The Millennials : america’s next great generation?

1. The Millennials: america’s next great generation? Required module 2: 12B

2. ACTIVITY 1: QUICKWRITE Culture is defined as the learned behaviors, beliefs, customs, and societal norms that are particular to a group of people. In America, each time our culture changes significantly, sociologists declare that a new societal generation has been “born.” In the past 110 years, sociologies have named five distinct cultural generations in America: the G.I. Generation, the Silent Generation, the Baby Boomers, Generation X, and finally, Generation Y – more frequently called “the Millennial Generation” (yours). Answer in your Millennials Activities Template: As a member of the Millennial Generation, reflect upon two or three of the following cultural topics and explain what they mean to you.

3. ACTIVITY 2: PERSONALITY TEST What kind of person are you? An interesting enough question, and it’s more difficult to answer than you might think. Take the “narcissism” test that is in your “millennials” folder under your shared file folder for this class. You can fill out the pdf form and save it – only you will ever read it, so answer honestly! Keep in mind that, according to the test’s creators, “There’s no such thing as a good or bad result on this test. Scoring high on the narcissism inventory, or high on any of the component categories, doesn’t mean you have a disorder, or that you’re a good or bad person.”

4. ACTIVITY 3: QUICKWRITE Answer in your “Millennials Activities” Template document. Based on your results, do you think your personality is a result of your membership to the Millennial Generation, or were you just born that way? Do you think that your scores are likely higher than previous generations? Why or why not? Either way, do you think the Millennial Generation should be perceived positively or negatively? Explain.

5. A History of the Word “Narcissism” The word Narcissism is derived from Narcissus, who in Greek mythology was a handsome youth courted by many lovers for his beauty. He, however, haughtily rejected all of them, including the nymph Echo. As punishment for his cruelty, the gods condemned Narcissus to contemplate his beauty reflected in a pond on Mount Helicon in Greece. Day after day he lay beside the pond, gazing lovingly at his reflection until he wasted away and died. • From: "Narcissus." World Book Online Reference Center. World Book, 2013. Web. 1 Aug. 2013. Definition: (from OED – Oxford English Dictionary) • Excessive interest in or admiration of oneself and one’s physical experience • In psychology, extreme selfishness, with a grandiose view of one’s own talents and a craving for admiration, as characterizing a personality type • In psychoanalysis, self-centeredness arising from failure to distinguish the self from external objects, either in very young babies or as a feature of mental disorder (therefore considered very immature)

6. ACTIVITY 4: BACKGROUND RESEARCH What is a generation anyway? Can we really typify people by when they were born? Time to do some research to see how people are classified. Does it represent your grandparents? Parents? Famous figures?

7. ACTIVITY 4: BACKGROUND RESEARCH Together, we’re going to create a generation matrix that we can all use to differentiate between the generations. We’ll split up into five groups. Each group will be responsible for a single generation on the matrix. In your groups, choose one or two “scribes” that will add the information you find to our shared document. ALL learners should have their laptops open, ready to help with the research process. Elect one or two “presenters” – different than scribes – who will explain their findings to the rest of the class when we are finished.

8. ACTIVITY 4: BACKGROUND RESEARCH Be sure to use your best judgment. You will definitely run into discrepancies—areas in which different sources disagree with each other. Remember that no categorization can be a hard science, particularly when one considers “gap” babies, or those born close to two generations. Use your best judgment, and refer to multiple sites to verify your information. Suggested Research Resources: • West Virginia University – Understanding Generations • United Nations – Generations Report • 6 Generations in America • What Generation are You? • VisionpointReport - Generations

9. ACTIVITY 5: QUICKWRITE Write your response in your “Millennials Activities” template. In your research, you may have noticed how much of the data comes from career and marketing companies. The truth is, Generation Y – the Millennials – are in the process of taking over business, political, and social leadership in this world. Right now, they’ve got the power. So how have we seen change due to this? What changes do you think we may see in the future? Will the world be better or worse off?

10. ACTIVITY 6: KEY VOCABULARY • Gibbs, Nancy. “Generation Next”: Copy the following words and definitions into your document titled “Millennials Activities.” Highlight words or phrases you did not already know so that you can refer to them as you read.

11. ACTIVITY 7: MAKING PREDICTIONS AND FIRST READ-THROUGH Before reading, complete the SOAPSTone in your “Millennials Activities” template as completely as you can. Then, read through the article carefully, making notes/highlighting as you go. When finished, go back and revise your SOAPSTone as needed so that it is accurate, detailed, and complete.

12. DISCUSSION • Clearly, the idea that we can make generalizations about how an entire generation thinks, feels, or acts, is a controversial topic. No generation is more controversial than the Millennials – especially when someone outside the Millennial generation is writing about them. What controversial ideas about the Millennials have you already encountered? Which side do you agree with? Why?

13. NOTE • This controversy is exactly why we must pay attention to WHO is writing, WHY they are writing, and HOW they are writing. • In other words, are authors using a certain kind of language to try to manipulate you to agree with them? • Since we are going to read articles that disagree with each other, it is absolutely necessary that we as critical readers pay attention to the authors and their attentions before deciding whether to believe or disagree with them.

14. ACTIVITY 8: LOADED LANGUAGE Now, let’s take a closer look at the language to see just how Gibbs feels. Complete an “Ethos Pathos Logos” document, independently or in groups, and save it in your “Millennials” folder on Google docs as “Ethos Pathos Logos_Gibbs”

15. NOW, I’M SETTING YOU LOOSE! ACTIVITY 9: OTHER TEXTS KEY VOCABULARY You can read the rest of the articles at any speed you wish, as long as you take the time to do the activities and understand what each one is trying to argue about the Millennial generation. Before you begin, copy the following words and definitions into your document titled “MillennialsActivities” under the heading “Activity 9: Other Texts Key Vocabulary.” Highlight words or phrases you did not already know so that you can refer to them as you read.

16. Samuelson, Robert. “The Real Generation Gap

17. Stein, Joel. “The Me Generation”:

18. Crockett, Emily. “Why Millennials Aren’t Lazy, Entitled Narcissists”:

19. McKinney, Courtney. “The Millennial Minority”:

20. ACTIVITY 10-19: READING Either with a partner or independently, read each of the following articles, and for each one: In your Activities Template:  Create a SOAPSTonefor each reading  Complete an “Ethos Pathos Logos” table for each reading  Fill out the “Charting the Text” form to keep it all straight

21. ACTIVITY 20: QUICKWRITE • Answer with AT LEAST TWO PARAGRAPHS, in your “Millennials Activities” document. Focus on just one or two of the prompts below. • Which of the 5 authors that we have read do you believe is the most accurate? Explain. • Which of the 5 authors that we have read do you believe is the least accurate? Explain. • Based on the readings, do you consider yourself a “Millennial?” Why/why not? (you can answer “partially” too – but explain why). • What impact do you think Millennialsmay have on the future, based on what we’ve read? • Can you make any predictions about what the next generation will be like (for the record – they’re called “Generation Z”)?

22. FINAL ASSIGNMENT: RESEARCH ESSAY • In the multiple texts we’ve encountered, authors have discussed, through research, opinion, observation, or a combination therein, what they believe can be expected of the Millennial Generation. Still, many of these arguments leave more questions than answers. It is your turn to enter the conversation, therefore, and with further research, assert your own educated thoughts on the Millennials by answering the prompt provided on your document titled “Millennials Research Essay” available on Google Drive. • YOU MUST FOLLOW THE STEPS OUTLINED IF YOU WANT TO GET A 3 OR HIGHER.