Benjamin Abelow Teachers Make a Difference: Norman Miller & Marc Trachtenberg

The speaker discusses the profound influence of two professors on their academic development. At Trinity College, sociology professor Norman Miller introduced the speaker to a tutorial system that emphasized critical reading and writing. This experience helped the speaker discover their analytical talents. After transferring to the University of Pennsylvania, history professor Mark Trachtenberg further honed the speaker's critical thinking skills through a seminar on American foreign policy. Trachtenberg's approach challenged students to form independent opinions, despite authoritative endorsements. Both educators significantly shaped the speaker's intellectual growth.

Which two institutions did the narrator attend during their educational journey?

• Oxford University and Cambridge University

• Harvard University and Yale University

• Stanford University and MIT

• Trinity College and University of Pennsylvania

What unique teaching method did Professor Norman Miller use with the narrator?

• Group projects

• Lectures

• Tutorials

• Online courses

What was the primary focus of the writing exercises with Professor Miller?

• Creative storytelling

• Summarizing the book's plot

• Analyzing the book's thesis without initial judgment

• Comparing different authors

How did the tutorial with Professor Miller impact the narrator's self-perception?

• It had no impact on their self-perception

• It helped them discover their intellectual abilities

• It made them feel less confident

• It discouraged them from pursuing further education

What was the main subject of Professor Trachtenberg's seminar?

• American literature

• American foreign policy since World War Two

• World history

• European politics

How did Professor Trachtenberg encourage students to approach books in his seminar?

• By focusing on the author's biography

• By memorizing key passages

• By accepting popular opinions

• By critically analyzing and questioning authoritative reviews

What lesson did the narrator learn from Professor Trachtenberg's approach to book reviews?

• To ignore all reviews

• To write their own reviews

• To be skeptical of authoritative endorsements

• To always trust expert opinions