The Danger of a Single Story: Viewing Guide to Chimamanda Adichie's TED Talk

This 2-page printable asks students to track Chimamanda Adichie's language regarding specific, chronologically listed elements of her talk. Additionally, they must take the direct quotes they write down and make meaning out of them by making connections to their own lives. This is designed to facilitate, not replace discussion, and depending on the students' level, I often pause the talk once or twice and draw from their notes to help them make sense of Adichie's ideas. This is a great lesson to do with students at the beginning of a literature class when talking about point of view and unheard voices. It also works with lessons on stereotypes. Students often want to talk about (and write about) the single stories told about them.