Your experiences in K-12 schools

Your paper will be evaluated on @ive key criteria. This is an assignment about you, your experiences in K-12
schools, and at least 3 parts of your identity (race, class, and gender). You have the autonomy to structure
and/or arrange your paper in a format that most effectively communicates your ideas and analysis about your
identity. You paper can be narrative, it can be based on themes, but the following six areas must be included in
your paper.
1- Explicit identi@ication of an area of identity: Be explicit about which aspect(s) of your identity you will be
discussing. Consider how various aspects of your identity intersect with one another (i.e. race and immigration
status) and how collectively they inJluenced (and were shaped by) your experiences in K-12 schools.
2- Schooling Experience: Address how your identity has been shaped by your experiences in schools and how
your identity has also informed your schooling experiences. Address what lessons you received from school
about this aspect of your identity. Consider both explicit dynamics (i.e. curriculum focus, differential punishment
and rewarding of particular students) and implicit factors (i.e. counselor suggestions, curriculum gaps). Offer
insight into the types of lessons that were either positive or negative about the area of your identity you are
discussing and how schools played a role in that process.
3- Analysis of factors that shaped identity: Develop an argument about the critical factors, situations and
people that shaped your understanding of this area(s) of your identity. Focus primarily on your experiences in
relation to K-12 schools. Provide examples of situations, if applicable, and discuss what lessons and meanings
you took away from these situations.
4- Incorporations from course readings: You are required to effectively include a minimum of 3 references from
the course readings to develop your analysis and argument. You are able to access references from outside of
the course. But you are expected to address some type of theory or research that speaks to the issue of
identity that you are examining.
5- Paper Formatting & Writing: Your paper should be 3-5 pages, and double- spaced (excluding references).
Papers that are not proofread and have grammatical errors or misspellings will lose points. Also, papers should
be in APA format. Your paper presents a clearly written, well-organized and error-free (i.e., correct grammar,
prooJing, spelling, etc.) document.