Our identities, or how we think about who we are, contribute in deeply meaningful ways to our life experiences and relationships. This course will introduce students to psychological theories of identity, with a particular focus on intersecting identities. Course readings, excerpts from popular films, and self-reflection will help us to understand what it means to have an identity, and how we negotiate the multiple identities we all have. Assigned essays as well as in-class writing and discussion will challenge students to think about the significance of gender, sexuality, race, and ethnicity in forming our complex selves. The reason we are working together this term is to help you to become college-level writers. I take this task seriously, and I hope you will too! I also hope that this class will be personally meaningful for you. I hope that you will learn about yourself as a person and as a writer. Writing is a cornerstone of intellectual development; it can help us to organize our thoughts, to think analytically and critically, to present our ideas, and to understand and solve problems. Regardless of the career or life path(s) you choose, you will be required to write in various genres throughout your life, and to be able to organize your thoughts, arguments, and evaluations through writing. Those who demonstrate good writing are likely to perform well in their courses and careers, and to submit successful applications for jobs and graduate or professional school programs. Learning to write requires a lot of practice. This class is designed to give you that practice and to encourage you to approach the reading and writing processes in more critical and creative ways than you may have in the past. You will work closely with your peers and the instructor to develop your voice as a writer through a series of formal and informal writing assignments and workshops. The following text will be required for this course, and will be available at Shaman Drum Bookstore (check online first for used copies!): Lunsford, A.A. (2005). The Everyday Writer (3rd edition). Boston: Bedford/ St. Martin's Press. Additional readings will be posted on this website. Tentative film viewings for the academic term include: 'Ma Vie en Rose" '8 Mile? 'Whale Rider? 'TransAmerica? 'Y Tu Mama Tambien? 'Hable con Ella?