simply replaced one set of cliches with a set of others.  

Sample #2

Of course, “follow your passion” is a brainless, inane, and worthless slogan, which Newport rightly skewers with his rapier, but his roadmap to success creates a false optimism about mastering a career when in fact the road to mastery requires the kind of privilege, educational foundation, chunks of time, and economic support that only a small sliver of Americans are fortunate to possess; in other words, his roadmap ignores the systemic inequality that too often capsizes one’s dream of reaching the apotheosis of career success. 

Defense of Newport

While the above writer is correct that enjoying social privilege and economic support will increase one’s odds of finding success along the path Newport describes, this privilege for a small group of Americans doesn’t negate the truth that anyone, regardless of their economic station, will fare better if they follow Newport’s craftsman ideal over the cheap ineptitude of “follow your passion.”   

***

ChatGPT Responses to Cal Newport & Other Requests (September 2023)

In a 1,200-word research paper with at least 4 sources, write an argumentative essay that addresses the major claims in Cal Newport's book So Good They Can't Ignore You.

ChatGPT

Title: Rethinking Passion and Career Success: A Critical Examination of Cal Newport's "So Good They Can't Ignore You"

Introduction

In his book "So Good They Can't Ignore You," Cal Newport challenges the conventional wisdom that one should follow their passion to achieve career success and fulfillment. Newport argues that passion alone is often an unreliable and potentially detrimental career motive, and he advocates for adopting what he calls the "Craftsman Mindset," which prioritizes skill development and mastery. This paper will critically examine Newport's major claims, specifically focusing on his arguments against the "Passion Hypothesis" and the benefits of cultivating a Craftsman Mindset. By analyzing Newport's assertions and examining both supporting and opposing perspectives, this paper aims to provide a nuanced perspective on the relationship between passion and career success.

• The Flaws of the "Passion Hypothesis"

Newport's central thesis in "So Good They Can't Ignore You" is that the "Passion Hypothesis" is fundamentally flawed. This hypothesis suggests that individuals should follow their preexisting passions when choosing a career path. Newport asserts that this advice is misguided for several reasons.

Firstly, Newport argues that many people struggle to identify a singular, all-encompassing passion, making it an unreliable career guide. He emphasizes that passion is often elusive and may not lead to a viable or fulfilling career. Instead, he advocates for a more pragmatic approach that prioritizes skill development, stating that "passion comes after you put in the hard work to become excellent at something valuable."

Additionally, Newport points out that the "Passion Hypothesis" can lead to job-hopping and career dissatisfaction. He contends that constantly searching for a job that aligns perfectly with one's passion can result in a lack of commitment and expertise, hindering one's chances of success.

To support these claims, Newport draws on examples of individuals who achieved success not by following a passion but by developing rare and valuable skills. For instance, he highlights the stories of Steve Jobs and comedian Steve Martin, who became masters in their respective fields through deliberate practice and skill development.

• The Benefits of the Craftsman Mindset

To counter the "Passion Hypothesis," Newport introduces the concept of the Craftsman Mindset. He argues that adopting this mindset, which focuses on developing skills and pursuing mastery, can lead to greater career success and fulfillment.

Newport proposes that individuals should approach their work as a craftsman, seeking to become exceptionally good at something valuable. He contends that as one acquires rare and valuable skills, they gain more control over their career and can negotiate better working conditions. Additionally, the sense of autonomy and impact that comes with mastery can lead to increased job satisfaction.

Newport supports his argument by referencing research on the psychology of motivation and satisfaction. He cites studies that show how autonomy, mastery, and purpose are key drivers of job satisfaction, all of which align with the Craftsman Mindset.

• Examining Newport's Claims

While Newport presents a compelling case against the "Passion Hypothesis" and in favor of the Craftsman Mindset, it is crucial to critically examine his claims and consider alternative viewpoints.

One criticism of Newport's argument is that he oversimplifies the concept of passion. Critics argue that passion is not necessarily an all-or-nothing pursuit. Instead, individuals can incorporate their passions into their careers in various ways, such as pursuing hobbies or side projects related to their interests. This allows them to infuse their work with elements of passion without necessarily making it the sole determinant of their career choices.

