The danger of a single story

• What is the title of the TED Talk by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie discussed in the study material?


  The Danger of a Single Story
• What is the main focus of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's TED Talk?

  It explores the negative influences of a "single story" and examines their origins.
• In what year was The Danger of a Single Story delivered?

  2009
• What personal experience does Adichie share in her talk?

  She discusses the issues she faced when moving to America from Africa to attend university.
• How did Adichie's childhood reading influence her writing?

  She wrote stories that did not reflect her reality, thinking characters had to look a certain way.
• What realization did Adichie come to after discovering African writers?

  She realized there was no "single story" of what books and stories should be.
• What stereotype did Adichie encounter from her American classmates and teachers?

  They had stereotypical ideas about her and her background based on a narrow perspective.
• What does Adichie argue about the impact of showing people as only one thing?

  It can lead to them becoming that one thing over time.
• What does Adichie mean when she says "stories matter"?

  She suggests that stories influence how we see ourselves and others.
• What are the key themes in The Danger of a Single Story?

  • Stereotyping, prejudice, and preconceptions
  • The presentation of people, culture, and societies through media and books
  • The responsibility of those in power in storytelling

  
• How does Adichie illustrate the theme of stereotyping in her talk?

  She shares an example where someone assumed she did not know how to use a stove.
• What does Adichie suggest about the consequences of a single story?

  It can lead to incomplete or incorrect assumptions about people.
• How does Adichie describe the influence of media on perceptions of others?

  She argues that controlling the single story allows one group to dominate another.
• What does Adichie admit about her own beliefs regarding single stories?

  She acknowledges that she has believed single stories about other people.
• What does Adichie say about the representation of Africans in Western literature?

  She struggles with the single story representation stemming from a history of European colonialism.
• What is the responsibility of those in power according to Adichie?

  They should not use their power to create and promote stories only from their perspective.
• What techniques does Adichie use to present her ideas and perspectives?

  • First-person perspective
  • Anecdotes
  • Inclusive pronouns
  • Discourse markers
  • Humour
  • Single-line paragraphs

  
• How does the use of first-person perspective affect Adichie's talk?

  It demonstrates that the story is from her personal perspective.
• What role do personal anecdotes play in Adichie's speech?

  They illustrate how her experiences affected her thoughts and add reliability to her arguments.
• What effect do inclusive pronouns have in Adichie's talk?

  They suggest a sense of community and shared responsibility among the audience.
• How do discourse markers contribute to the tone of Adichie's speech?

  They generate an element of informality, making the speech more relatable.
• What is the purpose of using humour in Adichie's talk?

  It contrasts with the serious message and gives insight into her character.
• What do single-line paragraphs represent in Adichie's speech?

  They reflect a limited view or perspective.
• How does Adichie's language contribute to her message?

  • The title implies harm from single stories
  • Childlike language shows early exposure to single stories
  • Justification emphasizes normalization of single stories
  • Syntactic parallelism highlights differences between stories and reality
  • Juxtaposition contrasts single stories with multiple narratives
  • Emotive language reflects harmfulness of single stories
  • Repetition emphasizes the importance of stories

  
• What does the title "The Danger of a Single Story" imply?

  It implies that single stories can be harmful and foreshadows the main argument.
• How does Adichie use childlike language in her talk?

  It demonstrates that we are fed single stories from a young age.
• What does the phrase "as was the norm" emphasize in Adichie's speech?

  It emphasizes that the single story presented becomes our version of normal.
• What is the effect of syntactic parallelism in Adichie's speech?

  It indicates the difference between a story and reality.
• How does Adichie use juxtaposition in her talk?

  She juxtaposes the "single" story with "a few personal stories" to highlight multiple narratives.
• What is the purpose of using emotive language in Adichie's speech?

  It reflects on the harmfulness of single stories and highlights negative connotations.
• What does the repetition of "stories" and "stories matter" emphasize?

  It emphasizes the huge importance of stories in shaping the world.
• What are the skills needed for Paper 1, Question 4 in the Edexcel IGCSE English Language exam?

  • Language and structure analysis
  • Exploring how the writer presents themes or ideas

  
• What does Paper 1, Question 5 require students to do?

  • Compare how the writer presents their ideas and perspectives with the unseen text.
• What are some of the other texts included in the Edexcel IGCSE English Language Anthology?

  • A Passage to Africa
  • The Explorer's Daughter
  • Explorers or boys messing about? Either way, taxpayer gets rescue bill
  • From 127 Hours: Between a Rock and a Hard Place
  • Young and dyslexic? You've got it going on
  • A Game of Polo with a Headless Goat
  • Beyond the Sky and the Earth: A Journey into Bhutan
  • H is for Hawk
  • Chinese Cinderella