BB4: How Does Culture Shape our Cognition and Consciousness?
Read Chapter 4
Watch the Ted Talk by cognitive scientist Lera Borodtsky: https://www.ted.com/talks/lera_boroditsky_how_language_shapes_the_way_we_think?language=en
TED Description: There are about 7,000 languages spoken around the world — and they all have different sounds, vocabularies and structures. But do they shape the way we think? Cognitive scientist Lera Boroditsky shares examples of language — from an Aboriginal community in Australia that uses cardinal directions instead of left and right to the multiple words for blue in Russian — that suggest the answer is a resounding yes. “The beauty of linguistic diversity is that it reveals to us just how ingenious and how flexible the human mind is,” Boroditsky says. “Human minds have invented not one cognitive universe, but 7,000.
INSTRUCTIONS:
This week your writing should be in an essay format without copypasting my questions: Construct a one piece blog (information essay) with strong paragraphs (intro to topic/concepts, background knowledge, dilemma, solutions, conclusion, future direction) and a big question to challenge the believes and assumptions of your peers. Use my below questions/suggestions as a guide to structre your blog. Unpack the textbook information and challenge all our assumed believes about others and ourselves! No need to use external sources. Stick to the chapter. Thank you!
After reading the chapter and watching the talk, write a 500-word blog (essay) exploring how culture might shape the way we dream, talk, and think. Start with a central idea [intro to topic/concepts]. Back up your arguments with the studies used in the chapter and go deeper making connections to specific aspects (e.g., poverty-driven perception, cultural norms/enviornmental characteristics and dream interpretation, perception/meaning of color, religion, etc.)[background/scientific knowlege]. After laying out cross-cultural knowledge on consciousness and thinking, discuss issues/controversies [dilemma]. Describe a specific problem, and try to solve it [solutions]. In conclusion, connect your blog to the current situation and/or future professional role, highlighting the importance of human consciousness for peaceful human interactions [conclusion].
