AFS 352/SOC 382
RACE AND
WINTER 2009
W. DOANE
ESSAY ASSIGNMENT: ETHNICITY AND RACE AS PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
Due Date: Monday, January 19
Purpose:
C. Wright Mills described the "sociological imagination" as the
ability to see how larger social forces shape individual destinies and to know
our own life chances by becoming aware of all individuals in similar
circumstances--the link between "public issues" and "private
troubles." The main purposes of this assignment are: (1) to
encourage you to use your sociological imagination to explore both the nature
of your ethnic identity and how your life has been shaped by ethnic relations
in the society in which you have lived; and (2) for you to use your personal experiences
as "data" to analyze the nature of race and ethnic relations in the
United States (or your home society).
Description:
You will write a brief (6 pages [more if you want], typed, double-spaced,
24-28 lines per page) essay in which you discuss and analyze your personal
experiences with race and ethnic relations and diversity-related social issues
and social problems.
Organization:
Your essay should address the following issues:
A. Your Ethnic/Racial Identity
1. What is it? How do you define yourself (i.e., what symbolic markers/aspects of culture distinguish your group identity from other identities)? 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. How does your ethnic/racial identity affect 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 defined differently today than it was for your parents, grandparents, etc.)? (if you want a brief historical overview of the history of your group, the Harvard Encyclopedia of American Ethnic Groups [available in the library] is a useful resource. Can you explain why (i.e., interpret the underlying processes)? Use course concepts relevant to ethnicity and ethnic change [e.g., assimilation, ethnic change, ethnic merger, pan-ethnicity, symbolic ethnicity, optional ethnicity; dominant group identity)].
B. Your Intergroup Experience
Think about your past experiences with members of other ethnic/racial groups. 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. Can
you apply any course concepts to your experiences? What does your
personal/group experience tell us about the nature of race and ethnicity in the
Process:
This is not an assignment which 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 ethnicity and intergroup relations?
NOTE: I recognize that this assignment may be particularly challenging for students with unique life experiences (e.g., adoption, migration). While I encourage all students to feel free to discuss their papers with me, students with unique life experiences are particularly encouraged to meet with me.
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 which 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 be allowed only in
extreme circumstances and by prior arrangement. Late papers will be
penalized!