1 of 25

This version of the activity is meant for highly controversial conversation. It is important to think of it as a learning tool to learn about yourself. It is not meant to polarize or desensitize student views, but to understand where you’re coming from and others are bound to come from other mindsets. Everything is hypothetical and should not be used against/for differing views.

Activity 3.2, Collaborative Discussions Toolkit

2 of 25

3 of 25

Critical Feeling in Discussions

Activity 3.2, Collaborative Discussions Toolkit

4 of 25

Emotions

Do emotions limit conversation?
Do they have a place in discussion?
How can you notice/register emotions in a group?

Is it helpful?

Today, we’re identifying emotions across different topics.

5 of 25

Contents

Step 1: Format Paper
Step 2: Rate Images
Step 3: Self Reflect
Step 4: Class Totals
Step 5: Small Group Reflect
Step 6: Large Group Reflect
Step 7: Debreif

6 of 25

Step 1: Format your paper

We’ll rate each image
Low – High intensity
Emotional intensity

Image #	Low	Med	High	Explain
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

7 of 25

Image #	Low	Med	High	Explain
Ex			X	Happy, love, adore

ex

8 of 25

Step 2: Rate the images

Rate how intense the images make you feel

9 of 25

1

10 of 25

2

South Africa Moves to Quell Anti-Immigrant Violence

Give this article

Zulu men confronted foreigners on Friday in the Johannesburg city center. Some impoverished South Africans accuse foreigners of stealing jobs.Credit...Joao Silva/The New York Times

By Norimitsu Onishi

April 17, 2015

JOHANNESBURG — Shops and vehicles owned by foreigners were attacked in downtown Johannesburg on Friday as the South African government tried to quell a wave of anti-immigrant violence that has claimed at least four lives in the country.

Police officers fired rubber bullets and stun grenades to disperse crowds of immigrants from other African nations. They had armed themselves to protect their businesses against attacks by black South Africans, who had accused the immigrants of stealing their jobs.

The unrest started in the southern city of Durban, where four African immigrants were killed in attacks in recent days, fueled by a traditional leader’s xenophobic comments. It spread to Johannesburg, South Africa’s largest city, as national leaders responded slowly.

In an address to the National Assembly on Thursday, President Jacob G. Zuma condemned the violence and appealed for calm. At the same time, Mr. Zuma said that he was “sympathetic” to the social and economic conditions that seemed to underlie the attacks by mostly poor young blacks against immigrants from other nations, particularly Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria and Ethiopia.

A police officer fired rubber bullets Friday during a clash near a Johannesburg hostel for migrant workers.

“There are socio-economic issues that have been raised which are being attended to,” he said. “These include complaints about illegal and undocumented immigrants in the country, the increase in the number of shops or small businesses that have been taken over by foreign nationals and also perceptions that foreign nationals commit or perpetrate crime.”

He added, “We wish to emphasize that while some foreign nationals have been arrested for various crimes, it is misleading and wrong to label or regard all foreign nationals as being involved in crime in the country.”

With Africa’s most advanced economy, South Africa is home to about five million immigrants, mostly from other African nations, but also from the Middle East and Asia.

In past waves of anti-immigrant violence, other Africans — who often run small businesses in areas with impoverished black South Africans — have often been the target of resentment. In 2008, violence against African immigrants in Johannesburg led to 60 deaths.

11 of 25

3

12 of 25

4

13 of 25

5

14 of 25

6

15 of 25

7

16 of 25

8

17 of 25

9

18 of 25

10

19 of 25

Step 3: Self Reflect

What does this image make me feel?
Do you think of any specific instances?
What in your life makes you feel that way?
Why do you feel a lot or a little?

20 of 25

Step 4: Class Totals

Raise your hand for categories
Images with even/equal parts

Record #s

Which images have equal each?

Image #	Low	Med	High
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

21 of 25

Step 5: Small Groups

Get into groups of 3-6
Try to have an equal ratio to Low-Med-High
With each image, consider the following in your group;

What differences do like ratings share?
What similarities?
What is different among your group?

Birthplace, culture, family, background, etc.

Discuss

22 of 25

[insert duplicate images class picked to discuss]

23 of 25

Step 6: Large Group Reflect

Those of you who are willing, discuss your reflections from your small group to the class.
When you hear something you relate to, show the correlating sign;
We’ll discuss when there is a large consensus

ROCK

=

LOW

PAPER

=

MED

SCISSORS

=

HIGH

24 of 25

Step 7: Debrief

WHAT ROLE DO EMOTIONS PLAY IN DISCUSSION?

WHEN ARE EMOTIONS GOOD FOR THE DISCUSSION AND WHEN MIGHT THEY BE BAD?

DID ANY EMOTIONAL RESPONSES SURPRISE YOU?

25 of 25

References

Adapted from 3.2 Critical Feeling in Discussions (collaborativediscussionproject.com)

All images are from Creative Commons.

For more, see "Discussion Sensitivity" Discussion Sensitivity - Interactivity Foundation - Engaging citizens in the exploration and development of possibilities for public policy.