We all have identities. We perceive our own identity. Others perceive an identity and associate it with us. These may or may not be the same thing. (I know, I know—just think about it for a minute.)
Some questions to consider as you are thinking about identity in general:
• How is our identity formed?
• To what extent are we defined by our talents, tastes, and interests?
• By our membership in a particular ethnic group? Our religion?
• By the nation where we were born? Our heritage? Our race?
• Our gender? Our sexual orientation?
• By the ways in which other people or other societies categorize or classify us?
• How is our identity formed?
• To what extent are we defined by our talents, tastes, and interests?
• By our membership in a particular ethnic group? Our religion?
• By the nation where we were born? Our heritage? Our race?
• Our gender? Our sexual orientation?
• By the ways in which other people or other societies categorize or classify us?
I’m interested in having you share your identity with the class. Don’t worry—it’s not as corny as it sounds.
To do this, you will create an identity box and an accompanying statement explaining your box. Both the box and the statement are due by class on ___________ (due date pending). Each of you will present your box to the class.
For the identity box:
• You should use a box the size of a standard shoebox, with one side that may be opened (like a diorama). (In class, these will be stacked, so make sure your box is “stackable.” Ideally, it should be able to be closed on four sides.) Don’t make your box a storage problem, because it will stay in class for a week or so and I would not want it to be damaged in any way.
• On the interior of the box, you should attach or place images and/or objects that convey the way in which you see your own identity. These may be handmade or preexisting images/objects.
• On the exterior of the box, you should somehow present images and/or objects that illustrate how others see you, classify, categorize, and characterize you and your identity.
• Be creative! Come up with an innovative and interesting way to present yourself to us. You will be surprised how much your colleagues (and you) learn from this. Trust me.
• Everything you use should be securely fixed to the box. Don’t place anything irreplaceable in there. Valuable stuff is also not a good idea, but consider ways to represent those valuable items.
• Remember to put your name on the outside of the box somewhere so that it is easily identifiable.
• You should use a box the size of a standard shoebox, with one side that may be opened (like a diorama). (In class, these will be stacked, so make sure your box is “stackable.” Ideally, it should be able to be closed on four sides.) Don’t make your box a storage problem, because it will stay in class for a week or so and I would not want it to be damaged in any way.
• On the interior of the box, you should attach or place images and/or objects that convey the way in which you see your own identity. These may be handmade or preexisting images/objects.
• On the exterior of the box, you should somehow present images and/or objects that illustrate how others see you, classify, categorize, and characterize you and your identity.
• Be creative! Come up with an innovative and interesting way to present yourself to us. You will be surprised how much your colleagues (and you) learn from this. Trust me.
• Everything you use should be securely fixed to the box. Don’t place anything irreplaceable in there. Valuable stuff is also not a good idea, but consider ways to represent those valuable items.
• Remember to put your name on the outside of the box somewhere so that it is easily identifiable.
For the accompanying description:
• In addition to your identity box, you are to write a one-page, single-spaced description explaining your box to someone who is encountering it in your absence. Be reflective—and explain whatever is not obvious about the references in your box. Remember that the inside of your box tells us how you see yourself; the outside tells us how others see you. This should be created inside your Google Folder.
• In addition to your identity box, you are to write a one-page, single-spaced description explaining your box to someone who is encountering it in your absence. Be reflective—and explain whatever is not obvious about the references in your box. Remember that the inside of your box tells us how you see yourself; the outside tells us how others see you. This should be created inside your Google Folder.
Come to class on the due date, prepared to give a 5-8 minute presentation on what is in your box and what it all means. The class will be invited to ask you questions following your presentation. After you have presented, I will spend some time with your box. All boxes will be returned to you and you should be prepared to take your box home a few days after the day you present it. Don’t forget to take the box home—this is something your grandchildren may want to see (or, again, consider creating this digitally).
Some things to think about:
Things that you might want to consider as you create an identity box to describe yourself:
• Your gender
• Your age
• Your hobbies
• Your passions
• Your preferences
• Your obsessions
• Your school affiliation and how you relate to your school
• Your family and your position within your family
• Race, ethnicity, orientation, affiliation
• Ancestry or heritage
• Religious affiliation
• Your beliefs/convictions
• Your relation to other people and the people who matter most to you
• Activities and/or clubs which really matter to you
• Your physical characteristics
• Favorite clothes, music, places, foods
• Experiences that somehow define or describe you
• Your neighborhood
• Your class
• Your nationality
• Your political views
• Your relationship to group(s)
• How you think people see you
• How others classify you
• How others categorize or label you.
• Key moment(s) in your life
• Your life goals/career goals/ambitions/ dreams
Things that you might want to consider as you create an identity box to describe yourself:
• Your gender
• Your age
• Your hobbies
• Your passions
• Your preferences
• Your obsessions
• Your school affiliation and how you relate to your school
• Your family and your position within your family
• Race, ethnicity, orientation, affiliation
• Ancestry or heritage
• Religious affiliation
• Your beliefs/convictions
• Your relation to other people and the people who matter most to you
• Activities and/or clubs which really matter to you
• Your physical characteristics
• Favorite clothes, music, places, foods
• Experiences that somehow define or describe you
• Your neighborhood
• Your class
• Your nationality
• Your political views
• Your relationship to group(s)
• How you think people see you
• How others classify you
• How others categorize or label you.
• Key moment(s) in your life
• Your life goals/career goals/ambitions/ dreams
Your goal is to create as complete an image of how you see your identity as well as how you believe others see you. Your project will be evaluated on the basis of how thoughtfully and richly you have presented your identity as you see it and as others see it through the box itself and the presentation you make on it.
Finally:
This project will be evaluated on the effort you put into the box and its contents, the thoughtful nature of your explanatory statement, and the quality of your presentation. You are welcome—indeed encouraged—to make something beautiful, but this is a project that will be evaluated on its effort and insights, not its aesthetics. I’ll be giving you written comments and a grade after everyone presents. Impress us with the brilliant insights you have into your own identity and the inspired manner in which you choose to present it. I look forward to seeing what you bring to class!
The rubric may be viewed here!
This project will be evaluated on the effort you put into the box and its contents, the thoughtful nature of your explanatory statement, and the quality of your presentation. You are welcome—indeed encouraged—to make something beautiful, but this is a project that will be evaluated on its effort and insights, not its aesthetics. I’ll be giving you written comments and a grade after everyone presents. Impress us with the brilliant insights you have into your own identity and the inspired manner in which you choose to present it. I look forward to seeing what you bring to class!
The rubric may be viewed here!
