The Danger of a Single story: How Writing Impacts the World

A preview of today’s reading: Our lives - our cultures - are composed of many overlapping stories. Nigerian novelist Chimamanda Adichie tells the story of how she found her authentic cultural voice — and warns that if we hear only a single story about another person or country, we risk a critical misunderstanding.

TEXT ANNOTATION GUIDE: Don’t RUSH through text! A fast reader isn’t necessarily a good reader… Have a pencil (not a highlighter) with you. Circle words and phrases you don’t know. If you have a smartphone, investigate word meanings before you read onward.

Text annotation guide: Your brain should MOVE as you read. Underline sections of text that make your brain move. In the margins, jot down: Questions Predictions Connections Inferences Visualizations

Text annotation guide: Star sections of text that bring up a main point. This will help you reference the text during class discussions.

Pre-Seminar questions: What can you tell about this text from the title? Skim the first paragraph. What do you think is the main idea of this text? What do you notice first about this text?

read and annotate Read the transcript, “The Danger of a Single Story” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Make annotations in the margins to aid our class seminar, which will be held tomorrow.

PAIDEIA SEMINAR QUESTIONS I will now hand out the Paideia Seminar questions and guidelines. You will answer the remaining questions for homework. Be prepared for a class discussion tomorrow.

If it’s a narrative story, then the story: Narrative Stories: If it’s a narrative story, then the story: Reads like a STORY. Has a beginning (catchy introduction!), middle, and end. Uses figurative language. SHOWS, doesn’t TELL, the story.

Tell a story that proves the epidemic of the single story is true. Brainstorm…. You will be writing a narrative story on one of the following topics. Take a moment to ponder the writing prompts and select your favorite: Think about a time when you were the victim of a single story. Tell about that moment. Tell a story that proves the epidemic of the single story is true. Elaborate upon a moment that exposed YOUR vulnerability to the “single story epidemic.” (Did you ever judge someone based on one story?) Research a current event that you believe stems from the “single story epidemic.” Now, write a story that tells what life from within this event must be like.