Moreover, some argue that Newport's emphasis on skill development and mastery can be overly demanding and time-consuming. It may not be feasible for everyone to invest the significant time and effort required to become "So Good They Can't Ignore You" in their chosen field, especially for those with family or financial responsibilities.

• Balancing Passion and Pragmatism

In conclusion, Cal Newport's "So Good They Can't Ignore You" challenges the prevailing notion that passion should be the primary driver in choosing a career path. While Newport makes persuasive arguments against the "Passion Hypothesis" and highlights the benefits of the Craftsman Mindset, it is essential to recognize that the relationship between passion and career success is not absolute.

Individuals must strike a balance between passion and pragmatism, as the pursuit of one's interests can coexist with skill development and mastery. Newport's book serves as a valuable reminder that career satisfaction often arises from becoming excellent at something valuable, but it should not discount the significance of aligning one's work with personal interests and passions.

Ultimately, the ideal career path may vary from person to person, and a thoughtful combination of passion, skill development, and a commitment to excellence can guide individuals toward fulfilling and successful careers.

***

The above ChatGPT response is 778 words, not the requested 1,200. There is no research. Of the 778 words, only 300 go toward an argument; the other 478 words are a book summary. 

***

 

Write a bombastic critique of Cal Newport's book So Good They Can't Ignore You.

ChatGPT

Cal Newport's book, "So Good They Can't Ignore You," deserves nothing less than a thunderous critique that reverberates through the hallowed halls of conventional career wisdom. Newport's audacious assault on the sacrosanct notion of "following your passion" is nothing short of a revolutionary manifesto that shakes the very foundations of modern career advice.

With the precision of a surgeon's scalpel, Newport surgically dismantles the fallacious "Passion Hypothesis" that has beguiled countless unsuspecting souls into the abyss of career dissatisfaction. He refuses to bow down before the misguided masses who preach the empty gospel of "do what you love, and the money will follow." Newport, instead, offers the clarion call of the Craftsman Mindset—a clarion call for true mastery and lasting success.

In a world intoxicated by quick fixes and instant gratification, Newport serves a bracing elixir of cold, hard reality. He argues that it is not enough to simply chase one's fleeting passions; rather, one must embark on a journey of relentless skill development, of becoming "So Good They Can't Ignore You." Newport's audacious thesis spits in the face of the notion that passion alone will pave the way to career nirvana.

He points to the irrationality of expecting that every individual possesses a predefined, innate passion ready to be discovered like some mythical treasure. Instead, Newport declares, "Passion is not something you follow; it's something that will follow you as you put in the hard work to become excellent at something valuable."

Furthermore, Newport's bombastic critique extends to the very essence of the modern work ethos. He scoffs at the idea that jobs should fulfill your every whim and fancy, challenging the entitlement of those who believe they should find unadulterated joy in every moment of their workday. Newport forces us to confront the reality that a fulfilling career is not just handed to us on a silver platter but is forged through the crucible of dedication and competence.

In conclusion, Cal Newport's "So Good They Can't Ignore You" is a clarion call for those brave enough to abandon the deceptive sirens of passion in favor of the arduous but infinitely rewarding path of craftsmanship. With a bombast that echoes through the annals of career advice, Newport tears down the passion myth and replaces it with the hard-won wisdom of excellence and mastery. It is a work that will resonate through the ages, reminding us that greatness is not bestowed upon the passionate, but rather upon those who dare to be so good that they simply cannot be ignored.

***

Write a scathing refutation of Cal Newport's book So Good They Can't Ignore You.

ChatGPT

Cal Newport's book, "So Good They Can't Ignore You," is nothing short of a misguided treatise that warrants a scathing refutation. Newport's assault on the notion of pursuing one's passion is not only flawed but detrimental to individuals seeking genuine fulfillment in their careers.

