Identity – Breakfast Club Animoto to Ms. DeGiobbi
The plot of John Hughes' 1985 film, The Breakfast Club, follows five students at fictional Shermer High School in Shermer, Illinois, as they report for Saturday detention on March 24, 1984. While not complete strangers, the five are all from different cliques or social groups: John Bender "The Criminal"; Claire Standish "The Princess"; Brian Johnson "The Brain"; Andy Clark "The Athlete"; and Allison Reynolds "The Basket Case". The school's disciplinary principal, Mr. Vernon, gives them all an assignment; they will write an essay about "who you think you are" and the violations they committed to end up in Saturday detention. They pass the hours in a variety of ways: they dance, harass each other, tell stories, fight, and talk about a variety of subjects. Gradually they open up to each other and reveal their secrets, discovering that they all have strained relationships and are afraid of making mistakes. However, despite these evolving friendships, they're afraid that once the detention is over, they will return to their respective cliques and never speak to each other again.
At Claire's request and the consensus of the group, Brian agrees to write the essay Mr. Vernon assigned earlier, which challenges Mr. Vernon and his preconceived judgments about all of them. While Brian agrees, instead of writing about the actual topic, he writes a very motivating letter that is in essence, the main point of the story. He signs the essay "The Breakfast Club", and leaves it on the table for Mr. Vernon to read when they leave. There are two versions of this letter, one read at the beginning and one at the end, and they differ slightly; illustrating the shift in the students' judgments of one another, and their realization that they truly have things in common. Both letters are included on the back side of this handout.
During our Identity unit, we have read articles, viewed mini-documentaries and had discussions with the intention of analyzing how specific Identity elements have shaped, affected and influenced the identities of the individuals within the articles, films and this classroom. I have assigned specific journal topics asking you to analyze your Identity based on specific Identity elements that I believe shape, affect and influence all of us who live in this country and, quite likely, our world. In essence, I have acted as Mr. Vernon requiring you to tell me who you are based on what I believe are influential components of one's Identity. Now, it is your turn. It is your time to create a digital Animoto that portrays who you think you are and insightfully shares with me/us what makes you the person you are sitting in this classroom today. Website: (You will create one using the Trial option)
Animoto Requirements:
Must be 1.5 - 2 minutes in length (no shorter and no longer)
Background music that relates to your Identity
Text & subtext that addresses your most influential Identity Elements
Photos that will provide insight about your unique Identity
You must submit it via email to me @ with the email title, "DeGiobSJIdentity1 (or 2, 3 or 6, depending on your class period)