Lesson Plan: Masculinity: Tough-guy Stereotypes Live On
II. While Reading Tasks:
Word Inference
- illustrate |ˈiləˌstrāt| verb [ with obj. ] -explain or make (something) clear by using examples, charts, pictures, etc.: the results are illustrated in the text.
- mutate |ˈmyo͞oˌtāt| –change or cause to change in form or nature: [ no obj. ] : technology continues to mutate at an alarming rate
- immunize |ˈimyəˌnīz| verb-to render harmless or ineffective; neutralize.
- stereotype |ˈsterēəˌtīp, ˈsti(ə)r-| noun-a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing: the stereotype of the woman as the carer.
- seminar |ˈseməˌnär|-noun-a conference or other meeting for discussion or training.
- extracurricular |ˌekstrəkəˈrikyələr| adjective-(of an activity at a school or college) pursued in addition to the normal course of study: extracurricular activities include sports, drama, music, chess.
- denigrate |ˈdeniˌgrāt| verb [ with obj. ]-criticize unfairly; disparage: there is a tendency to denigrate the poor.
- quaver|ˈkwāvər|verb [ no obj. ]-(of a person’s voice) shake or tremble in speaking, typically through nervousness or emotion.
- vulnerable |ˈvəln(ə)rəbəl| adjective-susceptible to physical or emotional attack or harm: we were in a vulnerable position | small fish are vulnerable to predators.
- erosion |iˈrōZHən| noun-the gradual destruction or diminution of something: the erosion of support for the party.
Reading Comprehension: Word -Recognition
Some cultural critics link such mounting emotional vulnerability to the erosion of male privilege and all that it entails. This perceived threat of diminishing power is exposing ugly, at times menacing fault lines in the male psyche. Experts point to sexual assaults on campus and even mass murders like those at a community college in Oregon and a movie theater in Colorado. These gunmen were believed to share two hyper-masculine traits: feelings of profound isolation and a compulsion for viral notoriety.
Grammar Focus: Prepositions
In this assignment students needed to explore the norms of masculinity. I wanted the course to explore this hallmark of the masculine psyche. Even at this point in the semester the students seemed blind to their ideas.
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