Escamilla/ ENGL1A

Discussion Questions
Whistling Vivaldi
Chapter 1
1. What are some of the identity contingencies that Steele mentions in
this chapter, and what are some that you have faced in your life?
2. What does Steele mean when he says contingencies put constraining
behavior in the air? Give an example to support your explanation.
3. After reading the initial golf experiment with two different groups and
contingencies highlighted, what are your predictions, questions, or
concerns about the rest of Steeles research?
Vocabulary check-in (part of speech and quick synonym or
definition in your own words. Good to note in your text.
segregations
imposed
de facto
tenacious
intersubjectivity
innocuous
gauntlet
Sisyphean
autonomous
plague
Chapter 2.
4. Steele describes the difference between the observer and the actor
perspectives. Why were these two perspectives essential for Steele
and others to gain understanding about underperformance on college
campuses?
5. Steele discusses how important campus culture is to a students sense
of identity and sense of belonging. What do you feel is the campus
culture here at Foothill? Do you feel like you belong? Explain what
causes you to feel this way? How many friends do you have on
campus? Do you have friends that are very different from you in
culture, age, or race?

Escamilla/ ENGL1A

6. How did Ms. Jane Elliots 1968 experiment influence Steeles research
question?
7. In this chapter Steele describes the process of moving from a hunch to
an inference to evidence. Describe the importance and difference of
these three terms as they relate to Steeles work.
8. How did Steele and his colleague rule out genetic differences for
womens underperformance in math?
9. What were the results of Steeles study with women in math? Were you
surprised by these results? How does it shift your view of stereotypes
and academic ability?
Vocabulary check-in (part of speech and quick synonym or
definition in your own words. Good to note in your text.
downwardly constitute
incisive
foci
stigma
gingerly
nascent
empirical test
Chapter 3
10.
How does the 1978 Seattle Sonics performance help explain
Steeles theory of underachievement?
11.
What were the three major findings of the experiment at
Stanford using the verbal test on white and black students?
12.
What did the fragment test and the preference rating before the
research achievement test prove to Steele and his colleagues?
13.
What does Steele mean when he says the black students were
taking the test under the weight of history? What proof does he give
to support this claim?
14.
How did Steele and his colleagues find out that caring about
achievement impacted your vulnerability to a stereotype threat?

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15.
Steele writes Analogy is often the best route to emphatic
insight. What does he mean by this statement? How might it change
your view of others and their performance?

Vocabulary check-in (part of speech and quick synonym or

definition in your own words. Good to note in your text and/or write
the page number here.
specter
eschewing
circumscribed