Assignments
- Stereotyping and Prejudice
Research/Analysis
Paper
The purpose
of this paper is for you to apply research on stereotyping and prejudice
to a question that interests you. That question can take one of two forms:
Research
Question
You can
choose to integrate research discussed in class with new research you
uncover to answer a research question. For example, you might want to
know if children have as strong an ingroup bias as adults do. Or, you
might want to know what types of approaches or programs to reduce prejudice
towards homosexuals are most likely to be successful. Or, you might
wonder if conscious or unconscious processes are more powerful in the
creation of stereotypes. Or, you might ask if and how it is possible
to prevent or reduce the level of prejudice and discrimination between
two groups when the groups come into conflict with each other. In your
paper, you would thoroughly explore the research on the question you
choose to describe what the answer currently appears to be for that
question.
Analysis
Question
Obviously,
to answer a research question, there must be sufficient research conducted
to point towards some converging evidence. However, there might not
be sufficient research to address your question because it is too narrow
or just not of sufficient interest to have been thoroughly investigated
up to this point. In that case, your can approach your question by applying
the research discussed in class and the readings to analyze some facet
of stereotyping or prejudice. For example, you might want to analyze
why a certain group of people are often portrayed or viewed in a certain
way. How are Asians portrayed in the media? Why? Why are fans of a certain
musical band or genre of music viewed they way they are viewed? Or,
you might ask what might be done to change stereotypes and/or prejudice
towards a certain group, applying research to suggest one or more strategies
to promote that change. Or, you might ask if and how it is possible
to prevent or reduce the level of prejudice and discrimination between
two particular groups you have in mind when the groups come into
conflict with each other. In your paper, you would apply research from
the course to thoroughly analyze how your question might be answered.
For either
option, your paper should be approximately 8-15 typed, double-spaced pages.
Additionally, citing of sources in the paper should follow APA format
including a list of cited works. The final paper is worth 100 points.
There are
many possible questions. To make sure that you are on the right track
with your question and paper you will need to have your question approved
by me. I may require you to complete other steps of your paper by certain
dates. Failing to do so will result in a loss of points on your paper
grade.
Discussion
Leaders
In pairs,
you will be responsible for leading the initial discussion of a research
article or reading. Specifically, you will be required to
- present
a four-minute overview of the article, highlighting the key points;
- help the
class to make connections between the article and real world applications
and/or previous research or ideas we have discussed;
- answer
questions about the readings and their relationship to previous topics
and readings when called upon to do so.
You will
be a discussion leader for an article or reading twice during the term,
each time as part of a pair. Each presentation will be worth 30 points.
However, I will weight your higher grade of the two twice as much as the
lower grade towards your final grade on the presentations. Additionally,
you will lose three points on each presentation for each minute you go
beyond five minutes.
Rubric
Possible
Exam Questions
Midterm
Exam Questions Final Version
Final
Exam Questions Final Version
Reading
Assignments
Assignment
1 --
due Thursday,
March 29
Assignment
2 -- due Thursday, April 5
Assignment 3 -- due Thursday, April
12
Assignment
4 -- due Thursday, April 19
Assignment
5 -- due Tuesday, April 24
Assignment
6
-- due Thursday, May 3
Assignment 7 -- due Tuesday, May
8
Assignment
8 -- due Thursday, May 10
Assignment
9
-- due Thursday, May 17
Assignment
10 -- due Thursday, May 24
Assignment
11 -- due Thursday, May 31

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