Symbolism Project
First of all, your project is going to incorporate 10 symbols into a product.
These symbols can be colors, items, textures, or movement.
The personal symbol: You have to decide on a medium. You can create an original
collection of items. You can create original art, an original dance, an original song with
lyrics, or any other medium.
 It should show originality. It should reflect your talents. Play to your strengths.
 It needs to show effort. This project shouldn’t just be a few items thrown in a
Ziplock bag.
 It should show depth. (Don’t have the ten symbols represent only one trait.) The
ten symbols should represent different aspects of you!
 It should show abstract thinking. Don’t use literal symbols (such as a picture of
a basketball for liking basketball). Using a gazelle to represent your love of
basketball is abstract. A gazelle is fast and graceful, but it also works with its
herd. These traits are also important to a basketball player.
The written explanation:
Your written explanation is a personal essay that discusses your traits while explaining
these symbols.
You don’t have to have ten body paragraphs. You can combine symbols and traits topically. For example,
if you have several symbols related to your external appearance, you can put those symbols into one
paragraph. If you have another few symbols that reflect a part of you hidden from the public, those
symbols could go into another paragraph. However, if you’re happy with one paragraph per symbol, that
is fine.
Remember, it’s YOUR EXPLANATION that gives the project meaning! Because it is a
personal essay, you may use first person!
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It should show good use of standard grammar.
It should thoroughly explain each quality. Some need personal examples to
demonstrate. You can say that you have a great sense of humor, but you need to
prove it with an example. (My brother and I performed an impromptu puppet
show in the Ingles in Newland, NC. We entertained many shoppers and several
staff member. The manager was less entertained by our use of the store’s hand
puppets.)
It should reflect different aspects of who you are as a person. (Don’t just
represent your physical appearance or your sense of humor; you’re trying to
convey different aspects of you as a person.)
The written text should show abstract thinking. Example: A gazelle is fast and
graceful, but it also works with its herd. These traits are also what make me a
great basketball player.
HAVE FUN! You’re creating the symbols and the meaning!
Project and paper are due Monday, February 1st.