First and foremost, Newport's rejection of the "Passion Hypothesis" is a misguided oversimplification. He argues that passion is a whimsical and unreliable guide for career choices, advocating for a soulless pursuit of skill development and market value. This perspective fails to acknowledge the profound satisfaction that can come from aligning one's career with their true passions.

Newport's craftsman mindset may work for those who are content to become mere cogs in the machinery of corporate America, but it dismisses the importance of genuine enthusiasm and personal fulfillment in one's work. His callous dismissal of the value of passion in work is not only disheartening but also damaging to the countless individuals who yearn for meaningful, passion-driven careers.

Moreover, Newport's assertion that "follow your passion" is inherently flawed is based on a strawman argument. He presents the pursuit of passion as a reckless and irrational endeavor, ignoring the fact that individuals can explore and cultivate their passions while still being realistic and pragmatic about their career prospects. Newport's approach lacks nuance and subtly pits passion against competence, as if the two are mutually exclusive.

Furthermore, Newport's book perpetuates the idea that individuals should accept jobs they may dislike, with the expectation that they can eventually develop passion for them. This is a dangerous proposition that encourages complacency and stifles the pursuit of meaningful, fulfilling work. It ignores the reality that some jobs may never align with an individual's values and aspirations, no matter how skilled they become.

In essence, "So Good They Can't Ignore You" is a disheartening and one-sided manifesto that disregards the importance of passion in career satisfaction. It preaches a cold, utilitarian approach to work that neglects the very essence of human fulfillment and purpose. Instead of embracing Newport's narrow-minded perspective, individuals should recognize the value of pursuing their passions and seek careers that align with their interests, values, and dreams.

Provide an MLA-format Works Cited page that includes 5 book reviews for Cal Newport's book So Good They Can't Ignore You.

ChatGPT

I'm unable to provide an MLA-format Works Cited page with real-time or up-to-date information because my training only includes knowledge up to September 2021, and I don't have access to the internet to retrieve current sources. However, I can show you how to format such a Works Cited page with hypothetical book reviews. You can replace the hypothetical book reviews with actual sources:

Works Cited

• Smith, John. "Review of 'So Good They Can't Ignore You' by Cal Newport." Journal of Career Development, vol. 40, no. 2, 2018, pp. 123-125.
• Johnson, Mary. "A Critical Analysis of Newport's 'So Good They Can't Ignore You'." Career Planning and Adult Development Journal, vol. 33, no. 3, 2017, pp. 45-57.
• Brown, Emily. "The Craftsman Mindset: A Review of Cal Newport's 'So Good They Can't Ignore You'." Journal of Professional Development, vol. 25, no. 4, 2016, pp. 88-94.
• Davis, Michael. "Cal Newport's Career Advice: A Review of 'So Good They Can't Ignore You'." Journal of Applied Psychology, vol. 72, no. 1, 2015, pp. 34-41.
• White, Sarah. "Balancing Passion and Practicality: Evaluating 'So Good They Can't Ignore You' by Cal Newport." Journal of Career Planning and Management, vol. 18, no. 2, 2014, pp. 67-79.

Please replace the above hypothetical book reviews with actual reviews you may find in academic journals or reputable publications. Make sure to follow the specific MLA formatting guidelines for citing reviews from different types of sources.

***

Write a short story about a college writing instructor whose students are so tired and hungry in the late afternoon class that the instructor has to invent increasingly ingenious ways to keep his students’ attention.

ChatGPT

Professor Benjamin was well aware of the challenges of teaching a late afternoon writing class. By the time the clock struck 4 p.m., his students were usually drained, their stomachs growling louder than their enthusiasm for academic pursuits. It was, quite literally, a race against time to keep their attention and motivation alive.

One fateful Thursday, as the sun dipped low in the sky and the classroom windows painted long shadows across the rows of drooping heads, Professor Benjamin knew he had to pull off something special. His students, a diverse mix of personalities and backgrounds, were on the brink of surrendering to their fatigue.

He decided to start with humor, knowing laughter could act as a caffeine substitute. "Alright, folks, let's kick this off with a bang!" he declared, scribbling an outrageous sentence on the whiteboard: "The purple elephant tap-danced on the moonlit beach while playing the saxophone."

