Name: ________________________________________________
Brainstorming Experts from Unit #1 Readings and Critical Theory
Instructions: Read and annotate the two critical theory excerpts.
Reading #1: Excerpt from, “The Social Construction of Race: Some Observations on Illusion,
Fabrication, and Choice” (1994)
By Ian F. Haney-López
“I begin this Article with Hudgins v. Wright in part to emphasize the power of race in our
society. Human fate still rides upon ancestry and appearance, The characteristics of our hair,
complexion, and facial features still influence whether we are figuratively free or enslaved. Race
dominates our personal lives. It manifests itself in our speech, dance, neighbors, and friends-"our very ways of talking, walking, eating and dreaming are ineluctably shaped by notions of
race. Race determines our economic prospects. The race-conscious market screens and selects us
for manual jobs and professional careers, red-lines financing for real estate, green-lines our
access to insurance and even raises the price of that car we need to buy. Race permeates our
politics. It alters electoral boundaries, shapes the disbursement of local, state, and federal funds,
fuels the creation and collapse of political alliances, and twists the conduct of law our politics. It
alters electoral boundaries, shapes the disbursement of local, state, and federal funds, fuels the
creation and collapse of political alliances and twists the conduct of law enforcement. In short,
race mediates every aspect of our lives.”
Reading #2: Excerpt from “What we mean when we say ‘Race is a social construct’”
By Ta-Nehisi Coates
“Our notion of what constitutes ‘white’ and what constitutes ‘black’ is a product of social
context…. There is no fixed sense of ‘whiteness or "blackness," not even today. It is quite
common for whites to point out that Barack Obama isn't really ‘black’ but ‘half-white.’… When
the liberal says ‘race is a social construct,’ he is not being a soft-headed dolt; he is speaking an
historical truth… Andrew writes that liberals should stop saying ‘truly stupid things like race has
no biological element.’ I agree. Race clearly has a biological element -- because we have
awarded it one. Race is no more dependent on skin color today than it was on ‘Frankishness’ in
Emerson's day. Over history of race has taken geography, language, and vague impressions as its
basis.”
‘Race,’ writes the great historian Nell Irvin Painter, ‘is an idea, not a fact.’ Indeed. Race does not
need biology. Race only requires some good guys with big guns looking for a reason.”
Brainstorm Assignment #1
Prompt: The two excerpts above consider how race is created. Choose one of the writings we
read over the past two weeks from Coates, Anzaldua, or Adichie and at least one of the excerpts
above and consider HOW this author’s work (Coates, Anzaldua, Adichie) participates in this
broader conversation about race, identity, and the story of our bodies.
For example, does the author’s work challenge the social construction of race, identity, or a body
type (as we see in the highlighted excerpts)? Or, does the work reinforce the norms and
stereotypes? Or, does the work do something else?
Directions: Review the criteria below on brainstorming. Please note, you are being evaluated on
your brainstorming process and not completing a full writing assignment. You’re demonstrating
how you would think through ideas to get to a response.
You may consider the following questions to guide you:





What is the prompt asking? Restate the purpose of this assignment.
Who is your audience? What do they already know?
What might you write about? How have your ideas changed?
What patterns and connections are you thinking about?
What are you thinking about now? What questions are you now wondering?
Refer to the rubric below to help guide your process.
State the
purpose
☐ Developing
☐ Emerging
☐ Proficient
☐ Expert
Thought Map
Quick Write
☐ Developing
☐ Emerging
☐ Proficient
☐ Expert
☐ Developing
☐ Emerging
☐ Proficient
☐ Expert
Draw
connections
☐ Developing
☐ Emerging
☐ Proficient
☐ Expert
Delete False
Starts
☐ Developing
☐ Emerging
☐ Proficient
☐ Expert
Overall
Assessment
☐ Developing
☐ Emerging
☐ Proficient
☐ Expert
College English 12
Making Personal Connections
Now that you’ve had an opportunity to synthesize ideas from two texts read in class, take some
time to make personal connections to the readings. You might choose to make this reflection a
part of the ongoing assignment that is due October 30.
Directions: Write a 1-2 page response that addresses some of the following questions. Your
choice.
1. What are the ways in which you engage with your own race?
2. What are some of the different stereotypes that you believe people have about races and
groups of people?
3. What are stereotypes about your race and gender that you have had a strong emotional
reaction to?
4. Which stereotypes do you fall into?
5. In what ways do you see yourself both fulfilling and challenging stereotypical
constructions of race ? How do they have a role in defining you and how you see
yourself?
6. How do you think others see you?
7. Question of your choice.
College English 12
Making Personal Connections
Now that you’ve had an opportunity to synthesize ideas from two texts read in class, take some
time to make personal connections to the readings. You might choose to make this reflection a
part of the ongoing assignment that is due October 30.
Directions: Write a 1-2 page response that addresses some of the following questions. Your
choice.
1. What are the ways in which you engage with your own race?
2. What are some of the different stereotypes that you believe people have about races and
groups of people?
3. What are stereotypes about your race and gender that you have had a strong emotional
reaction to?
4. Which stereotypes do you fall into?
5. In what ways do you see yourself both fulfilling and challenging stereotypical
constructions of race ? How do they have a role in defining you and how you see
yourself?
6. How do you think others see you?
7. Question of your choice.