For the final assignment students are required to write a case study of activist Grace Lee Bogs’ developmental trajectory by drawing on concepts and theories discussed in class. We will watch a documentary about her life and discuss what shaped her developmental trajectory. You may also chose to write about somebody else, however the criterion for the case study is that it has to be a public figure who has dedicated their life to changing other people’s lives/the world, and therefore preferably a political artist or an outspoken activist/political person. The main thing is that you have to be able to find some interviews/written material about their lives.

Please address the following questions in your paper:
What contributed to your case study person’s developmental trajectory? What are the main cultural and historical factors that shaped their life and development?
What do you believe were the primary factors that contributed to your case study’s development (e.g., family, school, neighborhood, cultural, societal factors), and do they change over time?
Drawing on the reading uploaded to folder on Blackboard for the final paper, use the theoretical concepts from this paper (positive marginality, critical consciousness and social identity) to discuss their development of activist and political involvement.

This is an analytical paper. You should bring at least 2-3 developmental theoretical concepts/perspectives/theores into play as you discuss your case study’s developmental trajectory. You should use the textbook and other texts from class to support your theoretical and analytical review and discussion, however you are also free to include other academic sources.

Category: Essays