Identity Box

All About Me
This identity box will showcase who you are, inside and out, in a creative
manner. The box will include:
Create a box and decorate it, inside (how you see yourself) and
out (how others see you)
A one page overview of the contents of the box, as if someone
was able to find it in your absence. This page will allow that
person to understand what your identity box is all about. The
overview will take the observer through your box as if finding it
in your absence
Assignments that are entwined with an object
Use language to plan, explore, delight, inform, persuade,
challenge, manipulate, share and celebrate
Decorate your box as instructed, the outside how others see
you, and the inside how you see yourself
English Transactional 40S
Due: Monday, April 6th, 2015

The Identity Box Project

How is our identity formed? To what extent are we defined by our talents, tastes, and
interests? By our membership in a particular ethnic group? Our religion? By the nation
where we were born? Our heritage? Our race? Our gender? Our sexual orientation?
What are our dreams and goals? By our friends? How does your personality interact
with your culture, beliefs and values, family, and experiences to shape your character?
How do the location, culture, and economics of your upbringing affect how you see
yourself and your place in society?

You will visually and symbolically answer these questions (and others you have for
yourself) by creating a box that represents important elements of your identity. The
box you create should be attractively constructed and, through symbolic objects and
writing, should provide insight into who you are and how you see yourself in relation to
others. For each category, choose a symbolic object that represents an important aspect
of your identity. You will physically place these items in a box to graphically display
who you are.

1. Create & decorate the container:

For the identity box, you should use a box about the size of a shoebox, or some
other form of a container. I once had a student use a small, vintage suitcase;
though the choice of a container is up to you, as you will decorate the container
to represent you. Closely attend to the specifics for the container decoration.
Inside the box: you should attach or place an assortment of the following
(the choice is yours): images, words, objects, artefacts, pieces of music,
photographs, and/or items of significance to you (or images of them). The
interior of the box should have attached or place images and/or objects that
convey how you see yourself. These may be handmade or pre-existing
images/objects.
Exterior of the box: you should somehow present images and/or objects
that illustrate how others see you, classify, categorize, and characterize
you and your identity.

Everything you use should be securely fixed to the box. Dont insert anything
irreplaceable in there. Valuable items are not a good idea; you can scan items
instead of including the real thing. Remember to put your name on the outside of
the box somewhere so that it is easily identifiable. You will be able to share the
contents of the box with the class if you so desire; some of you will prefer to keep
the box and its contents private, and that is okay as well.

2. In addition to your actual identity box, you are to write a one-page, singlespaced description explaining your box to someone who is encountering it
in your absence. This is the introductory page mentioned on the title page of this
project outline. Be reflectiveand explain the items in your box. Remember that
the inside of your box tells us how you see yourself; the outside tells us how
others see you. You should bring this one-page description to class and leave it
inside your box. It should look special as should all the pieces of your box, and is a
part of the contents of your box.
This project will be evaluated on the effort you put into the box and its contents
(a plain brown shoebox with a couple of printed pictures will not suffice), the
thoughtful nature of your explanatory statement/ introductory page, and the
quality of your presentation. As usual, organization, content, style and mechanics
will be the criteria for your grade.
3. Each assignment will be handed in to me as you complete it so that I may
mark each part individually as a regular assignment; then the box as a
whole, with all of its parts, will be marked. Your goal is to create as complete an
image of how you see your identity as well as how you would like your identity to
be perceived. Impress yourself with the brilliant insights you have into your own
identity and the clever ways you choose to present yourself. Be sure to have your
assignments edited before placing final copies into the box, so that the final
project is one you can keep and give to someone one day if you so desire. This is a
keepsake for all time!

Contents of the box (your writing and the associated article/item):

1. An original song lyric or poem (one you write):

Has an appropriate title.
Explores characteristics or traits illustrates the details and situations in
which your characteristics and traits come out.
Incorporates or references the symbolic item in some way.
Personality (consider innate characteristics how outgoing, assertive,
cooperative, compassionate, confident, self-disciplined, positive, self-conscious,
adventurous, imaginative, etcetera that you are)
Item: _________________________

2. Favourite song or poem (someone else, usually famous, has written):

Write about a page explaining why you love or connect with the
piece/why it is important to you.
Item (copy of the song/poem): ____________________________

3. Postcard or Recipe
Make the address (of the postcard) reflect your culture OR describe how
to make an old ethnic family recipe.
Explain how the culture from which you have come has shaped your
identity.
Be sure to reference the item and how it is symbolic of your culture.
Culture or Heritage (aspects of race, ethnicity, region, religion, food, music
and arts that are important to you and have helped shape your identity)
Item: _________________________

