1. Summarize the ‘big idea(s)’ of the book (and/or each Part) in your own words. What ties all the chapters
together within each Part? What’s a central idea or theme you identify throughout?
o Show me that you understand what he is getting at and why he is telling you all these things chapter
after chapter. In other words, convince me that you did not lose the forest for the trees (that you did
not lose the big picture under all the details and examples and specific arguments he gives).
o Do not try to summarize every chapter individually.
• 2. Explore those major ideas/themes in more detail. Demonstrate your understanding of the ‘big idea(s)’
identified above by providing specifics (and page #) from the book to demonstrate and support what you are
saying and the way you are describing Kahneman’s ideas.
o In other words, explain what he’s getting at in one of the chapters and a specific experiment or situation
that demonstrates the concept he’s explaining in that chapter. Do this in your own words.
o You should be pulling ideas from many different chapters.
o Include the page # in parentheses when referencing any specific experiment (e.g., pupil dilation) or
effect (e.g., anchoring) or example/story he gives.
▪ Note: You do not need to provide a page number or even chapter # when simply describing a big
idea that infuses most or all of the book (e.g., System 1 and System 2). On the other hand, if
you’re paraphrasing an experiment or an effect he describes/explains, cite where in the book
you got that from.
▪ If you use an audiobook, cite the chapter # and whether it comes from early or late in that
chapter. For example, blah blah blah (Ch. 5, beginning) or blah blah blah (end of Ch. 19).
• 3. You should include some of your own critical opinions/applications.
o Be specific. Do you agree/disagree with something and why? Can you think of a counter-example in real
life? Do you see a flaw or limitation in one of the experiments or studies he describes (or in his
interpretation of the results)? Do you think his ‘big idea(s)’ in one Part of the book are wrong (and, if so,
how are they wrong and what would you suggest instead?).
o You can identify new connections or applications to other areas of life or to your own experience or to
what we’ve learned in the course (you can refer to “Topic 4 slides” or “what we discussed in Topic 6”,
etc.).
o Note: “I agree with this” does not count as a critical opinion or application. If you bring in your own
experiences or thoughts, it should add to the content, make a new point or new connection, etc.
• 4. Wrap it up
o What are some implication or real-world applications of the ideas in this Part or the ideas you’ve
brought up (if you haven’t addressed that already), or what is your take-away and big-picture lesson?1. Summarize the ‘big idea(s)’ of the book (and/or each Part) in your own words. What ties all the chapters
together within each Part? What’s a central idea or theme you identify throughout?
o Show me that you understand what he is getting at and why he is telling you all these things chapter
after chapter. In other words, convince me that you did not lose the forest for the trees (that you did
not lose the big picture under all the details and examples and specific arguments he gives).
o Do not try to summarize every chapter individually.
• 2. Explore those major ideas/themes in more detail. Demonstrate your understanding of the ‘big idea(s)’
identified above by providing specifics (and page #) from the book to demonstrate and support what you are
saying and the way you are describing Kahneman’s ideas.
o In other words, explain what he’s getting at in one of the chapters and a specific experiment or situation
that demonstrates the concept he’s explaining in that chapter. Do this in your own words.
o You should be pulling ideas from many different chapters.
o Include the page # in parentheses when referencing any specific experiment (e.g., pupil dilation) or
effect (e.g., anchoring) or example/story he gives.
▪ Note: You do not need to provide a page number or even chapter # when simply describing a big
idea that infuses most or all of the book (e.g., System 1 and System 2). On the other hand, if
you’re paraphrasing an experiment or an effect he describes/explains, cite where in the book
you got that from.
▪ If you use an audiobook, cite the chapter # and whether it comes from early or late in that
chapter. For example, blah blah blah (Ch. 5, beginning) or blah blah blah (end of Ch. 19).
• 3. You should include some of your own critical opinions/applications.
o Be specific. Do you agree/disagree with something and why? Can you think of a counter-example in real
life? Do you see a flaw or limitation in one of the experiments or studies he describes (or in his
interpretation of the results)? Do you think his ‘big idea(s)’ in one Part of the book are wrong (and, if so,
how are they wrong and what would you suggest instead?).
o You can identify new connections or applications to other areas of life or to your own experience or to
what we’ve learned in the course (you can refer to “Topic 4 slides” or “what we discussed in Topic 6”,
etc.).
o Note: “I agree with this” does not count as a critical opinion or application. If you bring in your own
experiences or thoughts, it should add to the content, make a new point or new connection, etc.
• 4. Wrap it up
o What are some implication or real-world applications of the ideas in this Part or the ideas you’ve
brought up (if you haven’t addressed that already), or what is your take-away and big-picture lesson?
RULES
Avoid direct quotes whenever possible.
o If you absolutely can’t find a way to paraphrase something in your own words and need to use a direct
quote, only quote the necessary amount and include the page number you got it from in
parentheses afterward.
o Do not quote long passages or entire paragraphs, as that suggests you don’t actually understand the
idea well enough to explain it in your own words.
o MAXIMUM THREE (SHORT) DIRECT QUOTES. Avoid direct quotes whenever possible.
o If you absolutely can’t find a way to paraphrase something in your own words and need to use a direct
quote, only quote the necessary amount and include the page number you got it from in
parentheses afterward.
o Do not quote long passages or entire paragraphs, as that suggests you don’t actually understand the
idea well enough to explain it in your own words.
o MAXIMUM THREE (SHORT) DIRECT QUOTES.
No need to use APA style since this is not a journal article. If you do cite something other than the Kahneman
book (simply mentioning “p. 96” is fine for that) or class notes/slides (simply mentioning the Topic # is fine),
then do cite such outside sources and add a reference for them at the bottom of your paper. No need to use APA style since this is not a journal article. If you do cite something other than the Kahneman
book (simply mentioning “p. 96” is fine for that) or class notes/slides (simply mentioning the Topic # is fine),
then do cite such outside sources and add a reference for them at the bottom of your paper.
