The main purpose of this assignment is to encourage you to use a
process of personal reflection to explore your sense of self and outlook
on the larger world in which you live
Description: You will write a brief (2 to 3 page typed, double-spaced)
essay in which you will do the following:
Organization:
A. Explore Your Ethnic/Racial Identity
1. How do you define yourself (i.e., what symbolic
markers/aspects of culture distinguish your sense of group
identity from other identities)? How do others define you in
terms of race/ethnicity? What meaning does your group
identity have for you? How does it shape your personal
identity? How does it affect your day-to-day experiences
(if you feel that there is little effect, then you should explain
why)?
2. In what ways do you feel your identity affects your life
chances (i.e., your opportunities to experience the good things
in life–e.g. job opportunities, home ownership, and good
health–as opposed to the bad)? Do you perceive any negative
effects? Do you enjoy any advantages? You might find it
helpful to compare yourself with members of other groups in
the U.S. or your home society.
3. How has your ethnic/racial group changed over time (i.e., is
your ethnicity or racial identity defined differently today than it
was for your parents, grandparents, etc.)?
B. Your Intergroup Experience
Think about your past experiences with members of other
ethnic/racial groups. Describe the diversity of the places where
you lived and the schools that you attended. What experiences
of ethnic/racial conflict, prejudice, or discrimination have you
encountered or observed (if none, explain why)? What positive
experiences have you had? How have these affected
you? What conclusions have you drawn? What important
ethnic conflicts have you observed in American (or your home)
society? How have these affected you?
C. Summary/Discussion
Briefly discuss any interesting ideas raised by your
consideration of the above issues. What do your feel your
personal/group experience tells us about the nature of race and
ethnicity in the United States? DRAW SOME
CONCLUSIONS! What do you think your group identity and
intergroup experiences will be like in the future?
Process: This is not an assignment that requires library research;
however, it also cannot be done (well) at the last minute. A good
approach would be to think about the issues involved and make notes,
then organize your thoughts and develop your analysis. There are no
“right” or “wrong” answers; what I am interested in are your thoughts,
feelings, and analysis. While it might be useful to illustrate your essay
with specific examples from your own experience, BE SURE THAT
YOU GO BEYOND DESCRIPTION AND ATTEMPT TO
EXPLAIN OR INTERPRET THE SIGNIFICANCE OF
EVENTS. Keep asking yourself: What does this issue/experience tell
us about the nature of race, ethnicity and intergroup relations?
Evaluation: Your grade for this essay will be based upon the clarity of
your written presentation (i.e., organization, readability, and grammar)
and the quality of your analysis (i.e., depth, insightfulness). Please be
sure to devote adequate time and space to this assignment. Papers that
fall short of the recommended length will generally receive lower
grades. Proofread your paper! Spelling, grammar, and readability will
affect your grade. Time extensions will not be allowed and late papers
will be penalized!
