Judgment of Others
In Search of Self- Identity and Sense of Self
Student Page
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Key Concept:

Many would say that it is human nature to judge others based on appearances or social status.  However, it is the way that individuals act upon that judgment that shows their true character.  In this lesson, you will discover that we should not act upon our initial judgment of others because there may be more to be learned from their experiences.

Objectives:

You will be able to
- write for a variety of purposes including to express understanding
- relate literary experience to personal experience and extend personal response
- identify bias and fallacy in a speaker's argument
- speak to clarify and extend thinking

Resources:

1. "Our Corner" (J. Shui, China - Tapestries)
2. "Man With A Camera" (E. Alfon, Philippines - Tapestries)
3. "A Room of One's Own" (V. Woolf, England- Literature and Language: English and World)

- Characterization Chart
- role play evaluation sheet

Teaching-Learning Strategies :

listening, you must consider the stereotypes that you may unknowingly have.

Task One: Stereotypes:  How do we judge others?

Participate in this class activity by brainstorming and recording your initial reactions to the various words that are posted around the room. Complete the following steps:

1.  The teacher will supply you with a list of words that may include: nurse, teacher, drug dealer, drug addict, police officer, gang member, criminal, etc.

2.  Using the above list, you will write down your initial thoughts and reactions about who these people are and what their circumstances may include.

For example, most people would view a nurse to be female, but there are male nurses working in our hospitals. 

3.  Once you have completed the brainstorming activity, your teacher will lead you through a discussion where you will evaluate your answers, and how and why you came up with the responses you recorded. 

As an alternate activity, you could brainstorm your initial reaction to the list of words in your notebooks as an individual brainstorming activity. 

listening, fill out the characterization chart and begin thinking about the effects our stereotypes can have on others.

Task Two: The Judgment of Others:  What do we do?

Read one of the following three selections and complete the questions listed:

Possible Selections:
"Our Corner" (J. Shui, China - Tapestries)    
"Man With A Camera" (E. Alfon, Philippines - Tapestries)
" A Room of One's Own" (V. Woolf, England - Literature and Language: English and World)

1.  Write a brief summary of the selection(s) describing the situation where stereotyping was involved and how the character's view of himself changed because of the stereotyping.
2. How did you feel as you read the inside thoughts of the character that was being stereotyped by others?
3. Discuss how you felt about the behaviour shown towards others.  Do you feel you could act any differently as a member of society towards others?  Explain.
4. What lesson is the author trying to teach readers? 

As you answer the questions, consider whether personal experience can bias your writing. For example, do you think the writer's view of people might have changed based on what he/she experienced? Why is it necessary to consider all sides of a story?

you have discussed the effects of judgment on others, you will have the opportunity to role play a scenario involving stereotyping that you have either experienced or witnessed.

Task Three: Acting It Out!

Follow these steps to complete the role play activity:

1.  Brainstorm, individually, an example of a time you have either experienced or witnessed an incident where stereotyping was involved. 
2. Break into groups of three or four and write a script of one incident you would like to act out in class. Everyone has to assume a role.
3. You will act out your scenarios in front of the class.
4. Following your performance in front of the class, you will explain how the scenario could have been changed so that a positive situation would have been displayed rather than a stereotypical situation. 
5.You may be evaluated using the role play evaluation sheet. 

This is a great way for you to experiment with the concepts you have just learned and act out situations you are familiar with because you have experienced them or witnessed them yourselves.  You should be able to see the choices you may be faced with in a particular situation and how you don't always have to do what others may expect.