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 America, we look at our own view, as well as the world’s view).

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), filling out the questionnaire 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 essay 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?