Module Essay: Breaking Free from Single Stories
Overview: In Chimamanda Adichies TEDTalk, she discusses the dangers of stereotypes and what she calls single stories that are perpetuated about groups of people. Mariam Thalos discusses the connection between identity and freedom and claims that freedom is the result of self-conceptual acts that often defy social norms and oppressive systems. Nicolas Geeraert points out that the origins of psychology focus primarily on Western culture, and calls for a cross-cultural approach that examines the effects of culture on the shaping of our mental processes. Annie Paul writes about unconscious bias and explains why people create stereotypes. Claude Steele discusses the term stereotype threat which affects individuals who are members of stereotyped groups and cultures.
Prompt
1. Compose a thesis in response to the essential questions: Narrow your topic, and then reflect on the following questions:
What is the impact of an individuals culture and identity on their position in society?
Does freedom exist for all cultures and identities, or is it limited for some?
2. Narrow your topic, and then reflect on the following questions:
Consider the cultural factors that affect a groups freedom (race, gender, socio-economic class, religion, sexuality, ability, age, etc.) Which cultures/groups are free, and which are inhibited?
How do single stories, stereotypes, and stereotype threat affect our freedom?
How does unconscious bias affect our perceptions of groups that are different from us?
What single stories have been told about you? What single stories have you told about others? What are the lasting effects of the single stories?
What can we do to actively overcome single stories and stereotype threat in ourselves, and others.
3. Support your argument in the body paragraphs.
Summarize and cite key definitions (single stories, stereotype threat, unconscious bias, etc.)
Incorporate at least three sources from the module to support your argument
Incorporate at least two additional sources from your independent research
Include at least one example of a single story that was told about you, or that you told/heard about another individual or group.
Audience: Write for an audience that is not in this class. That means youll need to spend some time summarizing key ideas, defining any terms that might be unfamiliar, choosing short quotes from the reading selections to help your reader get a sense of the authors arguments.
Length: 3-4 pages (800 -1000) words
Requirements:
Include an original title (not “Module Two Essay” or Identity Essay”)
Use MLA Style to format your essay
Compose a thesis statement that highlights your stance on the essential questions
Organize the essay so that each body paragraph is providing support for your thesis
Source requirements: Cite all sources using MLA style in-text citations
Integrate at least three sources from the module
Research and integrate at least two additional sources
Include at least one example of a single story that was told about you, or that you told/heard about another individual or group.
Include an MLA style Works Cited page at the end of the essay (not included in 3-4 pages of text)
Please add quotation marks with quotes as well as page or paragraph numbers with the author at the end of the quote.
Please see the 3 sources below. You will have to find and add an additional two sources.
Adichie, Chimamanda. “The Danger of a Single Story.” TED, July 2009, https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story
Thalos, Mariam. “More than having options, freedom is being true to yourself”. Aeon, April 2019. https://aeon.co/essays/more-than-having-options-freedom-is-being-true-to-yourself utm_source=Aeon+Newsletter&utm_campaign=13d77d2bca-EMAIL_CAMPAI%E2%80%A6
Paul, Annie Murphy. “Where Bias Begins: The Truth about Stereotypes”. Psychology Today, 1 May 1998. www. psychologytoday.com.
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