The current study focuses on the portion of the SOC1202 Introduction to Sociology course that involves comparing the experience of the Middle East with Modernization to that of Europe. This was a critical thinking exercise, so a controversial book "What Went Wrong ..." by Bernard Lewis, with some flawed arguments was adopted as a reading. Learning styles (MBTI) data was also collected. The reaction of these 38 WPI students to this book was reflected in their 3-5 page book reviews of it. The class was warned that Lewis had been accused of "Orientalism" and told what that means. After writing their reviews the class got to read one written by myself, a Turk. Then the class members had an opportunity to revise their reviews. Who did so, and why proved to be revealing and led to proposed improvements to the course. The decision to revise was related to learning style, initial grade on the review and whether one was more critical of Lewis than I.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Demir, Hasan Mert

Subject

• Learning
• Community

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 07C010I

Keyword

• Personality and intelligence
• Academic achievement

Advisor

• Wilkes, John M.

Year

• 2007

Date created

• 2007-01-01

Location

• Worcester

Resource type

• Interactive Qualifying Project

Rights statement

• In Copyright