Week 5 Seminar Readings and Writing Prompts

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Next week will be our second seminar from 9 – 11am on Thursday, Oct. 26. Schedule changes due to this and the Math Midterm are described here.

The readings for the seminar are on two topics, “Impostor Syndrome” and the ideas of fixed vs. growth mindsets.

We will hand out paper copies of these articles and book chapters in class Monday so that you can mark those with your annotations and questions, and have them available during Seminar (without people using electronic devices during the discussion).

Pre-Seminar Writing Assignment. Beyond reading the three pieces, we would like for you to respond in writing to the following prompts. Please type up your responses and bring them with you, along with the three reading handouts, to Seminar. Faculty will check these for completion and they will serve as your Seminar Entrance Ticket.

  1. (not for class discussion) Which stories or experiences on the topic of a) impostor syndrome and b) fixed mindset vs. growth mindset are similar to your own? (This response is private; we will not require you to share this writing with anyone else.)
  2. (for discussion) What was one specific element (or elements) of the readings on a) impostor syndrome and b) mindset theory that you found particularly striking or surprising? Why? This should be a story, experience, piece of data or research finding. Your typed response should quote, paraphrase, or summarize the element(s), indicate article and page, and describe why you chose it.
  3. (for discussion) What have you heard or observed from classmates, friends, family, coworkers etc. that may indicate the impact of a) impostor syndrome and b) a fixed mindset in a way that is dis-empowering?
  4. (for discussion) What could a) you (as students) and b) faculty do in response to such indications of a dis-empowering presence of either impostor syndrome or a fixed mindset, based on the theories presented in these readings?