Assignment

Choose one assignment from the following options to submit for this week's response. Please type up your response according to the guidelines listed in the syllabus, and upload your assignment as a WORD or PDF attachment at the bottom of this assignment.

Your response will be evaluated on the basis of: a) how well you demonstrate an understanding of and engagement with the course material; b) the clarity and quality of your writing; c) your overall effort on the assignment.

The assignments correspond with the assigned presentations & readings for the week. The questions posed in each option are designed to help guide your thinking and response. You are not required to respond to all (or even any) of the listed questions, although your responses should be organized in some way. As with any writing assignment, providing sufficient background information to your topic and offering specific examples to support your views will make your ideas clearer and more convincing.

You are welcome to write beyond the minimum page requirement for the assignment.

Option 1:

Re-read the theories of racial identity development, as described on pp. 189-194 in Andreatta. In a 2-page paper, discuss your response to the theories outlined. How well (or not) do the models describe you and your own experience of race? How well (or not) do they help you understand others' views on race? Discuss your own experiences of developing a racial identity or racial consciousness, and what that is (or was like) for you. Feel free to also discuss your experiences around race at UCSC.

Option 2:

Re-read the section on gender and sexual orientation as discussed in Andreatta, pp. 194-199. In a 2-page paper, discuss your own experience of understanding the categories of sex, gender, gender identity and sexual orientation. How well do the theories of sexual orientation identity development discussed on pp. 196-199 fit your own development in understanding of sexual orientation? How has coming to UCSC enhanced or confused your views around gender and sexual orientation, both in general and around your own identity? Using the ‘@myU' chart on pp. 198 as a guideline, make a list of classes, events and departments/programs at UCSC that may support more tolerance and non-discrimination around sex, gender and sexual orientation. Do any of the classes or events appeal to you? Why or why?