TASK
1) Describe an incident in which you were perceived as a stereotype because of your age, ethnic or religious background, employment, accent, place of residence or some other factor.
2) Explain how it felt to be stereotyped in this way.
3) Discuss where the stereotype might have originated as well as at least one specific action that might be taken to prevent such acts of stereotyping.
Be sure to write about a specific, notable incident. Tell the story of the incident the way a good storyteller might: Use concrete details, vivid descriptions and passages of dialogue to help your readers “see” the incident and share in how you felt. For models of this kind of writing, look at the two short essays assigned above: “Black Men and Public Space,” by Brent Staples, and “Only Daughter,” by Sandra Cisneros.
