This assignment provides students with an opportunity to analyze the impact this person has had on their life. Key questions to consider before writing the letter:
1.) What did you learn from studying the life of this person?
2.) How was your own life impacted by studying the life of this person?
3.) Did you appreciate what this person did, in terms of social change work, or did you dislike or have major disagreements with what this person did, and why?
4.) Has this person helped you understand what your values are?
5.) Has your own racial identity been impacted by this person?
6.) Do you have a deeper understanding of social change work?
These are examples of questions to consider; you are not restricted to these. However, each student is expected to address the question of identity pertaining to gender and/or sexuality, given that these are core issues for our work this term. A note for those of you who identify as cisgender and/or heterosexual; each of us has an identity pertaining to gender and/or sexuality. There is an inaccurate myth/stereotype that only folks in the LGBTQ+ community have an identity linked to these issues; that is not the premise we are working from in this class.
The letter writing assignment falls into the category of a critical reflection paper. Critical reflection papers call upon the writer to create work that involves personal sharing at the same time as they exhibit the same qualities as a well-written academic essay in terms of depth of critical thinking skills and connections to our course material. You can think of these papers as combining the best of personal sharing with the best of academic writing. The personal sharing is not randomly and carelessly inserted into the essay; it reflects self-awareness on your part, and furthermore, it is personal sharing that connects with our course material. Part of your job in the letter writing assignment is linking personal stories/experiences/insights with our course material.