Dating Too Soon?—Listening, Note Taking, Reading, and Discussion

Objectives: Students will read two stories (“All the Single LadiesStay Single” and “Too Many Boy Friends?”)with two different perspectives on dating in high school. They will practice listening and taking notes. They will discuss the pros and cons of dating in high school.

Listening activity: Tell your group something like, “You will read two stories about dating written by young women in high school. Before you do, I will read ten numbered statements that describe the two writers. I will also read some quotes from the stories. You will take notes as I read the statements and quotes. Then we will read the stories and you will indicate which statements and quotes refer to which writer. We will then discuss the stories and talk about the pluses and minuses of dating in high school.”

Here are the statements and quotes to read. Read the number of each statement and quote.

Statements
1. She forms a group of friends that support each other in their decisions about dating.
2. She describes getting into a fight.
3. She thinks of herself as a feminist.
4. She helps a friend buy a present for someone else.
5. She thinks looks and appearance are superficial.
6. She hangs out in places that make you look nice.
7. She argues that dating can be bad for girls’ school work.
8. A close friend asks her out.
9. She starts a website for teens who don’t date.
10. She has two older brothers.

Quotes
1. Plus I had already gone out with three of my guy friends; we are human and if you spend so much time with a person you might start catching feelings.
2. If you save dating for later on in life, when you are less sensitive, more confident, and more sure of who you are, you’re less likely to end up a sad, lovesick puppy.
3. And I could chill with the boys and just ignore the drama their girlfriends might try to cause.
We wanted to create an image of young women based on their intellectual capacities rather than their sex appeal.

Read the stories: Hand out the issue. Say something like, “We are going to read half of each story and see if we have enough information to identify from which story the quotes and statements came from. Number a piece of paper from 1 to 10 and then from 1 to 4. As you read, put Kenya next to the statements and quotes related to ‘Too Many Boy Friends?’ and Nesshell next to the ones related to ‘All the Single LadiesStay Single!’ For Kenya’s story, read until you come to the small headline, Jealousy All Around and then stop. For Nesshell’s story, read until you get to Regrettable Love Lives.”

Give them 10-15 minutes to read and identify the statements. Ask for volunteers to identify the source of the statements and quotes.

Ask them to read the rest of the story at home and that they will discuss the two different ideas about dating at the next session.