In the article "30 Little Turtles" by Thomas L. Friedman, the author argues that outsourcing U.S. jobs is good for the economy and world peace. He claims that by earning a good wage, Indian call center workers gain self-confidence and optimism, while young Palestinian men see no prospects and consider themselves potential suicide bombers. To support this thesis, Friedman compares the positive outlook of Indian workers to the hopelessness of young Palestinian men, citing conversations he has had.

1. Summary Practice
In “30 Little Turtles,” Thomas L. Friedman argues that outsourcing U.S. jobs is good
for the economy and for world peace. He compares a group of positive, young Indian
call center workers to three hopeless Palestinian young men to support his claim. By
earning a good wage, the Indian workers not only have money to spend and help
their families with, they also gain “self-confidence, dignity, and optimism,” according
to Friedman. The young men from the West Bank, he cautions, consider themselves
“suicide bombers in waiting” because their society has nothing to offer them in
terms of jobs or prospects for a good life. Friedman primarily uses personal
conversations he has had with a handful of people as evidence.
Comment [VMA1]: Identify the author and title of the
source text in the first sentence.
Comment [VMA2]: Identify the main point or thesis
in the first sentence, regardless where it occurs in the
source text.
Comment [VMA3]: Refer to the author by last name
only after the first introduction of the full name.
Comment [VMA4]: Use attributions liberally to
illustrate that these are the author’s ideas (not yours). In
this example, they are “he compares,” “according to
Friedman,” “he cautions.”
Comment [VMA5]: Describe the supporting points
that the author uses to prove the main point. Be careful to
distinguish between supporting points and
details/examples (which should not be included in a
summary).
Comment [VMA6]: Briefly describe the kind of
evidence the author uses.