Academic Writing -- 2

5 page double spaced essay, MLA format about group identity.\r\nAssignment: Paper Four - Identity and Groups\r\nDiscussion: In our explorations of identity thus far, we have attempted to define identity, determine its influences, and examine how audience and media affect our understanding of the concept. This essay, the final angle from which we will approach the topic, we are focused on the role that groups play in developing identity. You have been asked to read Steve Olson's article "The End of Race: Hawaii and the Mixing of Peoples", which relates the island's historical diversification. Ultimately, Olson's article reveals that despite the high rates of intermarriage and the genetic similarity among all races, conflict still exists along divisions of social, political, racial, and economic groups. The article forces us to ask the difficult question of whether we can truly be united in a singular identity of humanness, or if we are somehow predisposed to needing group identities. \r\nPrompt: In a well-developed essay, make an argument about the role that groups play in the formation of our identities and how we perceive the identities of others. \r\nAreas to explore:\r\no What are the significant group associations that we make? Social? Political? Familial? Economic? Racial? Are some groups more or less important to our identity? Why? \r\no How does belonging (or not belonging) to a group affect our identities? What aspects of our identity are affected by the group? Behavior? Values and beliefs? Style? \r\no Why do we divide into groups if we are, as Olson suggests, genetically homogenous? What benefits do groups provide in the modern world? What challenges arise as a result of not belonging to a group? How are these benefits and challenges absorbed into our sense of self and sense of others? \r\no What are the consequences of group identity? What occurs between groups when people understand the world as "us" and "them"?\r\nOutlines and Rough Drafts:\r\no Outlines are due in class (hard copy or electronic) on Thursday, April 3 for graded peer review exercise. Required: 3 body paragraphs outlined with specific evidence and connections to paragraph main idea and prompt (follow the template from paper 3)\r\no You will submit a rough draft to me through BB by Friday, April 4. Required: 3-4 pages long with a clear thesis, body paragraph main points, some evidence and connections.\r\nFinal Drafts:\r\no Final Drafts are due Friday, April 11. Final papers must be submitted through Blackboard by 11:59 p.m. or may be marked late and have points deducted.\r\no 5-6 pages: Papers less than a full five pages of writing (does not include Works Cited page) can earn no better than a C.\r\no Third essay requires at least one reference to Olson article and the use of at least two other articles (Alvarez, Levy, and Pozner). Failure to use the text will result in significant deductions.\r\no Essay should make use of at least one example from digital content to support the argument.\r\no All papers must conform to proper MLA format with in-text citation and a Works Cited page. Significant deductions will be made for failure to meet MLA standards.\r\n\r\n