The class erupted in laughter, momentarily awakened from their afternoon stupor. With their attention captured, Professor Benjamin segued into his lesson on descriptive writing, drawing parallels between the absurd sentence and the power of vivid imagery.

As he lectured, he noticed the students surreptitiously glancing at their watches and stomachs audibly rumbling. In a swift, covert move, he slid a bag of candy bars into his desk drawer, winking conspiratorially at a particularly attentive student who had caught his eye.

When the inevitable yawns began to punctuate the lecture, Professor Benjamin embarked on the next phase of his plan. He donned a quirky hat adorned with colorful feathers and spoke in a bizarre accent, weaving a narrative about a young writer's adventures in a fantastical world. The ridiculous theatrics managed to hold their attention for a few more minutes, but he knew he couldn't keep it up forever.

As the minutes ticked away, Professor Benjamin contemplated his grand finale. He knew he needed something so captivating that his students would forget their fatigue entirely. Suddenly, inspiration struck.

With a dramatic flourish, he handed out small, sealed envelopes to each student. Confused glances exchanged between them. "Open them now," he commanded.

Inside each envelope was a mini chocolate bar, a token of gratitude for their perseverance. The room filled with delighted gasps and appreciative smiles. Professor Benjamin seized the moment, asking his students to describe the sensation of unwrapping the chocolate in writing. Their senses awakened, they eagerly took on the task.

By the time the class drew to a close, the students were more energized than when they had first entered. Professor Benjamin knew that his creative antics might have seemed bizarre, but they had successfully bridged the gap between exhaustion and engagement. As they filed out of the classroom, a few students couldn't help but chuckle at the memory of the afternoon's antics, grateful to their quirky instructor for making their late afternoon class anything but ordinary.

***

Write a short story about a college writing instructor who dramatically transforms his students’ lives for the better by having them write a research paper that addresses the claims in Cal Newport’s book So Good They Can’t Ignore You.

ChatGPT

Professor Daniel had always been known as a passionate, unconventional writing instructor at the local college. He had an uncanny ability to ignite sparks of inspiration in his students' minds, transforming their writing and, occasionally, their lives. This semester, he had something extraordinary in store for his students.

He had recently read Cal Newport's book, "So Good They Can't Ignore You," and was deeply moved by its message. He believed it held the power to dramatically transform his students' perspectives on career choices and personal fulfillment.

On the first day of class, Professor Daniel introduced his ambitious plan. "We're going to embark on a journey," he declared, "a journey that may very well change your lives. We'll explore the ideas in Cal Newport's book and apply them to your own lives through a research paper."

The students exchanged skeptical glances. Research papers were usually met with groans, but this one seemed different. Professor Daniel was known for his ability to make even the driest topics come alive.

As the weeks progressed, Professor Daniel guided his students through the intricacies of Newport's arguments. They delved into the Craftsman Mindset, the importance of skill development, and the dangers of relying solely on passion. The students were initially resistant to Newport's ideas, but as they dissected the book and discussed it in class, they began to see the wisdom in his words.

Each student chose a different aspect of Newport's philosophy to explore in their research paper. Some examined the lives of successful individuals who embodied the Craftsman Mindset, while others delved into the dangers of unrealistic career expectations. They interviewed professionals, conducted surveys, and dug deep into the literature on career development.

As the due date for their papers approached, something remarkable began to happen. The students started to apply Newport's principles to their own lives. They questioned their own career choices, evaluated their skills, and explored new avenues for growth and fulfillment. They realized that true passion often emerged from mastery, and they were determined to become exceptional in their chosen fields.

The day arrived for the students to present their research papers to the class. The atmosphere was electric with anticipation. Each student stood before their peers, sharing their findings, insights, and personal transformations.

As the presentations unfolded, it became clear that the impact of Newport's ideas extended far beyond the pages of the book. Students spoke of newfound clarity in their career goals, a commitment to skill development, and a sense of empowerment to take control of their futures. Some had even changed their majors or embarked on entirely new career paths.

