This is the introductory welcome presentation I offered for the Summer Conference of the MSUNER for its 2009 session.

1. Coming of Age :
In Literature and the Media
www.msunersummerconference.wikispaces.com
Dr. Laura Nicosia

2. Welcome!

3. What groups do we use to
categorize* our students?
Disclaimer: Though many of these terms are derogatory, this exercise is not meant to
perpetuate negative stereotypes or alienate any group.

4. What groups do we use to
categorize* our students?
• Preppie
Disclaimer: Though many of these terms are derogatory, this exercise is not meant to
perpetuate negative stereotypes or alienate any group.

5. What groups do we use to
categorize* our students?
• Preppie
• Goth
Disclaimer: Though many of these terms are derogatory, this exercise is not meant to
perpetuate negative stereotypes or alienate any group.

6. What groups do we use to
categorize* our students?
• Preppie
• Goth
• Jock
Disclaimer: Though many of these terms are derogatory, this exercise is not meant to
perpetuate negative stereotypes or alienate any group.

7. What groups do we use to
categorize* our students?
• Preppie
• Goth
• Jock
• Geek
Disclaimer: Though many of these terms are derogatory, this exercise is not meant to
perpetuate negative stereotypes or alienate any group.

8. What groups do we use to
categorize* our students?
• Preppie
• Goth
• Jock
• Geek
• Emo
Disclaimer: Though many of these terms are derogatory, this exercise is not meant to
perpetuate negative stereotypes or alienate any group.

9. What groups do we use to
categorize* our students?
• Preppie
• Goth
• Jock
• Geek
• Emo
• Skater
Disclaimer: Though many of these terms are derogatory, this exercise is not meant to
perpetuate negative stereotypes or alienate any group.

10. What groups do we use to
categorize* our students?
• Preppie
• Goth
• Jock
• Geek
• Emo
• Skater
• Queen Bee
Disclaimer: Though many of these terms are derogatory, this exercise is not meant to
perpetuate negative stereotypes or alienate any group.

11. What groups do we use to
categorize* our students?
• Preppie
• Goth
• Jock
• Geek
• Emo
• Skater
• Queen Bee
• Wannabe
Disclaimer: Though many of these terms are derogatory, this exercise is not meant to
perpetuate negative stereotypes or alienate any group.

12. What groups do we use to
categorize* our students?
• Preppie • Artist
• Goth
• Jock
• Geek
• Emo
• Skater
• Queen Bee
• Wannabe
Disclaimer: Though many of these terms are derogatory, this exercise is not meant to
perpetuate negative stereotypes or alienate any group.

13. What groups do we use to
categorize* our students?
• Preppie • Artist
• Goth • Brainiac
• Jock
• Geek
• Emo
• Skater
• Queen Bee
• Wannabe
Disclaimer: Though many of these terms are derogatory, this exercise is not meant to
perpetuate negative stereotypes or alienate any group.

14. What groups do we use to
categorize* our students?
• Preppie • Artist
• Goth • Brainiac
• Jock • Princess
• Geek
• Emo
• Skater
• Queen Bee
• Wannabe
Disclaimer: Though many of these terms are derogatory, this exercise is not meant to
perpetuate negative stereotypes or alienate any group.

15. What groups do we use to
categorize* our students?
• Preppie • Artist
• Goth • Brainiac
• Jock • Princess
• Geek • Motorheads
• Emo
• Skater
• Queen Bee
• Wannabe
Disclaimer: Though many of these terms are derogatory, this exercise is not meant to
perpetuate negative stereotypes or alienate any group.

16. What groups do we use to
categorize* our students?
• Preppie • Artist
• Goth • Brainiac
• Jock • Princess
• Geek • Motorheads
• Emo • Slackers
• Skater
• Queen Bee
• Wannabe
Disclaimer: Though many of these terms are derogatory, this exercise is not meant to
perpetuate negative stereotypes or alienate any group.

17. What groups do we use to
categorize* our students?
• Preppie • Artist
• Goth • Brainiac
• Jock • Princess
• Geek • Motorheads
• Emo • Slackers
• Skater • Stoners
• Queen Bee
• Wannabe
Disclaimer: Though many of these terms are derogatory, this exercise is not meant to
perpetuate negative stereotypes or alienate any group.

18. What groups do we use to
categorize* our students?
• Preppie • Artist
• Goth • Brainiac
• Jock • Princess
• Geek • Motorheads
• Emo • Slackers
• Skater • Stoners
• Queen Bee • “Just your average kid”
• Wannabe
Disclaimer: Though many of these terms are derogatory, this exercise is not meant to
perpetuate negative stereotypes or alienate any group.

19. What groups do we use to
categorize* our students?
• Preppie • Artist
• Goth • Brainiac
• Jock • Princess
• Geek • Motorheads
• Emo • Slackers
• Skater • Stoners
• Queen Bee • “Just your average kid”
• Wannabe • Gang-banger
Disclaimer: Though many of these terms are derogatory, this exercise is not meant to
perpetuate negative stereotypes or alienate any group.

20. Do you have any of
these students in
your classes?

21. Do you “know” this young man?

22. Who are these kids?

23. Who do you
see here?

24. What do you think she’s
reading?

25. Does she look like an “ink” aficianado?

26. But girls aren’t
violent...
Or are they?

27. Girls are sugar and spice &
boys will be boys.

28. Girls just want to have fun

29. Boys at
play?!

30. We still
perpetuate
these
images?!

31. Who are “just your
average kids”?

32. Who are “just your
average kids”?

33. Who are “just your
average kids”?

34. Who are “just your
average kids”?

35. Who are “just your
average kids”?

36. Who are “just your
average kids”?

37. Who are “just your
average kids”?

38. Whoever “they” are,
these are some of
their role models:

39. Gossip Girls

40. Clothing lines
designed by
Beyonce

41. Jamie Lynn Spears
(and baby)

42. The Jonas Brothers

43. Growing up isn’t
easy...
if you’re Miley
Cyrus

44. Heroes don’t have to be flesh & blood—
They can be avatars!

45. So, how can we help them transition from this...

46. Past these...

47. And on the road to
maturation without
squelching their
sense of self?

48. What can we do in our
classes to help?

49. Can our curriculum
aid in the transition?

50. How can Language
Arts & English
classes bridge this
liminal zone?

51. This is
some of
what we’ll
do today
&
tomorrow
I’m looking forward to our journey.

52. Thank you and let’s get started!
nicosiala@mail.montclair.edu