4. Current Newspaper Article Review

Summarize a current world issue (find a newspaper article) and then
analyze and reflect upon the topic of the article.
Item:_____________________ printout of article________

5. Persuasive Essay
Write a persuasive essay (1 page, typed, single spaced) about a topic
and use language to persuade the audience to believe whatever it is you
are trying to persuade them to believe.
Item:_________________

6. Goal Chart or Map,

or a Vision Board

When you put your goals in writing, almost as if by magic, opportunities

to realize your dreams begin to present themselves to you. Some people
explain this by saying you begin to attract what you need. Clarity of goals
produces clarity of vision. Write a page on your short term and long
term goals.
Next, decide on the major categories of goals in your life (eg: work,
education, family, personal development/self, relationships and
finances). Create a chart or map, where you write down your
categories and for each category, write down two things you will be
doing ten years from now that will make you happy. Add symbols or
images where you can. Use different colours for each category, different
size fonts and styles for different levels, arrows, branches, etc. Another
option is to create a vision board if you prefer to represent this section
as a type of collage (see Susan for details).
Item:____________________

7. Paragraph & Connecting Paragraph of Your Dreams

Metaphors: what animal best describes you and why? Colour? Inanimate
object? Food? write a paragraph about these things. Now choose a pair
of images that contain a discrepancy between how you see yourself as
being now, and how you would like to be. Write a connecting paragraph
that describes how you can get from the present to the desired image.
8. Letter to a Long Lost Family Member or Friend (this must be a real person
either living or dead)
Write a letter to someone who knew you well, using proper letter
writing format, explaining yourself and who youve become. Make this
informal and conversational. Imagine youre really talking to them.
Discuss the people who have been important in shaping your identity
and explain how theyve done so.
Incorporate the symbolic item youve chosen in the letter in some way.
Item: _________________________
9. Diary or Journal Entry
Think about your experiences (important events that had a profound
effect)
Reflect on an important event in your life and write in response to each of
the following prompts.
a) Describe the event in detail as though you were retelling the story to
someone.
b) Explain the effect that event had on shaping your identity.
c) Explain how or why the object symbolizes the event.
d) Looking back on the event, has your view or its significance changed at
all?

Item: _________________________

10.

On

A personal essay on a value thats important to you.

Choose a value or belief that you feel strongly about.

Write a personal essay on your thoughts on this subject. This should be a
minimum of 250 words of your thoughts and why you feel its important
(not a formal academic essay-see class discussion on how to write an
essay.)
Title it On Honesty, On Friendship, or whatever value you are exploring.
Incorporate your symbol somewhere in your essay.
Values/Beliefs (what is important to you: honesty, independence,
compassion, etc.)
Item: _________________________

11.

Where Im From Poem

Include a printed and revised version of your Where Im From poem
Choose a symbol that directly relates to the imagery in your poem
Environment (Aspects of your neighborhood, school, or community that
are important to you and have helped shape your identity)
Item: _______________________

12.

Extra Item: Your choiceexplain.

Item: _______________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Important Dont leave the outside of the box blank! Add illustrations, pictures,
cartoons, quotes, graphics, etc., to further illustrate your identity as others see
you.

Section:

Mark:

Possible
Points:

Inside of the Box: Inside of box is neat, attractive and

provides further insight into who you are on the inside,
as you see yourself.

10

Outside of the box: Outside of box is neat, attractive

and provides further insight into who you are, as other
people see you.

10

Introductory page to guide the audience:

10

Write an introduction to the identity box, on one page.

Talk about what you included and why. This is the
page you will write that, in your absence, someone
will find and read to understand your box, its
contents, and why you created the identity box. Next,
reflect upon the experience of taking a closer look at
yourself, discuss what you have learned during the
process, and mention any new insights you may have
on yourself.

1. An original song lyric or poem

10

2. Favourite song or poem

10

3. Postcard or Recipe

10

4. Current Newspaper Article Review

10

5. Persuasive Essay

10

6. Goal Chart or Map

10

7. Paragraph & Connecting Paragraph of Your

Dreams

10

8. Letter to a Long Lost Family Member or Friend

10

9. Diary or Journal Entry

10

10.

On

A personal essay

10

11.

Where Im From Poem

10

12.

Extra Item: Your choiceexplain

10