Summary 1

The extract mainly discusses Goal Theory, which attempts to explain why students are compelled to reach their goals at school. One reason stated in the passage is that students are motivated by the feeling of accomplishment upon reaching their target. The second version is the students wanting to attain mastery of a skill or subject. Instead of giving up, students are more likely to persevere and face up to the challenges on their quest for mastery. Lastly, students view the tasks themselves as a form of motivation. For them, the opportunity to be challenged and to have their limits pushed is why some tasks are worth their time and effort.