Anti-racism Assignment

Dear Students,

Watch the videos and answer the questions below. You may have to use a dictionary and other research tools to help you answer the questions in detail. 

Post your answers in the comments section below. 

This assignment is due Tuesday, May 3rd by 11:59 pm. 

World Map 

Dig Deeper:

1. Define the words: racism, white supremacy, imperialism and racism. 
2. Do you think that the map (one described in the video) promotes white supremacy, imperialism and racism?
3. After watching the video, do you feel that schools need to change their maps?
4. Watch this 3 minute clip from late 90s TV show The West Wing. What do map projections of the size of majority "black"/"brown" countries  vs. "white" countries have to do with social equality?

Doll Test 

Dig Deeper:

The Clark Doll test was conducted by Dr. Kenneth Clark and his wife Mamie Clark for her master's degree thesis. The test reveals the damage done by racism on children's self-perception, to the point of making them hate themselves. 

1. How does the media reinforce the Clark Doll test results through fashion and celebrity culture? 
2. How does the manufacturing industry reinforce the Clark Doll test results through dolls, toys and video games? 
3. How will your mother and grandmother feel if you got a strong tan or sunburn this summer? How does this affect your self-esteem and body image?

Blue eyes vs. Brown eyes

Dig Deeper:

Jane Elliott is an American former third grade schoolteacher. She is known for her "Blue eyes–Brown eyes" exercise. 

1. What did you learn from the "Blue eyes-Brown eyes" exercise?

2. Why do we treat people differently? Is this fair?

3. Describe a personal incident in which you were treated unfairly because of your skin colour. How did it make you feel? What do you wish you could have said or done differently in this situation?

4. Design a social experiment you can conduct on your family and/or classmates to help reduce racism. Share the outline of your experiment. 

To Kill a Mockingbird - Video scenes

Lord of the Flies - Essay Questions

Answer 1 of the following Essay Questions:

1. Can a person be born “good” or “evil”, or does a person learn to be good or evil? Explain your answer in an essay by analyzing three of the major characters (Ralph, Jack, Piggy, or Simon) in terms of their distinctive character traits and the human quality they might symbolize.

2. Lord of the Flies  is an allegorical novel. It uses the conch and the beast as symbols of power, civilization and savagery. Compare and contrast the function of the two symbols in the novel. How are the two symbols used by Ralph and Jack to enhance order and barbaric beaviour?

3. How does the Stanford Prison Experiment and the Milgam Experiment possibly relate to Lord of the Flies? Explain your answer in an essay by analyzing three of the major characters (Ralph, Jack, Piggy, or Simon) in terms of their distinctive character traits and the human quality they might symbolize.

4. Of all the characters in the novel, who is the most useful? Why do you think this is the case? How does Golding use this character to advance the novel’s themes?

Essay Writing Tips

Introduction:
1. Catch the reader's attention with a thoughtful opening sentence(s) about the topic of your essay. 

2. State the title of the book and the author's name. Underline or italicize the title.

3. Have a clear thesis sentence in which you include three arguments proving your main point. 

Thesis Statement:
A good thesis statement is argumentative and persuasive - it proves a point using supporting evidence. A thesis statement must also be narrow and very specific to the topic you wish to argue. 

Example 1: "Pollution is bad for the environment" is not a good thesis statement because it does not argue anything; it merely states an obvious point. 

Example 2: "Canada's anti-pollution efforts should focus on privately owned cars," is a good thesis statement because it makes a challenging claim. 

Example 3: "Drugs are bad for society" is a not a good thesis statement because it is very general and broad. 

Example 4: "Drugs are bad for society because they encourage high school dropout rate and gang related crimes." This is a very good thesis statement because it is specific to one argument and it aims to support its claim using evidence. 

Body Paragraphs:

1. Always start each paragraph with an opening statement that relates back the your thesis.

2. Use at least one quote from the text as evidence to support your thesis. Explain each quote.

3. Always cite all quotes in the body paragraph.  To avoid plagiarism, place quotation marks around the words extracted from the text. Place the name of the author and page number inside brackets next to the quoted text. 

Example 1: Human beings have been described as "symbol-using animals" (Burke 3). 

4. Use transitions between paragraphs.

5. Do not use first person pronouns. Example, "I believe" or "In my opinion."

6. Do not use run-on or fragment sentences. 

7.  Write in present tense. 

Conclusion:

1. Use a transition.
   
2. Restate your thesis (three characteristics).
   
3. Wrap-up with a general, thoughtful closing remark(s) about your character. 

To Kill a Mockingbird - Study Questions

1Chapter 17-18

1.     What happened to Mayella on the night of November 21^st?

2.     Where has Mayella sustained most of her injuries? What does it imply?

3.     What is evidence is absent?

4.     What does Bob Ewell say happened to Mayella?

5.     What does Atticus ask the jury to take notice about Bob Ewell?

6.     Where did the Black people and children sit in the courtroom?

7.     Why does miss Maudie refuse to attend the trial?

8.     What did Mayella say in her testimony?

9.     Why would one feel sorry for Mayella?

10.  Why is her testimony not believable?

11.  Why does Mayella start crying?

12.  Which is the only witness Atticus calls to the stand?

Chapter 20-23

1.     Why does Dolphus Raymond pretend to be drunk?

2.     What are Atticus’s closing remarks?

3.     Why does Caluprina come to the courtroom?

4.     What is the verdict?

5.     How does Jem and Miss Maudie react to the verdict?

6.     What is new at the Ewell family?

7.     How does Atticus respond to the threat?

8.     What two options are available for Tom Robison ?

9.     How does the jury system work in Alabama?

10.  Why was the jury out so long?

11.  Why is Scout furious with aunt Alexandra?

12.  What does Jem reveal to Scout?

Chapter 25

1.   Why does Jem ask Scout not to mash the roly-poly bug?
2.   How does Helen Robinson react to Tom’s death?
3.   How does the town react to Tom’s death?
4.   What does Tom’s editorial say about Tom’s death?
5.   What is Ewell overhead saying regarding Tom’s death?

Chapter 26

1.   How do the children feel about Boo Radley after the trial? Why?
2.   What is the topic of Miss Gates’ lecture for Grade 3 students?
3.   Why does Scout think Miss Gates’ is hypocritical?

Chapter 27

1.     Why does Bob Ewell lose his job with the WPA? Whom does he blame?

2.     Who is prowling around Judge Taylor’s house?

3.     Who offers Helen a job and why?

4.     Why doesn’t Helen want to take the main road?

5.     What does Aunt Alexandra suspect about Bob Ewell?

6.     Where and why does the town sponsor a Halloween party and play?

7.     What happened last Halloween?

8.     What is the school play?

9.     What costume does Scout wear for the play?

Chapter 28-31

1.     Who jumps up and frightens Jem and Scout on the way to school?

2.     Describe the haunted house.

3.     Why does the audience burst out laughing during the play?

4.     Why are Jem and Scout the last people to leave the school?

5.     Who is pursuing Jem and Scout on the way home? Whom do they think it is?

6.     Who attacks Jem? Who comes to Jem’s rescue?

7.     Which two individuals are called for further rescue and help?

8.     Why is Scout so worried?

9.     Who is really dead?

10.  How does the costume protect Scout?

11.  Describe Boo Radley.

12.  Why does Atticus insist Jem killed Bob Ewell?

13.  What does it mean by “Let the dead bury the dead.”

14.   Who really killed Bob Ewell?

15.  Describe the newfound friendship between Scout and Boo Radley.