Assignment 1: LASA 2: Discrimination: Reflection and Interview Watch the Frontline program online. Frontline: A Class Divided http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/divided/ A Class Divided explores the nature of prejudice. Third grade teacher Jane Elliott deliberately created a classroom situation to teach her students how it feels to be on the receiving end of discrimination. This is an encore presentation of the classic documentary on third-grade teacher Jane Elliott's "blue eyes/brown eyes" exercise, originally conducted in the days following the assassination of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968. This classic classroom experiment, conducted in the late 1960s in a small Midwestern town, demonstrates how quickly and easily schoolchildren can internalize prejudice and discriminate. Years later, these children discuss the valuable lessons they learned from this experiment. Elliott employs this same teaching strategy with a group of adults in the workplace, and discusses their reactions. This assignment is designed to allow you to synthesize what you have been learning about the various dimensions of diversity and the necessity of treating everyone in an inclusive, sensitive and respectful manner. Discrimination Paper Part I: Interpersonal Reflection After viewing the video, consider the following questions and write your response. Your response should be 4-5 pages and should address each question thoroughly, reflecting an accurate representation of what you have learned in this course. Demonstrate scholarship by utilizing supporting resources to justify your ideas and responses: What did you learn from the film? What scene or scenes do you think you'll still remember a month from now and why those scenes? Did any part of the film surprise you? Do you think someone with a disability, of a different sexual orientation, an older American or some of a different religion would also find it surprising? Why or why not? Both Elliott and her former students talk about whether this exercise should be done with all children. What do you think? If the exercise could be harmful to children, as Elliott suggests, what do you think actual discrimination might do? Use an example, different from the example you used to describe labels, from what you have learned about people with disabilities, older people, sexual minorities, or people of differing religions. How can negative and positive labels placed on a group become self-fulfilling prophecies? Use an example from what you have learned about people with disabilities, older people, sexual minorities, or people of differing religions. Based on what you have learned in this course, discuss an example (either from the video or from your experiences) that illustrates each of the following statements: Dimensions of diversity may be hidden or visible. Dimensions of diversity are in a constant state of flux. Dimensions of diversity are not always clear-cut or easily defined. Discrimination Paper Part II:.

1. Assignment 1: LASA 2: Discrimination: Reflection and
Interview
Watch the Frontline program online.
Frontline: A Class Divided
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/divided/
A Class Divided explores the nature of prejudice. Third grade
teacher Jane Elliott deliberately created a classroom situation to
teach her students how it feels to be on the receiving end of
discrimination. This is an encore presentation of the classic
documentary on third-grade teacher Jane Elliott's "blue
eyes/brown eyes" exercise, originally conducted in the days
following the assassination of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in
1968. This classic classroom experiment, conducted in the late
1960s in a small Midwestern town, demonstrates how quickly
and easily schoolchildren can internalize prejudice and
discriminate. Years later, these children discuss the valuable
lessons they learned from this experiment. Elliott employs this
same teaching strategy with a group of adults in the workplace,
and discusses their reactions.
This assignment is designed to allow you to synthesize what you
have been learning about the various dimensions of diversity
and the necessity of treating everyone in an inclusive, sensitive
and respectful manner.
Discrimination Paper Part I: Interpersonal Reflection
After viewing the video, consider the following questions and
write your response. Your response should be 4-5 pages and
should address each question thoroughly, reflecting an accurate
representation of what you have learned in this course.
Demonstrate scholarship by utilizing supporting resources to
justify your ideas and responses:
What did you learn from the film? What scene or scenes do you
think you'll still remember a month from now and why those
scenes?
Did any part of the film surprise you? Do you think someone
with a disability, of a different sexual orientation, an older

2. American or some of a different religion would also find it
surprising? Why or why not?
Both Elliott and her former students talk about whether this
exercise should be done with all children. What do you think? If
the exercise could be harmful to children, as Elliott suggests,
what do you think actual discrimination might do? Use an
example, different from the example you used to describe
labels, from what you have learned about people with
disabilities, older people, sexual minorities, or people of
differing religions.
How can negative and positive labels placed on a group become
self-fulfilling prophecies? Use an example from what you have
learned about people with disabilities, older people, sexual
minorities, or people of differing religions.
Based on what you have learned in this course, discuss an
example (either from the video or from your experiences) that
illustrates each of the following statements:
Dimensions of diversity may be hidden or visible.
Dimensions of diversity are in a constant state of flux.
Dimensions of diversity are not always clear-cut or easily
defined.
Discrimination Paper Part II: Personal Interview
For Part II of this assignment, you will have a conversation with
someone who you feel may have faced discrimination. Examples
include someone with a disability, an older American, someone
who is a sexual minority, or someone who lives in a
multicultural family. After choosing an individual to interview,
explain to this individual what you have seen in the Class
Divided program. Invite them to watch the program, or parts of
the program, with you. After watching or discussing the
program, pose the following questions to the individual. Be sure
to explain the reason for your questions and why you have
selected them to participate in the interview:
What, if any, discrimination do you experience?
How have you coped with this situation?
What do you think needs to change at the cultural level to

3. reduce discrimination?
Following your refection (Part I listed above), add 2-3 pages to
your paper which addresses the following:
A description of the individual you chose to interview and why.
Explain how you went about approaching this individual for the
interview.
What are your observations about the person's view of
discrimination and how it affects his/her daily life?
Did the interaction with the person change your view of
discrimination? If so, explain how the interaction has affected
you either positively or negatively. If it did not change your
view of discrimination, explain why.
How well do you think you would cope with discrimination
from this person's perspective?
Finally, what is the best manner in which to advocate for those
facing discrimination? What actions will you change based on
what you have learned in this course and how will you serve as
an advocate for those individuals who face discrimination?
Your final assignment, consisting of both Part I and II, should
be approximately 6 -8 pages. Be sure to address each topic
listed above and, as appropriate, cite the online course, the
textbook, and other credible sources to substantiate the points
you are making. For example, when discussing an example of
how diversity may be hidden or invisible cite sources, which
you have referenced to substantiate the points you are making.
Submit your assignment to the
M5: Assignment 1 Dropbox
by
Saturday, December 7, 2013
.
Assignment 1 Grading Criteria
Maximum Points
Describes what was learned from the film and explains what
scene(s) will be remembered.
20

4. Clarifies how some scenes were personally surprising and
addresses how someone else may find the film surprising.
24
Expresses whether the class exercise should be done with all
children. Provides an example of how discrimination impacts
children.
20
Discusses positive and negative labeling and, with an example,
depicts how labeling can become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
24
Provides examples that illustrate how diversity may be hidden,
is in a constant state of flux, and how diversity is not always
straightforward.
40
Interviews an individual different from them. Describes the
individual and reasons for choosing the individual and provides
observations about the individual's views on, and experience
with, discrimination, and what specific challenges, if any, he or
she has faced.
56
Explains whether this interview changed their personal view of
discrimination and discusses how the student would cope with
discrimination from this person’s perspective.
24
Expresses, personally, how to advocate for those facing
discrimination and future actions to take based on what has
been learned in this course.
28
Style
(8 points): Tone, audience, and word choice
Organization
(16 points): Introduction, transitions, and conclusion
Usage and Mechanics
(16 points): Grammar, spelling, and sentence structure
APA Elements
(24 points): In text citations and references, paraphrasing, and

5. appropriate use of quotations and other elements of style
64
Total:
300