Lifespan Development (GSSC 1109)
Short Essay Assignment
Focus: Applying Erikson’s and Marcia’s Models of Identity Status and Development to an aspect of identity development from your adolescence.
Common Elements of Identity
Vocation/Career (what you hope/plan/chose to do)
Politics (how you identify yourself politically or ideologically)
Religion (your spiritual and/or religious beliefs, practices, associations)
Relationship (your relationship to a partner, committed single)
Intellect/Intelligence (your relationship to academic achievement)
Gender (how you see yourself and are seen in relation to gender norms)
Sexuality (who you are or are becoming as a sexual person; LGBTQ)
Culture/Ethnicity (your relationship to your culture/ethnicity or country of origin)
Interests (things you particularly like to do, such as sports, hobbies)
Personality (particular and usually strong traits, such as a temper or introversion/extroversion)
Physical (your relationship to your body, consciousness/investment in body image)
Think about your own adolescence, the period from about 12-18 or 20, and the journey towards forming your own identity. Then, choose 1 of the elements of identity from the list above and:
Describe what your personal experience of it was like. Try to tell the story about your adolescence, using specific examples and interesting anecdotes to describe your struggle with that aspect of your identity. For example, it might be about your process of choosing a career, understanding your racialized identity, sorting out your political beliefs, your evolution as an extrovert or introvert (personality type), or figuring out your sexual identity. There are 11 listed above, but only choose 1 aspect of identity. You must quote the text to illustrate your examples.
AND
Apply Erikson’s and especially Marcia’s models as described on page 211-212. Be sure to define the concepts you are using and be clear in how you are applying them to your experience. You are testing their concepts to see if they help make sense of an element of your identity in adolescence. Again, you are required to quote the text where appropriate. Finally, as a part of your testing of Erikson’s and Marcia’s concepts, you may wish to use some elements from our holistic model to make sense of your adolescent identity.
Length: A minimum of 3 and maximum of 4 pages (750 – 1000 words), double-spaced, one-sided, no larger than 12 pt font, with 1 inch margins. A title page is required.
Format for Quotations: For this essay you simply quote the text and indicate the page number in brackets like this (text, p. 211). You must include page numbers. If you are using sources other than the course textbook you must have a list of works cited at the end of your paper. If you are only using the course text then no list of works cited or bibliography is required. DO NOT QUOTE/CITE THE SLIDES OR LECTURES. Use the book.
Late Penalty: Late submission not previously negotiated will result in a penalty of 2 marks per day (i.e. after 1 day a mark of 25/30, for example, becomes 23/30, etc.)