They want fairness
By: Paul Bloom
Published: Oct 22, 2015
The Atlantic, http://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2015/10/people-dont-actually-want-equality/411784/
Level of difficulty: ***
Note to the student:
the focus of the following questions is summary skills, paraphrasing and
drawing conclusions
BEFORE YOU READ
Watch the following short video of an experiment which is
also described in the text you are going to read and think about it
- What happen when you
give one monkey cucumbers but grapes for another monkey
LISTEN TO THE PANEL
DISCUSSION
Now, watch the panel discussion on equality and fairness and
make some notes
·
What's wrong with equality?
QUESTIONS
1. Read
the first three paragraphs and fill in the blanks: People are wrong to think
that ………………………….is a source of concern to them. What they are really concerned
about is…………...........and…………………………………
2. What
is the topic sentence of paragraph 4? What is the concluding statement? What do
they tell you about the organization of argumentative writing?
3. The
case of Louis C.K’S five year old proves that ……………………………
4. It
is implied in the text that Robin Hood is still popular because he tried to
restore……
5. Read
the experiment conducted by Shaw and Olson and circle the answers that don’t
fit. The children were happy to go along with unequal distribution so long as
it was merited/ indefensible /deserved / warranted/ unjustified
6. The
widespread tendency to favor number one both among primates and humans proves
that……………………………………………………….
7. The
case of small groups doesn’t contradict what has been stated thus far about
inequality because what is really happening in small groups is
that………………………………………
8. The
weak are at more of a disadvantage in large groups because in such
groups………………………………….This means that they are stuck with a despot for example.
9. We
understand from Ariely and Norton’s study that have preconceived notions /
misconceptions / prejudicial views / misguided notions about the current
distribution of wealth in American society.
10. The
writer concludes by warning us that we should focus more on ………………………….
WRITING TASK
Write an essay in which you you discuss which is more important: social equality or fairness?
WRITING TASK
Write an essay in which you you discuss which is more important: social equality or fairness?
PEOPLE DON’T ACTUALLY
WANT EQUALITY KEY AND TEACHER’S NOTES
The questions written
for this fascinating text focus on summary skills, paraphrasing and the ability
to draw conclusions due largely to the way the text has been written. The
students will need to read closely and carefully.
- Economic inequality;
unjust causes of economic inequality; the potential consequences of
economic inequality
- The first sentence; the
last sentence; argumentative paragraphs or essays have a sort of circular
structure where you end up where you started – the point you were trying
to prove.
- Focus on equality maybe
mistaken
- Economic equality
- Indefensible, unjustified
- Humans and other species
don’t naturally value equality for its own sake
- Everyone is struggling to
ensure that nobody gets too much power over him. OR nobody wants to get
screwed
- Interactions are no longer
face to face and the powerful have guns
- Misconceptions
- Fairness and above all the
suffering of the poor
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