Thursday, October 6, 2016

Thursday, October 6

The Questions

  • How can we better understand those that differ from us ideologically in order to foster healthy dialogue in a democracy?
  • What might it take to change someone's mind or have our own mind changed?

MINI RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT
1. Choose an issue to research today. (Journal #1) It doesn’t have to be one that you are thinking of for your project, but feel free to begin this process of exploration.  Let it be one that you feel STRONGLY about.  Here are some websites that lay out some issues (but feel free to choose a topic from your heart or from the discussion yesterday).
2. First, you will reflect on your current opinions/feelings (journal #2).  
3. Second, consume ideas on the other side of the topic (the side you disagree with!).  Please be willing to be disturbed! You should explore opinion journalism on your chosen topic.  Find 2-3 sources that explore your chosen issue and hold the opposite bias from yours. (journal #3)
Please consult with me if you are having trouble finding opinion journalism on one side or the other.  I am pretty good at politics on the web:)


4. Lastly, write an additional paragraph explaining the oppositional viewpoints on the topic.  Include a discussion of the VALUES and MORAL FOUNDATIONS of the other side’s views.  Can you understand better where the other side is coming from?  (Journal #4)
JOURNAL 10.4

  1. What is your topic?
  2. Write one paragraph explaining your current opinions/feelings on the topic.
  3. Identify the titles and authors of the articles you found.  Link them here in your journal!
  4. After exploring media sources on the other side of the political aisle, write an additional paragraph explaining the oppositional viewpoints on the topic.  Include a discussion of the VALUES and MORAL FOUNDATIONS of the other side’s views.  Can you understand better where the other side is coming from?
What does it take to change someone's mind or to have your own mind changed?

1) The Incredible Rarity of Changing Your Mind: This American Life (first 24 min)
  • Listen carefully.  Jot key phrases or ideas that you find as take-aways about what causes us to change our minds and what does not cause us to change our minds.

2) Abstract from "When contact changes minds: An experiment on transmission of support for gay equality" published in Science on 12/12/2014. (10 min)
  • What is an abstract?
  • How to read an abstract
3)  JOURNAL 10.6
  • What is an issue you care about and would like to change someone's mind about?  Based on what you learned today, what would be an effective approach to influencing them?
  • Think about a belief you hold strongly.  Under what circumstances could your mind be changed?  What would that conversation sound like?
  • Consider the cost involved and the amount of people who changed thier minds as a result of the canvassing campaign.  Is this an efficient manner to change people's minds?  Why or why not?

4) HOMEWORK: Read Jonathan Haidt interview (the moral psychologist from the TED talk).