Coat of Arms: Writing Assignment 1.

Assignment Directions.

In many cultures from medieval times in Europe to cultures in Asia and Africa, a coat of arms was created to display unique markings relevant to either an individual or family.  This display typically consisted of symbols that represented virtues relevant to that family or individual.  For this writing assignment you are asked to create a coat of arms relevant to you as a unique individual.  Please note that there are two parts to this writing assignment:  You are asked to visually create a coat of arms on the shield provided in this assignment and then write a paper based on those symbolic decisions.

1. In chapters 2 and 3, you have read about culture, gender and self-concept. Based on those principles, please consider the four parts of the shield that you believe represent you as a unique individual. You will not be graded on your artistic ability.  You will be graded on the completion of the shield.  You can choose to draw or insert electronic pictures.
2. In quadrant one of the shield, you are to draw (or electronically insert a picture) something that symbolically represents a culture with which you identify.
3. In quadrant two of the shield, you are asked to draw (or electronically insert a picture) something that is representative of the gender with which you identify.
4. In quadrant three, consider how reflected appraisals have shaped you. Select a specific reflected appraisal that represents you and draw (or electronically insert a picture) into that quadrant.
5. In quadrant four, consider how social comparisons have shaped you. Select a specific social comparison that represents you and draw (or electronically insert a picture) into that quadrant.

For the purpose of this assignment, you may write about a Television or book character if you would rather not self-disclose.  If you choose to write about a fictional character, please let your instructor know that in the introduction to your paper.

Symbols Represented on Shield Quadrants 1-4

2. Now that you have created your family coat of arms, write a 3-4 page paper following the format outlined below. a. Begin with an introduction to the paper.
3. In the body of the paper, identify how your coat of arms is unique to you and is relevant to your selfconcept. Define self-concept and explain how you will be discussing your self-concept in four ways (culture, gender, reflected appraisals and social comparisons) throughout the paper.
4. Also in the body of your paper, address each of the four quadrants. This would best be done in four separate paragraphs.
   • define culture and then discuss what culture you chose to identify with and why. Identify what symbols or images you used for this part of your coat of arms and tie that in to the culture you identified with.
   • define gender and then discuss what gender you chose to identify with and why. Identify what symbols or images you used for this part of your coat of arms and tie that in to the gender you identified with.
   • define reflected appraisal and then discuss what reflected appraisal you chose to identify with and why. Identify what symbols or images you used for this part of your coat of arms and tie that in to the reflected appraisal you identified with.
   • define social comparison and then discuss what social comparison you chose to identify with and why. Identify what symbols or images you used for this part of your coat of arms and tie that in to the reflected appraisal you identified with.
5. Finally, conclude with a paragraph discussing how each of these four quadrants makes up your self-concept and symbolically represents who you are as a unique individual.
6. Write a complete conclusion bringing the paper to a close.