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Taking your first steps into higher education
Taking your first steps into higher education

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3.1 Identity

Let’s focus on Week 4 (identity). You might want to quickly skim through the pages for this week [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)]   to remind yourself about what was included.

When you have done this, you should do the next activity.

Activity 4 Reflecting on identity

Timing: Allow about 20 minutes
Cartoon of Popeye holding a can of spinach and speech bubble saying 'I yam what I yam!'
Figure 4 Popeye – I yam what I yam

This is an opportunity to think about how your responses to and understanding of this aspect of social science might have changed.

Answer the following questions. If you like you can copy Table 4 into your notebook and complete it there.

Table 4 Understanding identity
NowWhat's changed?
  1. How do you understand ‘stereotype’?
  1. How do you understand ‘culture’?
  1. Do you understand how social science sees identity?
  1. Can you use your understanding of identity and apply it to yourself or someone else?
  1. Are you more or less likely to study a social science subject as a result of this week?

Comment

This activity asks you some direct questions about some important social science concepts, including identity, culture and stereotypes. These are all words that can be used in everyday conversations. However, in social science they have particular meanings, although sometimes these meaning can be disputed. The final question is a more personal one and is trying to get you to think about how much you enjoyed the social science approach taken in Week 4.