INC3701 Assignment 3 2025 Due 23 June 2025

INC3701
ASSIGNMENT 3 2025
DUE: 23 JUNE 2025
Question 1
Essay question (25 marks)
Discuss the implications of using the bell curve to define “normality” in society
and education.
In your discussion, address the following points:
Origins and evolution: Defining “normality”: Educational implications…

The bell curve was first made in the 1700s to help with maths and studying stars. Later,
people started using it to decide what is “normal” in schools and in society. This caused
problems because it doesn’t show how different people really are or what they can do.
People have looked at where the bell curve came from, how it is used to decide what is
normal, and how it affects school and life. Some people don’t agree with it and suggest
better ways to understand how people are different.

Origins and Evolution of the Bell Curve
The bell curve, or normal distribution curve, originated in the 18th century as a tool to
study mathematical data and astronomical measurements. The central point of the
curve represents the mean or average, and most values cluster around this centre,
while fewer values appear at either extreme (UNISA, 2025: 69). In the 19th century, the
bell curve was extended to social sciences by researchers studying crime and migration
patterns. This shift in application gave rise to the concept of the “average person”,