Reflective Personal Development Paper
(25 Points)
5-to-6 page paper [double-space, APA style]
Students will write a narrative essay about your own life, describing the experiences that have shaped your views of race, culture, and issues of diversity and how your life experiences, perceptions, education, and family background have led to your current ideas about teaching and learning diverse
student populations.
By researching and studying your own family background, it is possible to gain an appreciation about ways in which we share many similarities and differences. As a brief, introductory section of this assignment, try to gather as much information as you can about your family background including
religious affiliation, ethnicity, culture, language(s), country of origin, education/occupation and any other information you think is of interest and value. Then, reflect on your own experiences in terms of your cultural reference, your family background, your interactions with others unlike yourself, and other factors determined by your own circumstances and your upbringing. Include SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF EVENTS AND SITUATIONS
that you feel shaped your views on these issues. Be sure to situate your
examples in the context of assumptions about schooling and education.
Write a five to six page paper [double-space, APA style] recapturing your recollections and emphasizing your experiences with cultural diversity as a student in elementary, secondary, and higher education.
Some suggested questions you may want to ask yourself:
What messages did I receive growing up a
bout what it meant to be a member of my racial/
