Discussion:
Directions and criteria for Paper One: Develop a fully articulated outline (not less than 1.5 double-spaced pages), works cited page (minimum of three citations) and write an essay (2.5 to 4 pages in length) responding to the following instructions:
Type an essay about yourself including the following: analyze the racial and ethnic features of your identity. Consider your ancestral origins and how your heritage has influenced who you are today. Reflect on such factors as language, the naming practices of newborns, physical characteristics, religion, and family customs and traditions. Also, think about and discuss whether the construction of gender roles within your family tradition has caused you to be either an agent or target of oppression with respect to opposite gender(s). Discuss customary gender roles in your family, remembering that these roles are central and well-defined to some groups and less obvious and defined to others. Remember that everyone has a racial/ethnic heritage even though not everyone is aware of this aspect of their identity.
Submit a separate works cited page with your outline. Submit all three (the paper, outline and works cited) by the assigned deadline as one document.
OUTLINE
Introduction: My family has become a huge influence in my life.
I. Born and raised in a Christian home.
a) Close-knit home
b) home schooled through middle school
II. Physical Characteristics within family members
a) Brown hair, brown eyes
b) Blue eyes, etc.
c) Pale skin
III. My Mother's mom's side of family and ancestors
a) Family history of my grandmother
i)Mother's grandparents immigrated from Switzerland to Okanogan Valley
ii) Marriage between my grandparents
b) Family history of grandfather
i) Moved from Iowa to Minnesota to manage a dairy farm.
ii) Grew up in Norwegian home
iii) Mocked and teased for speaking Norwegian
iv) Moved to Ballard after father's discharge from army
c) Religious beliefs and strained relationships
i) Raised in a Christian household, conservative morals and values
ii) Dysfunctional events that were related with prison, drug abuse, and mental illness
iii) Grandfather passing away, grandmother in adult home
d) Family traditions
i) Christmas is the biggest celebration
ii) Tons of food, play games, enjoy everyone's company
iii) Family compared to the movie "My Big Fat Greek Wedding"
IV. My Father's side of family and ancestors
a) History
i) Midwest, born pure-blood Norwegians
ii) After the war, some of his family members went to a church affiliated school and seminary which has now become a family tradition
b) Missionaries
i) Felt called to be missionaries Korea
ii) My father was born and raised in Japan until he went to SU in Seattle
iii)Father was raised differently than most American or Japanese with moving around so much.
c) Family Tradition
i) Family gets together for Christmas Eve, extended family for Christmas day
ii) Nine-mile bike ride in Seattle on Thanksgiving morning
Iiii) Attend the Norwegian Independence Day parade, Syttende Mai, in Ballard on May 17th. People wear the traditional bunads.
V) My immediate family characteristics
a) Always lived next door to a set of grandparents
b) Since my parents both had conservative morals growing up, we have s similar ones in our household
c) Japanese language spoken in my house, but I never picked it up.
d) Japanese dinners in house
Conclusion: Without my family I wouldn't be who I am today. I'm very thankful for them and will pass these traditions down to my children and grandchildren.