Saturday, April 4, 2015

DOUBLE TEXT READING INTO WRITING ACTIVITY: ASSAULT ON THE SUBWAY AND WILL WOMEN EVER FEEL COMPLETELY SAFE ON MASS TRANSIT


Mass transit is the only way a lot of people can commute in urban centers be it for pleasure or for business. The buses, trains and subways in most metropolises are often packed during rush hours especially and can become very uncomfortable for women. Many women have been molested or harassed on mass transit and it is time to address the problem. Do the two reading tasks below, discuss the issue and write about it.
WHAT IS THE BYSTANDER EFFECT? WATCH AND FIND OUT
The Bystander effect https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vB_L8rGMiZ4

ASSAULT ON THE SUBWAY: WHAT CAN A BYSTANDER DO?
“There are ways to intervene that don’t involve putting yourself in danger”
By: Laura Bliss
Level of Difficulty: **

BEFORE YOU READ
·         Access the online copy of the text. You will see the link to a video in the second paragraph of the text titled “30 seconds of the incident”. Watch the video and explain why you think no one intervened?
·         Explain what they could have done.
·         What would you have done?

NOW WATCH THE FOLLOWING 
Safety alert issued about suspect groping women in Denver City Park http://kdvr.com/2015/02/27/safety-alert-issued-about-suspect-groping-women-in-denver-city-park/  Social Psychology- Sexual Harassment and Bystander Effect https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQ9INpXaFao


QUESTIONS
1.       Replace the phrase “That’s when” at the beginning of paragraph 2 with a phrase from the text.
2.       For what two reasons didn’t anyone intervene when Chuva molested Lopez?
3.       Smiley helped Lopez by……………………..and…………………………However, he made matters worse when……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
4.       According to Edwards although not intervening in events like the case of Lopez is completely natural / completely understandable / completely useless / completely unnatural, there are things that can be done such as……………………………………………………………………………………..
5.       Which of the options open to bystanders is least likely to be selected? Why?
6.       What is the additional advantage of making a noise when witnessing an event like the case involving Lopez?
7.       In situations like the case of Lopez, delegating works too because ……………………………
8.       The authorities in New York have tried to help address issues like the case of Lopez by……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
9.       How else could the bystander effect be averted on subways?
10.    Not addressing the problem of harassment and molestation gives the completely unacceptable message that ………………………………………………………………………………………
WILL WOMEN EVER FEEL COMPLETELY FREE ON MASS TRANSIT?
“Cities trying to boost ridership have a few options but lots of room for improvement”
By: Ann Friedman
Level of difficulty: **
QUESTIONS
1.       What conclusion can be drawn from the story of the party goer?
2.       According to the text working class men / upper class men / working class women / upper class men are more likely to take public transport because……………………………………………
3.       What conclusion can we draw from the paragraph beginning “Women who aren’t” ?
·         Public places are  not safe for women
·         Public transport is not safe for women
·         Women must avoid public transport
·         Women should drive the family car
4.       Explain what “These concerns” in the sentence “These concerns often don’t show up in surveys of transit riders” refers to.
5.       More people can’t be persuaded to use mass transit systems at the moment unless……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
6.       The soaring numbers groping and harassment complaints and arrests in Boston are due to …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
7.       The app NextBus is useful because it prevents people from having to……………………………
8.       Gender segregated subway cars are a stop gap solution because they don’t……………………
WRITING TASK
Use the information in both the texts you have read to write about the problems women encounter on mass transit systems and how to address them. When suggesting solutions endeavor to justify them; say how this solution will help and why it is needed. It is also suggested that you discuss both short term and long term solutions.
ASSAULT ON THE SUBWAY: WHAT CAN A BYSTANDER DO? KEY AND TEACHER’S NOTES
This text addresses a worldwide predicament women find themselves in on mass transit systems: groping, harassment and even assault. Solutions are also suggested in the text and students can always think of their own too. The female students will probably have their own stories to tell as well helping to create more awareness.
1.       When she fell asleep (head cradled by the Plexiglas divider between her head and the doorway)
2.        There were a lot of people around them and no one else intervened.
3.       Capturing 30 seconds of the incident on video and going to the authorities; the video travelled from his phone to a free porn website, then to Gothamist before going viral
4.       Completely understandable; being direct, distracting or delegating
5.       The direct tack (or being direct); because it is stranger danger
6.       Noise can be a catalyst for someone else to step in and help in some other way
7.       It creates momentum
8.       Equipping cars with intercoms; rolling out platform help points; providing cell service
9.       Equipping subways with cameras
10.   What’s happening is socially acceptable enough that none of us will act
WILL WOMEN EVER FEEL COMPLETELY FREE ON MASS TRANSIT? KEY AND TEACHER’S NOTES
This text provides the necessary background and statistical information to the previous text and should help with the writing task to come.
1.       Public spaces especially at night are places where women can’t expect to feel safe
2.       Working class women; it is the only financially viable option; OR the cost of driving is getting too high
3.       Public transport isn’t safe for women
4.       Being nervous stuck in a subway car with one or two other people and being stuck in a packed subway car
5.       Widespread societal problems of harassment and sexism are solved
6.       PSA and easier ways for women to report harassment and assault
7.       Wait around for the bus in the cold or sweat it out on a subway platform in the heat of summer
8.       Address the big picture (and) concerns women have with public transit (there is grammar mistake in the original sentence)




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