Reference no: EM133428199

Objectives:

To critically analyze and respond to the class readings in how they construct and present issues of identity;

To develop mastery of effective and correct source-incorporation strategies.

1) Critically explore the place of one of the following markers-race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, social class (commonly known as the major [sociological] markers), family, religion, language, nationality or education (commonly known as cultural markers)-in the creation/development of individual identity in contemporary America. As you begin to think about your analytical approach to the topic, work to unify your analysis around a central aspect of the issue/texts (in other words, avoid an analytical strategy that raises point after point with no recognizable relationship among them). To help you conduct your analysis (to set up, promote, defend, etc. your points), you are required to cite ideas/themes/passages from two of the following texts: Richard Rodriguez' "The Chinese in All of Us," W.E.B. Du Bois' "Of Our Spiritual Strivings," Manuel Muñoz's "Leave Your Name at the Border," Amy Tan's "Mother Tongue," and Jhumpa Lahiri's "My Two Lives." Remember to establish your points clearly and sharply and to deliberately cover and fully support each and every claim you raise. Finally, work to build your essay around a tight, unified analytical focus.

At least 2000 words count (Any essay short of the length requirement will be penalized. The severity of the penalty is determined by how short the essay falls of the length requirement. Although I typically do not penalize essays that exceed the length requirement, for this essay I want everyone to make careful choices with their material and thus generate compact, precise es says.);

Make sure to develop a critical analytical approach that does much more than generically respond to the cited texts. Develop your own critical approach to the established issue of the prompt and examine it using your own critical thoughts along with some of the thoughts generated by the authors of the texts you choose to cite. In other words, the passage(s) you cite from your chosen texts should play a strategic role in helping you achieve the overarching purpose of your own analytical pursuits;

Focus on providing all of your ideas with full and sharp coverage; make sure that you establish clear and relevant connections among all of your ideas/source citations;