Ethnic Studies
Ms. Portman

After class introductions, read and briefly respond to the following questions:

Why have you described yourself the way that you have? In what ways are the class members' descriptions alike or different?

In what ways have your upbringing, experiences, or thinking influenced your description?

Would you vary your response in different situations or company? Why or why not?

Do the ways that others see you match the way you think about yourself, or would their descriptions be different from your own?

Think about the labels you used for yourself. Which of these labels came with birth and which did you become over time? What purpose do you think labels serve?

Homework: Finish responding to these questions and write a descriptive autobiographical piece about one, some or all of your responses to the follow-up questions. Elaborate on your response and try to incorporate concrete examples to strengthen your analysis. (1-2 pages, typed, double-spaced)