Social Class Narratives

Starter 14:  Graphs from Pew Research

1. Describe what you see here in terms of data.  What stands out to you?  
2. What are some potential explanations for this?  How do these graphs inter-relate?
3. What questions does this raise for you?  List at least 3.

​Intersectionality

1. What it is: The recognition that are social identities are complex, and that different social categorizations such as race, class, and gender often overlap and interconnect, creating overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination or disadvantage.
2. Why it’s important:  The idea of intersectionality helps keep us from reducing people’s identities to just one social category.  Keeps us from oversimplifying.  Helps us recognize how different systems of oppression intersect.
3. Big Realization:  We are not just one thing, we are many things.  

Intersectionality Activity
This is like a more complicated version of 4 corners. The purpose of this is to get us thinking of social identities as a complex thing, so that we can see that though we are focusing on class here, these all impact each other. 

After each question, move under the sign that best fills in the blank.

1. The part of my identity I am most aware of on a daily basis is ________.
2. The part of my identity that I am least aware of on a daily basis is ________.
3. The part of my identity that was most emphasized or important in my family growing up was____________.
4. The part of my identity that I wish I knew more about is _____________.
5. The part of my identity that garners me the most privilege is ____________.
6. The part of my identity that I believe is the most misunderstood by others is ___________.
7. The part of my identity that I feel is difficult to discuss with others who identify differently is ____________.
8. The part of my identity that makes me feel discriminated against is __________.

Debrief

1. What patterns did you see here?
2. What surprised you?
3. How does this connect to the idea of intersectionality?  Why is it important to see the multiple identities that people inhabit?
4. How did you see intersectionality in the class narratives you read yesterday?

Class Narratives Discussions

1. In ASSIGNED Classes, discuss:
   1. Summarize the story you read about your assigned class.
   2. What themes do your stories have in common?  What differences?
   3. What new understanding did you gain about the experiences of class from reading this narrative?
2. In MIXED groups, discuss:
   1. What class narratives did you read?
   2. What commonalities did you see between the two classes?
   3. What differences did you see?
   4. What themes stood out to you?
   5. What connections can you make to class concepts?
   6. What ideas did this give you for writing your own narrative?

Class Narrative Writing Analysis
We’re now going to turn our eye towards how these were written.  First, let’s look at your assignment so you know where we’re headed.​  Read the assignment and rubric, make note of any questions.

Now, we’re going to use the rubric for this project to reverse-engineer your example.

1. In partners, look at the class narrative they read that they liked the most
2. Answer the following questions, which are based on the rubric categories:
   1. Thesis and Unifying idea:
      1. What is the unifying idea or insight of this narrative?  
      2. List three supporting details that illuminate that idea.
   2. Authentic Voice: Find sentences that do the following things, and explain how the sentence was able to achieve that effect.
      1. Reveal the author’s personality
      2. Creates an emotional experience
   3. Communal Relevance
      1. What is the “so what?” of this essay?  What is the larger truth?
      2. Choose a page (probably somewhere in the middle), and mark on that page where the author is telling a story, and where they are doing commentary or analysis.  
   4. Narrative Coherence
      1. Does this essay end with an intellectual or emotional punch?  If so, what is it?  How was it achieved?
      2. What connections does this author make between their social class and their beliefs/experiences?
   5. Style/Descriptive Language
      1. What is the engaging lead of this essay?  (copy it) What makes it engaging?
      2. Choose two sentences where the author effective used an element of good storytelling.  Write each sentence down, and explain what is good about it.

HOMEWORK:
Complete an initial brainstorm for your social class narrative.  This could be a freewrite, an idea web, a list of stories from your life.  Stuck?  Answer these questions:

1. How would you describe your class background and current class status?  How do you know what class you’re from?
2. How do you feel about your class background and status?
3. Did your parents tell you that you were from a specific class?
4. How do your attitudes about your work and money compare with those of your parents?
5. Do you see yourself as upwardly or downwardly mobile?
6. How do you relate to people in school or at work who are in a different class?
7. What are some examples of oppressions and/or privileges you experience now that relate to your class background?