For the final paper in this course, you will write an MLA-formatted essay of 3-5 pages in which you indicate ways in which to improve working as a group/team; you also may indicate things that hamper quality teamwork. The discussion MUST rely on the three authors utilized in this course; you will cite: Atul Gawande’s The Checklist Manifesto (specifically the chapter “The First Try,” though you may reference other chapters–I, for example, would not be able to exclude findings from Pronovost’s central line infection study (the Keystone Initiative) on pages 37-44). Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers, specifically the first half (pp. 177-98) of “The Ethnic Theory of Plane Crashes”–though you could cite things from the second half of the chapter if you have the text (or listen to an audible version of it). Simon Sinek’s The Infinite Game, specifically Chapter 7, though you are allowed to cite ideas from other chapters (such as the role of a “just cause” in motivating a team or the need for a courageous leader, etc.). There is NO reason to cite any other author or any other work of these authors since they cover this topic so abundantly that it should be hard for you to keep your paper under five pages. In terms of your writing craft, and demonstrating that you learned the lessons of English 1A, keep these things in mind: You must have a properly formatted works cited list (with hanging indent) with the three sources listed above. You should quote and cite with variety in mind. Don’t repeat patterns or signal phrases. If you quote more than three lines of text, it must be block quoted. etc. In your essay, you are allowed to make reference to your own experience(s) working in groups/teams to elucidate points you are making. Though you do not need to have an introduction with a thesis, it’s not a bad idea to have a thesis in mind to guide you through your writing. Your MLA-formatted final essay should be at least three pages long, not counting the works cited page. (Try not to go over five pages.) The works cited page must include Gawande, Gladwell, and Sinek, specifically the three texts of theirs from this course.
