Discussion Starters

Left Brained vs. Right Brained

Pre-Reading Warm Up Questions

1. Do you prefer writing or drawing?

2. Are you logical or intuitive?
3. Which subject do you prefer, music or math?
4. Do you think you are left or right brained? Why?

Pre-Reading Vocabulary Task

Match the words on the left with the meanings on the right.

1. specialty ___a. to do a few different things at the same time

2. logic ___b. something that a person or thing is very good at
3. analyze ___c. an inner feeling that tells you the right thing to do
4. routine ___d. examine the parts or details closely
5. risk taker ___e. the strongest
6. intuition ___f. reasoning that is based on step-by-step thinking
7. dominant ___g. has many parts; not simple
8. multitask ___h. a brain scientist
9. neurologist ___i. something you do on a regular basis
10.complicated ___j. a person who is not afraid of the unknown; tries new things often

Left Brained vs. Right Brained

Which is your dominant side?

The brain is divided into left and right sides. Many people believe that humans show a dominance on
one side of the brain. This is called being left or right-brained.

According to the dominance theory, the left side of the brain specializes in logic, words, and math. It
works with details first. After analyzing the details, it looks at the whole. The left side seems to be more
involved in routines and the organization of information. Does this sound like you?
The right side of the brain is associated with emotions and creativity. Dreamers and risk takers are
often called right-brained. According to the theory, a right-brained person is more likely to follow his or her
intuition rather than a map or an instruction manual. If your right side is more dominant, you may enjoy
working on many projects at once. Are you good at multitasking?

The left and right-brained theory is based on research from the 1960s. Neurologists today say that the
brain is much more complicated than this. Some say that left and right-brain thinking is a myth, and that
the brain can only function as a whole. Is it human nature to want to fit into a certain category?

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 Discussion Starters
Left Brain vs. Right Brain
Comprehension
Use the information from the text to place the profession under
the correct heading.

Left Brained Right Brained

painter
mathematician
travel photographer
computer programmer
office assistant
circus performer
police officer
yoga instructor
Vocabulary Review

A. Word Forms. Are the following words nouns, adjectives, or verbs? Write an alternative word based on the same root
word.

Example: neurology (noun) / neurologist (noun)

1. analysis __________ (word form) _____________________ (word form)

2. specialize __________ (word form) _____________________ (word form)
3. logical __________ (word form) _____________________ (word form)
4. risk taker __________ (word form) _____________________ (word form)
5. dominance __________ (word form) _____________________ (word form)

B. Odd One Out. Choose the word or phrase that does NOT belong in the Optional Web 2.0 Activity
group.
1. Predict whether
1. a) science b) reason c) logic d) risk or not you would
2. a) dominant b) strong c) main d) myth be considered
3. a) intuition b) feeling c) dominant d) hunch left brained or
4. a) routine b) complicated c) difficult d) complex right brained.
5. a) study b) examine c) analyze d) complicate
2. Search for a left and right brained
quiz online. Take the quiz. Are
you left-brained or right-brained?
Discussion Questions 3. Look up any words from the quiz
1. Do you believe that each human has a dominant side of the brain? that you do not know. Summarize
2. Is the current world designed for left-brained or right-brained thinkers? the findings in a blog post or
3. Would you want to be a neurologist? Why or why not? email to a friend. Share the link to
the quiz with your friend.
4. Is multitasking an efficient way to get things done?

Copyright 2011. This eBook is produced and distributed by Red River Press Inc. All rights reserved. The contents within this e-book/document may only be
photocopied by members of ESL-Library.com in accordance with membership terms and conditions. Contact info@esl-library.com for complete details.
 Discussion Starters
Left Brain vs. Right Brain

ANSWER KEY

Pre-reading Vocabulary Task

1. b 2. f 3. d 4. i 5. j 6. c 7. e 8. a 9. h 10. g

Comprehension Questions

Left Brained Right Brained

mathematician painter

office assistant travel photographer

computer programmer circus performer

police officer yoga instructor

Vocabulary Review
A. Word Forms
1. analysis (noun) / analyze (verb)/analyst (noun)
2. specialize (verb) / special (adjective)/ specialist (noun)
3. logical (adjective)/ logic (noun)
4. risk (noun) risk/ (verb) risky (adjective)
5. dominance (noun)/ dominant (adjective)/dominate (verb)

B. Odd one out

1. d 2. d 3. c 4. a 5. d

Copyright 2011. This eBook is produced and distributed by Red River Press Inc. All rights reserved. The contents within this e-book/document may only be
photocopied by members of ESL-Library.com in accordance with membership terms and conditions. Contact info@esl-library.com for complete details.