Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. What factors might determine one’s success? How much does one’s talent determine how successful they are? How much does one’s goal setting determine their level of success? What effect might one’s mindset have on their success? How often do you think successful people have failed on their journeys to achieve their goals?

Teaching Suggestion: In the book Grit, Angela Duckworth shares research that shows that effort, goal setting, and perseverance are key factors in determining success. Other factors such as skill and intelligence are secondary to a person’s success and alone cannot determine achievement. Consider discussing what students think determines success prior to reading the articles.

• This article suggests ways to measure success; how might these ideas translate to personal success?
• This article explains the role of attitude and positivity in obtaining success.

Short Activity

Use the West Point Grit Scale to assess your propensity toward grit.

Teaching Suggestion: According to the author, “grit” is a skill that can be developed and acquired using her methodology. The West Point Grit Scale was developed by Duckworth to determine the likelihood of success in students who attend West Point. Consider administering the quiz prior to reading the book to help students develop an understanding of their individual grit. Odd numbered statements are scaled from 1-5, with 1 being “not at all like me” and 5 being “very much like me.” Even numbered statements are scaled from 5-1, with 5 being “not at all like me” and 1 being “very much like me.” To calculate total grit, the points are divided by 10. A score of 3.5 lies in the 40th percentile ranking of possessing grit, while a score of 4.9 is in the 99th percentile. Consider using the discussion questions in Part B to have students analyze their results and reflect on their own levels of grit and success and possible improvements they can make. The Grit Scale can be accessed (and automatically scored) using this link.

A.

1. New ideas and projects sometimes distract me from previous ones.

2. Setbacks don’t discourage me. I don’t give up easily.

3. I often set a goal but later choose to pursue a different one.

4. I am a hard worker.

5. I have difficulty maintaining my focus on projects that take more than a few months to complete.

6. I finish whatever I begin.

7. My interests change from year to year.

8. I am diligent. I never give up.

9. I have been obsessed with a certain idea or project for a short time but later lost interest.

10. I have overcome setbacks to conquer an important challenge.

B.

• Do you think the results of your quiz are accurate?
• What do you think grit means based on the questions you answered?
• What can be done to increase your grit score?

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the text.

Describe a time when you attempted to achieve a goal but failed. What was your goal? Why do you think you were not successful in achieving it? Did you eventually give up on this goal or continue to work to achieve it? What do you think are the determining factors of achievement?

Teaching Suggestion: Grit discusses the importance of perseverance in attaining goals. Students may find it beneficial to reflect on goals they have not yet achieved, the strategies they used to help them work toward their goals, and whether those strategies align with what Duckworth’s research has shown is necessary for success. Some students may have abandoned their goals—consider discussing the reasoning behind goal abandonment and whether or not it is the right decision.

Differentiation Suggestion: Students who require an additional challenge may be interested in researching other resources that determine success. Consider encouraging students to analyze three different sources and make comparisons between them. Sharing results with peers provides an opportunity for presentation skills practice as well.