Gay or Straight - Same or Different?

by Venette Cook, City College of San Francisco
Note to teachers: This is a values clarification exercise in pair dictation form - a great way to introduce the language and ideas that support discussion and reading. I used this exercise before reading a newspaper article on hate crimes. Then we continued to follow articles about Matthew Shepard. Since hate crimes continue,unfortunately, to be current topics, this kind of values clarification represents an accessible way to prepare your class for addressing this many layered topic.


Partner A

Dictate five of these opinion statements to your partner. Then listen and write as your partner dictates to you.

1. There are gay people in every city in the United States. A D
2. _________________________________________________. A D
3. I have some friends who are gay. A D
4. _________________________________________________. A D
5. In my family, there are some gay people. A D
6. _________________________________________________. A D
7. I have never thought about how gay people might be treated unfairly. A D
8. _________________________________________________. A D
9. Gay people and straight people have many important similarities. A D
10. _________________________________________________. A D


Check your dictation with your partner. How is your spelling?
How is your grammar? Ask questions about vocabulary.

Then circle (A) for agree and (D) for Disagree.


Partner B

Dictate five of these opinion statements to your partner. Then listen and write as your partner dictates to you.

1. _________________________________________________. A D
2.There are gay people in every country. A D
3. _________________________________________________. A D
4. Some of my neighbors are gay. A D
5. _________________________________________________. A D
6. Some Americans hate gay people that they have never met. A D
7. _________________________________________________. A D
8. Gay people are too sensitive about jokes. A D
9. _________________________________________________. A D
10. Sometimes gay people are nervous about living an openly gay life. A D


Check your dictation with your partner. How is your spelling?
How is your grammar? Ask questions about vocabulary.

Then circle (A) for agree and (D) for Disagree.


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