Our identities act as “lenses,” shaping the way we see and understand the world. Lenses are formed cumulatively throughout our lives, shifting and adapting based on our experiences and socialization, the contexts in which we live, and other identities we hold. These lenses are significant in determining how we interpret and understand what we observe and experience, from personal interactions to mass experiences (such as viewing a nationally broadcasted television program).
The Assignment
Library Research, Scholarly Articles and Written Summary
You are asked to identify and read at least 3 scholarly articles about the identity you selected. Consider the key ideas and themes in the articles. Drawing on evidence from all three articles, identify what you think are the key theories and ideas to consider about this identity. What seems important, complex, or problematic? Why? What in these readings challenged your ideas and beliefs? Once you have carefully considered these questions, write a 2-3 page synthesis of all three articles. A synthesis combines information gathered from two or more sources into a coherent whole. Thus, the objective of this assignment is to compare what multiple sources have to say about a single topic. There are several types of synthesis papers. This assignment requires analysis of the ideas you are reading. Your synthesis should indicate the main arguments, central ideas, and key theories. You should also use textual evidence (cited in your summary) from each article in your summary.
