Reference no: EM133525800
PART 1
Follow one of the instructions below in your conversations with friends or family and answer the following questions.
Describe briefly the conversation topic and the people involved in this conversation;
Report your experiences afterward:
Do you find it difficult or easy to follow these instructions;
What were the reactions from your partners when you interrupt or stopped giving vocal support to your partner;
Other reflections you'd like to share.
What role do you think verbal words such as "I see," "mm-hm," or "yea" play in a conversation?
Option A: INSTRUCTION
Feel free to interrupt your partner at any time. Agree, disagree, or change the topic, but be sure to speak at the same time as your partner. If your partner tries to give you the floor, be silent. But, when your partner tries to speak, talk over him or her.
Option B: INSTRUCTION
Refrain from any nonverbal behavior while your partner is speaking. Do not smile, nod, or shake your head. In addition, do not vocally support your partner: do not say "I see" or "mm-hm" or "sure" or "yes" or anything else while your partner is speaking. When you are speaking, you can behave normally. However, keep as still and as quiet, and as unresponsive as possible while your partner speaks. If this proves too difficult, break eye contact and look away.
If you are living by yourself and/or if it is impossible for you to have a conversation with friends around, then go and find a video clip online (from a movie, TV show, documentary, etc.) in which at least two people are talking to each other. Observe the conversation and
Describe the conversation topic and the people involved in this conversation;
Report who did what to whom. For example, did you notice anyone interrupting others? What are their genders? Did you notice many "I see" or "mm-hm" or "sure" or "yes" in this conversation? Which gender tends to make these verbal sounds more? What role do you think these verbal words play in a conversation?
PART 2
Traditionally, it has been assumed that science and medicine are purely objective, rational and uninfluenced by social/cultural concerns. Martin's "The Egg and the Sperm" examines the use of metaphor in science and shows ideas from the larger culture influence scientific thought.
What was your initial reaction after reading this article? Do you think Martin's characterization of the various cultural biases among biologists is accurate or not? Why? [NOTE: All the cultural biases mentioned in this article are from Biology textbooks, they are not from Martin, the author of the article.]
Since this article was written in 1991, do you think scientific language has evolved? [Try to find the latest biology textbook or blog where it describes the fertilization process]
Can you think of other examples that present cultural bias in scientists' use of metaphor, imagery, choice of terminology, neologisms, and other rhetorical devices?