Professor Daniel watched with pride as his students not only mastered the art of research and writing but also embraced a life-changing philosophy. The classroom had become a crucible of personal and intellectual growth, and Newport's book had acted as the catalyst for this transformation.

By the end of the semester, Professor Daniel knew that he had accomplished something extraordinary. His students had not only written compelling research papers but had also discovered the power of intentional, deliberate career development. They had learned that by becoming "So Good They Can't Ignore You," they could shape their own destinies and create lives of meaning and fulfillment. In that classroom, Cal Newport's message had become a guiding light for a generation of future leaders and innovators.

 

***

Write a short story about a ten-year-old boy Zane who watches too many episodes of the TV show I Dream of Jeannie, starts having obsessive dreams about Barbara Eden, and begins to fall down a rabbit hole of madness until he is saved when one day an emergency root canal affords him an encounter with a mysterious albeit sinister dentist named Dr. Harlowe.

ChatGPT

Ten-year-old Zane was an imaginative and curious boy. He had a voracious appetite for classic TV shows, and lately, he had become obsessed with "I Dream of Jeannie." The antics of Barbara Eden's character had captured his young mind, and he found himself daydreaming about her, even when he should have been focused on schoolwork or chores.

His fascination with the show grew to the point where it dominated his waking thoughts and started creeping into his dreams. Night after night, Zane found himself wandering through vivid dreams of Arabian nights, magical bottles, and the enchanting Barbara Eden. These dreams were enchanting at first, but they soon took on an unsettling tone.

Zane's obsession became worrisome. His parents noticed his distant gaze and the increasing frequency of his dreams. They consulted a child psychologist, but Dr. Harlowe, the mysterious dentist in town, had other plans.

One sunny afternoon, Zane's world took an unexpected turn. He was munching on a candy bar when he felt a sharp pain in his tooth, causing him to yelp in agony. His parents rushed him to the dentist, and the only available appointment was with Dr. Harlowe, a man whose reputation was as mysterious as his demeanor.

Dr. Harlowe's office was unlike any dentist's office Zane had ever seen. It was dimly lit, with strange symbols etched into the walls. Zane's heart pounded as he settled into the dentist's chair. He was trembling, not just from fear of the dental work, but from the eerie atmosphere that enveloped him.

The dentist examined Zane's teeth with an unnerving smile, his eyes gleaming with an unsettling intensity. Zane couldn't shake the feeling that Dr. Harlowe knew more about him than he should.

As Dr. Harlowe began the root canal procedure, something inexplicable happened. Zane felt a strange, otherworldly sensation wash over him. He could have sworn he saw a vision of Barbara Eden in her "I Dream of Jeannie" attire, beckoning him to escape from the mesmerizing but treacherous dreams.

With a jolt, Zane woke up from his dental chair, gasping for breath. Dr. Harlowe was peering down at him with a grin that sent shivers down his spine. "You had quite a vivid dream, young man," the dentist said cryptically.

Zane's toothache was gone, and as he left the office, he couldn't help but wonder if Dr. Harlowe was more than just a dentist. He felt a strange sense of relief and clarity, as if his obsession with "I Dream of Jeannie" had been a mirage, a dream within a dream.

Over the following weeks, Zane's obsession with the TV show gradually faded. He no longer dreamed of Barbara Eden, and his mind felt clearer than ever. He returned to being the imaginative and curious boy he once was, but with a newfound understanding of the power of dreams and the enigmatic figures who could change the course of one's life.

As for Dr. Harlowe, he remained a mysterious presence in Zane's memories, a sinister yet strangely transformative figure who had rescued him from the clutches of his own obsession. Zane never saw him again, but he couldn't help but wonder if the dentist's enigmatic smile held secrets far beyond the world of dental care.

***

Essay Structure

The thesis determines the outline or structure, which consists of an introduction, thesis, supporting paragraphs, addressing opposing views (if necessary), and a conclusion, a dramatic restatement or reiteration of your thesis. There are other structures such as extended definition and contrast/comparison, but argument is the most common one.