Assignments to the text
Read the first four paragraphs to disclose the key ideas. Are these paragraphs about names, suspects and people with glasses?
What, in Heilbroner’s view, lies at the core of most prejudices (paragraph 5).
Describe the kind of experiment held at Columbia and Barnard universities to demonstrate the power of stereotypes (paragraph 6).
Identify the crucial factor that made the students change their ratings of the girls (paragraph 6)
Look through paragraphs 5, 6, 11, 15, 20 and list the language expressions used in the text to describe stereotypes.
Quote Heilbroner’s answer to his own question “Why is it that we stereotype the world in such irrational and harmful fashion?” (paragraph 7). Can you add anything else to explain our stereotyping?
From paragraphs 6, 11 and 12, infer cause and effect (consequence) and fill in the table (the first has been done for you).
-
cause
effect
(6) individual ethnicity
People’s attitude (stereotype)
(11) stereotypes
(12) a person who stereotypes
In paragraph 11, compare Hayakava’s citation and Heilbroner’s extension of his citation. Comment on the extension and add your opinion.
In paragraph 17, restate (paraphrase) the author’s idea. You can also extend on it.
In groups of 4-5, discuss why people stereotype, according to Heilbroner (paragraphs 7, 8, 9).
Summarize Heilbroner’s de-stereotyping technique (paragraphs 17, 18, 19).
Apply Heilbroner’s de-stereotyping technique to someone who stereotypes. Illustrate your steps of de-stereotyping and report it to the class.
Develop an experiment different from or similar to the one described by the author in paragraph 6.
If you have to teach a class and you find stereotyping students, how will you solve the problem?
Prioritize, according to the importance, the sources of stereotypes from Heilbroner’s article.
From your own experience, classify gender stereotypes focusing on how males and females are described in TV programs.
Outline the rubrics of the article under study.
Integrate one of Heilbroner’s ideas about stereotypes with yours (that is really close to your understanding) and formulate it.
Have you ever been in a situation when stereotypes were helpful to you? If yes, reflect on the situation; if not, imagine that you are in such situation and speculate on what you will do.
Evaluate the article and conclude which ideas appealed to you more than others, make recommendations for applying this article to get rid of stereotypes.
Writing assignment. There is a great choice of ideas in Heilbroner’s article, choose the one that you liked most and write down your reaction to this idea, extend it, give your reasons why you like it, will this idea be helpful to you or to other people . Your essay should be 250 – 300 words. Send it to the teacher’s e-mail: lebedko@ephil.dvgu.ru
Writing assignment. Reflect on your stereotypes, think what specifically you thought about this or that group, people or individuals. What do you think of them now. What was helpful to you?
1 The joke is borrowed from the final paper of student L.Popova.
2 Source: [http://regionline.by.ru/archive/2003/01/29/siesta.htm] Cartoons # 1, 2 and 3 were borrowed from the final paper of L. Popova.
3 The cartoon is borrowed and modified from the book by English, L. M. Business Across Cultures: Effective Communication Strategies. White Planes, NY: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1995.
4 Source: The Moscow News #28 / 18 – 24 July 2008
5 aka – an abbreviation of “also known as.”