Molo 1

Emily Molo
Mr. Newman
English 101 Rhetoric
19 September 2014
Statements of Scope for the Annotated Bibliography
Some people think that competition is always a bad idea and that it should never be
incorporated within schools. However, this is not always the case. Many athletes and students are
motivated by competition which makes them more successful. Having the competitiveness
creates a drive in athletes to push themselves to do better while practicing or playing a game.
This is also true with students who are competing for class rank or awards. Even though some
people believe that competition brings out the worst in people, competition can drive students
and athletes to do better by pushing them to exceed their full potential.
This essay will explore the effects that competition has on students and athletes. I will
discuss why a competition can push a sports team to victory and why it can help a student reach
their full potential academically. Additionally, the paper will also examine why some people
believe competition is unhealthy. Some think that putting someone in a competition setting will
bring out the worst in them instead of pushing them in a positive way. I will provide examples of
when competition can be helpful and when it can be seen as a downfall.
The selected bibliography includes sources that describe how competiveness can be
helpful to students and athletes. I have included three articles, Haggstroms, Mahoneys, and
Miklaszs, which explain why competition fuels athletes to push themselves to their full
potential. Miklaszs article explains how a recent Cardinals victory was led by a player who was
driven by the competition produced by the other team. Fotheringhams article and the school
survey explain how some people may think competition is unhealthy. The school survey
describes how a high school got rid of class rankings because it caused students to take the easy
way out instead of challenging themselves just to keep a top spot. All the sources provide
examples on why competition can be unhealthy, but mainly why competition can fuel students
and athletes to reach their full potential.

Molo 2
Annotated Bibliography
Fotheringham, Allan. "A Confrontation at Pearson College." Maclean's 2 Dec. 1996: n. pag.
elibrary. Web. 17 Sept. 2014. The author of the article talks about Pearson College and
the atmosphere is gives off. Fotheringham explains that the students at this retreat type
college are the "best and brightest." He explains how team sports provide unhealthy
competition which does not promote the right idea of the school.
Haggstrom, Ron. "After upsetting Chaska, Prior Lake Volleyball Building Confidence." Star
Tribune [Minneapolis] 9 Sept. 2014: n. pag. elibrary. Web. 16 Sept. 2014. Ron
Haggstrom interviews coach, Mike Dean about the girls volleyball team at Priors Lake.
He explains that the girls compete against each other for playing time which makes them
work harder. Dean says how having healthy competition is a good thing and can teach
you respect.
"High School to Nix Rankings ; Survey of Colleges Found Individual Class Rank not a
Significant Factor in Admission." elibrary. N.p., 21 Aug. 2014. Web. 16 Sept. 2014. A
local high school in Geneva has recently gotten rid of having a class rank in their school.
The article describes how the competition is unhealthy and is making students choose
classes to keep their GPA high instead of challenging themselves. The author explains
that instead of the student rank pushing them to do better, it is having the opposite effect.
Mahoney, Larry. "'They are Very Tough Physically and Mentally: Nokomis High School Girls
Teams are Flourishing." Bangor Daily News 9 June 2014: n. pag. elibrary. Web. 16 Sept.
2014. Larry Mahoney talks to many coaches from Nokomis High School. They describe
how the competitiveness of the girls basketball team is helping them be successful. Due
the fact all the girls are competitive, the team is flourishing and becoming champions.

Molo 3
Miklasz, Bernie. "Bernie Miklasz: Cards' Outfield Competition Helps Fuel Recent Run." St.
Louis Dispatch [St. Louis] 7 Sept. 2014: n. pag. elibrary. Web. 16 Sept. 2014. Bernie
Miklasz uses an interview from the Cardinals baseball manager, Mike Matheny, to show
how competiton has recently driven a couple players to set new personal records.
Matheny expresses how he believes healthy competition and things such as contracts to
motivte players are beneficial. Additionally, Matheny talks to Miklasz about a young
player, Oscar Taveras, and how he led the team to victory based on his drive of
competion.