In this essay, you will write a 2-4 page autoethnographic narrative that explores how one element such as culture, identity, language, family, community, gender, class, or education has shaped and influenced your life. You will reflect on your own experiences and connect it to larger things like your culture, community, or society to examine how personal identity is constructed and influenced. You will need to locate at least 3 articles to support your points.
MLA Citation
Gomez, Pierrick, and Carlos J. Torelli. “It’s Not Just Numbers: Cultural Identities Influence How Nutrition Information Influences the Valuation of Foods.” Journal of Consumer Psychology, vol. 25, no. 3, 2015, pp. 404–15. JSTOR, https://www.jstor.org/stable/26618080. Accessed 26 Aug. 2025.
Step 1: Choose One Element of Your Identity
What parts of who I am have shaped how I see the world and how the world sees me?
Think about who you are. Pick one element that is important in your life, like:
Culture
Language
Gender
Family
Religion
Social class
Community
Education
Traditions
Step 2: Brainstorm Personal Stories
What happened? Why does it matter to me?
Think of real moments from your life that connect to the element you chose. This can be:
A challenge you faced
A moment you felt proud
A time you felt different or out of place
A tradition or habit you grew up with
A conversation or tradition that taught you something
Step 3: Make a Connection to the Bigger Picture
Think about how your experience connects to the world around you. Ask:
Remember: You are explaining what your story says about the world.
Do other people in my culture experience this too?
Does this show something about society, history, or community?
How does this story show the way culture or identity shapes people?
This is the part that needs to be researched. You'll need 3 articles from JSTOR. Don't forget to copy the MLA citation.