The Marketplace of Ideas is Here!

Marketplace of Ideas Instructions

Topic Proposal Form

BRAINSTORMING LINKS

• Browse the topics at any of the "issues" based subscription databases:
• CQ Researcher
• Opposing Viewpoints
• Issues: Understanding Controversy and Society
• Check out the documentaries at:
• Frontline
• Sixty Minutes
• Read the news:
• CNN
• FOX
• NYTimes
• Chicago Tribune
• Read Blogs:
• Huffington
• Newsmax

Affirmative Action in College Admissions: You Decide

The question of the use of affirmative action in college admissions is one that may have specifically impacted all of you.  Today, it is up to you to ultimately make a decision about whether or not affirmative action programs should be used in order to increase racial diversity on campus.  Please do the following:

• In the second packet, reread the synopses of the Gratz and Grutter cases.  Then in the same packet, read and annotate the excerpts from the opinion and the dissent.
• Then in the first packet read and annotate the exceprts from the opinion and dissent of the Grutter case.
• Finish reading and annotating the last two articles in the first packet ("Race Neutral University Admissions in the spotlight" and "One Nation Indivisible").
• Read the article posted at this link.

Then, in a 2-4 page argument (double spaced), decide the outcome of either the Texas or Michigan case described in the last article.  Your argument should have a clear thesis and use information from any of the materials provided in class.  Each paragraph of your argument must begin with a clear topic sentence that is an assertion of your argument.  You may do additional research to support your argument but must cite correctly and submit a works cited page if you do.  You should not use first person anywhere in your paper.  Papers should be proofread and error free.
Papers are to be submitted to turnitin.com by Thursday, 4/25.

Hidden Bias

Do you have any hidden biases? Even though we work to have a society based on the concepts of justice and fairness, are there parts of our unconscious that prevent that from happening? Today you will take a test to perhaps provide an insight to these answers.
1) Go to http://www.tolerance.org/hidden_bias/index.html%22%3Ehttp://www.tolerance.org/hidden_bias/index.html%3C/a>
2) Read intro.
3) Click on Project Implicit’s website.
4) Click on Demonstration
5) Click on “Go to the Demonstration Tests”
6) Read the Preliminary Information and the Important disclaimer.
7) Click on the “general information about the IAT”
8) Read Measuring Implicit Associations
9) Read the “I am aware…” sentence and click on “I wish to proceed” (if you choose to)
10) Click on Take the Race IAT and read and follow all of the instructions to take the test. You do not need to answer all of the survey questions.
11) Read the results of your test. Consider: did the results show that you have some hidden bias? Were you surprised by the results? What do you think might be some of the reasons behind your test results? What questions do you have about the results?
12) Click on the “frequently asked questions” and skim the questions and answers.
13) Click on the tab at the top of the page labeled “Understanding IAT Results” and read information.
14) Return to http://www.tolerance.org/hidden_bias/index.html%22%3Ehttp://www.tolerance.org/hidden_bias/index.html%3C/a>. Read the entire page. How does this information enhance or change your understanding of your result? What conclusions can you make about stereotypes? Prejudice? Biases? How might hidden biases influence you (or not)?
15) Do a blog post about this information and your results. What do you think?  Does this information influence your thoughts and opinions about "I Sit Where I Want"?