Analyzing Your Readers and Exploring Your Subject

Why does this aspect of the growth mindset interest me?
How is the growth mindset relevant to my life, family, community, work, or studies? How can I make it relevant to my readers’ lives?
Who are your readers? What are my readers likely to know about the concept? How can I build on what they already know?

Exploring your subject

In your journal,

Quote one or more definitions of the growth mindset from Dweck’s essay. Include a page number for the quoted definition. Then explain what this definition means in your OWN WORDS.
Quote one or more definitions of the fixed mindset from Dweck’s essay. Include a page number for the quoted definition. Then explain what this definition means in your OWN WORDS.

When have you witnessed the growth mindset? Explain.
When have you witnessed the fixed mindset? Explain.
When have you experienced the growth mindset yourself? Explain.
When have you experienced the fixed mindset yourself? Explain.

In groups/at your tables,

Find and write down examples of the fixed and growth mindsets from Dweck’s essay. Jot down the page number of these examples.

Find and write down two examples of the fixed mindset in Alexie’s essay. Jot down the page number of these examples.
Find and write down an example of the fixed mindset in Tan’s essay. Jot down the page number of this example.
Find and write down examples of the growth mindset from Malcolm X, Alexie, and Tan’s essays. Jot down the page number of these examples.

Please journal on the following questions:

When have you witnessed the growth mindset? Explain.
When have you witnessed the fixed mindset? Explain.
When have you experienced the growth mindset yourself? Explain.
When have you experienced the fixed mindset yourself? Explain.

Now review all of your journal entries thus far. What major point about the growth/fixed mindset idea do you want to make to your readers? What related points about the mindsets idea do you want to convey to them?