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 40S
Due:

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 onepage, single-spaced 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
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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
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 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
you.

A personal essay on a value thats important to

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:

Possib
le
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.

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Outside of the box: Outside of box is neat,

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

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Introductory page to guide the audience:

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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

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2. Favourite song or poem

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3. Postcard or Recipe

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4. Current Newspaper Article Review

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5. Persuasive Essay

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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

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11.

Where Im From Poem

10

12.

Extra Item: Your choiceexplain

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A personal essay