AMERICAN STUDIES Individual and National Identity
“Who
am I?” Essay
As we have said, Americans are
continuously searching—obsessed, one might say—with establishing their
identities, both on a personal and national level. This inquisitive process is enormous, as many
things converge to make up our identities, including culture, history, environment, geography, families, religion, and crises.
In this assignment, you will explore and attempt to define one
American on a personal level: yourself. To do so, you must consider who you are to
the rest of society, as well as how you see yourself (just as in defining
This assignment is a
three-step process:
1. First, you will interview three people (one friend, one family member, and one other person of your choice), using the list of questions below.
2. Second, you will compile the ideas/opinions you gather into one coherent paragraph (definition) of how others seem to see you.
3. Third, you will write a reflective and reactive response to that paragraph. Does it seem that you are primarily the result of nature or nurture? Explain why people see you the way they do. Here, it would be helpful to trace things back to their roots (for example, if others see you as tolerant, what made you into someone who people see as tolerant? Which of the seven factors listed above were the most influential in shaping who you are today?). Also, consider your reaction to the ‘labels’ people assign you. How do you feel about how others see you? Are they right, or are they way off base? Defend how you see yourself, if need be. To be sure that your essay is actually an essay and not just a list of rambling stream of consciousness, refer to the grading rubric.
Questions for your
interviews:
(Ask these of three people—a family member, a friend, and a person of your choice – and write their answers to the questions on a separate sheet for each person).
It is important that you don’t assist them in their response, or react. You want honest responses to each question.
1. Who am I to you? More specifically, if you could define me with a few labels or issues, what would they be and why?
2. Based on what you have observed, what seem to be my morals, beliefs, and values?
3. What things am I passionate about?
4. What is my strongest character or personality trait? What is my weakest?
5. To which socioeconomic group do I most closely align?
6. What are some other things you have to say about me?
AMERICAN STUDIES Individual and National Identity
“Who am I?” Essay Scoring Rubric
Name ____________________
____ Interview Questions
10 __ thoroughly filled out responses from three people, attached at back of essay
____ Paragraph Statement
10 __
clear reflection of what others think of you, based on interview
responses
__
coherent, organized, and clear in content
ESSAY:
____ Ideas and Development
20 __ clear thesis statement (underline it)
__
thorough response to how others see you and how you see yourself
__
clear focus on your identity
__
use of showing, not telling (specific, strong, and ample use of
details, including reference to at
least three of the seven listed factors that shape identity
- culture, history, environment,
geography, families, religion, and crises)
__
no vague details which do not enhance your point
__
focus on opinion and support, not summary
__ minimum of one and a half to two pages typed
____ Organization
10 __ relevant and
effective title
__ effective introductory
paragraph
__ well-organized
paragraphs, with smooth transitions
__ effective conclusion
____ Sentence Fluency, Voice, and Word Choice
10 __ sentences flow
smoothly and have variety of structure
__ good use of
word choice to get your point across
__ contains your voice or personality, but not so much as to overwhelm
____ Conventions
10 __ neat and
legible, typed, double-spaced, 12 point font
__ spelling, punctuation, and usage are strong
__ no sentence
structure errors (fragments, run-ons, comma splices)
____ Total Score
70