Essay #1 Prompt: Pop Culture and Identity – Eng 101 Fall 2015
The Writing Task: In this section of the class, we will read several essays about how identity is influenced by
ethnic culture and/or popular culture. Ethnic culture is complex, and popular perceptions about culture,
ethnicity and race often have a profound impact on how we see ourselves and how we interact with the world
around us. As we will see in our class readings and discussion, sometimes these issues can intersect with issues
of popular culture. In some of these cases, pop culture has a productive or positive influence, in some cases, pop
culture has a destructive or negative influence on identity, and sometimes it's a little of both.
 Think about your own construction of identity, and how it is influenced by the various cultures or
subcultures you are a part of.
 Then, write about a way that a culture you are part of or identify with (can be either ethnic
culture, pop culture, a particular subculture, or a mix of these) is connected in a significant and
influential way to how you form or express your identity, and make a complex claim about that
connection using narrative, examples, and responses to research to illustrate that claim.
Your essay should do these things:
 First, it should have a clear main point (thesis statement) that makes a claim about the connection
between the culture(s) you are a member of and your identity.
 Second, it should show an awareness of the conversation that is already going on about these issues. You
should do this by fully describe the specific connection between culture and identity that you choose to
discuss and also summarize and respond to some of the ideas that you have found in the class readings, in
your own experience, or through research.
 Third, it should build a clear, coherent argument in response to the prompt and the sources that you choose.
Sources: You must cite (quote or summarize/paraphrase) at least three different reputable sources in this
essay. You may use TWO essays from our Pop Perspectives textbook if you wish, but a minimum of one source
must be one that you found on your own.
Length: 4-5 pages (1300 word minimum, including Works Cited). An average essay of 1300 words
(including works cited) will be at the bottom of the 4th page when formatted correctly, but the threshold I will be
using to decide if a paper meets minimum requirements is the 1300 word count. Please see your syllabus for my
formatting requirements. You must also include a works cited page in MLA format for any sources you quote
in the body of your paper, including your text book. (This means that everyone will have a works cited page.)
Due Dates:
Rough Draft for peer review due Sunday,
9/27 at 11:59 PM (upload to turnitin)
Comments on peer drafts due on turnitin by Thursday, 10/1 at the start of class
Optional Rough Draft for instructor comments on turnitin due at 11:59 PM Saturday, 10/3
(Note change from syllabus.)
Final Draft due Thursday, 10/15 at the start of class (upload to turnitin)
Sample Topics: Note: You are not limited to these topics. These are simply examples of topics that would fit this
question.
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How a culture/subculture you identify with has shaped/changed/influenced your own identity and
outlook on the world.
o Is the subculture you identify with different from the one you were raised in? If so, how have
these differences been significant to you?
The influence of music and music subcultures on the development of identity, for example, what it
means to identify as punk, hip hop, a goth, a scene kid, a metalhead, a raver, etc…
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The impact of Fandom and “geek culture” on your identity and interact with the world
The influence of advertisements or media on the creation of your feminine/masculine/non-binary
identity
How racial stereotypes negatively impact the quality of life for minorities in America
How important is it for immigrants or the children of immigrants in America to hold on to traditional
foods, native language, and family customs? How does one balance holding on to your cultural identity
and assimilating into “mainstream” American culture?