Who Says So?
Prewriting Activity for Editorial
News or Feature Story Prompt
Goals:
1. To prepare students to write an editorial
2. To encourage students to contemplate examine sources on a controversial issue
3. To encourage to students to listen to other views and respond to them
4. To provide opportunities for students to discuss and think critically about
current events and issues
5. To develop skills in supporting one's opinion with facts and examples
Procedures
1. Read the attached article by Henry Mok. NOTE: This exercise is linked to
an an online Chicago Tribune article, "Asian Americans Rising above Stereotypes
after a Century of Progress." The article has since been archived and is
available for $1.95 at their Web site -- www.chicagotribune.com.
Or, you may prefer to revise this activity to link to an article currently on
the site.
2. What is the main idea of the article?
3. How are facts and figures used in the article? How do these contribute to
the strength of the article?
4. What are some misconceptions of Chinese and Chinese Americans as identified
by the writer?
5. Think about your own school population. Who are considered minorities in
your school? What are some misconceptions about these minorities (as well as
misconceptions about your own ethnic group)?
6. How are these groups portrayed in the media?
7. What are possible effects of these misconceptions in the media?
8. Have you ever witnessed or experienced discrimination of an ethnic minority?
9. One source quoted in the article supports affirmative action for Chinese.
Do you agree that this is a wise policy? Why or why not?
10. What should be the government's role in ensuring equal opportunity for people
of all ethnic backgrounds?
11. What should be the individual citizen's role in ensuring equal opportunity
for people of all ethnic backgrounds?
12. Write an editorial in response to this article. What facts and figures and
examples can you find to support your argument?
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