Lesson 2 - Questioning Narratives & Stereotypes
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
Section outline
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In the previous lesson, you explored what makes an issue a social problem and how social problems can affect young people, communities, and wider society. In this lesson, you will go one step deeper and examine how social problems are described, interpreted, and judged through narratives, stereotypes, and media framing.
The way a problem is presented can strongly influence how people understand it. Sometimes, stories shared in media, public discussions, schools, families, or online spaces can create empathy and awareness. Other times, they can reinforce prejudice, blame certain groups, or hide the deeper causes of a problem. This is why critical thinking is important: it helps us question whether the stories we hear are complete, fair, and based on evidence.
Through this lesson, you will learn how narratives are created, how stereotypes influence the way people see different groups, and how media framing can change the meaning of the same issue. You will also reflect on your own first impressions and assumptions, and practice looking at social problems from different perspectives.
By the end of the lesson, you should be able to recognize common narratives and stereotypes, question biased or incomplete explanations, and think more carefully about how social problems are communicated.
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Students mustMark as done
In this presentation, you will explore how narratives, stereotypes, and media framing influence the way we understand social problems. You will learn how stories, repeated messages, images, headlines, and public discussions can shape opinions about different groups and social issues.
As you go through the presentation, think about how certain problems or groups are often described in your community, in the media, or online. Try to notice whether these descriptions help people understand the issue more deeply, or whether they create blame, prejudice, or misunderstanding.
This presentation will prepare you for the next activities, where you will reflect on first impressions, analyze how the same issue can be presented differently, and practice questioning assumptions more critically.
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Students mustMake a choice
An image may show certain facts, but it does not tell us the complete story. Our experiences, stereotypes, and expectations influence how we interpret what we see. Critical thinking requires us to separate visible evidence from assumptions and to ask what information may be missing.
Look carefully at the image and select the statement that is closest to your first interpretation.
There is no correct answer and this activity is not graded. Its purpose is to help you notice how quickly we form explanations about people and situations based on limited visual information.
Question:
Which statement is closest to your first interpretation of the image?
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Media headlines can describe the same situation in very different ways. Read each headline carefully and identify how its wording may influence the reader.
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Think about a narrative, stereotype, or assumption you have encountered about a social group or social problem. This short reflection will help you examine where it came from, question what may be missing, and express the issue more fairly.
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Shape the Future.
Mint the Change.
