humanities

For this final paper, you will be required to research and write on a culture of your choice. This must be a culture not covered this semester. You can either browse the textbook and choose a culture listed there that has not been discussed OR select another one.

Three Required Components for the Paper (please organize your paper and provide headings accordingly for each section)

The Past: Historical Context

Address the role of history in understanding your culture. What was the role of foreign subjugation, wars, visions of world domination, etc? Was there one seminal event that significantly shaped the course of this particular country?

The Portrait: The Culture Close-Up

You will need to highlight the distinctive cultural characteristics and values, and examine them in light of the cultural parameters that have been discussed this semester: individualism v. collectivism, power distance, uncertainty avoidance, and so on.

Provide a concise and compelling portrait of this culture by addressing 3-4 of the following:

Demographics

Values and beliefs

Norms, rituals, and taboos

Class & race

Gender

Politics

Education

Any other cultural marker that you think is significant to understanding this culture

The Present: Culture in Contemporary Context

This section requires you to locate a topical news story involving the culture (within the last two years; I’m willing to discuss and make some notable exceptions to this rule depending on what you come up with). Think back to our class discussions on various cultures and how we related recent major news events in that country to our general understanding of that culture’s values and beliefs. Examples can include:

Political News/Developments

Infamous Cases of Crime

Tragedies, Major Disasters

Recent Cultural Trends

Entertainment/Popular Culture

You are required to provide a brief summary of the news item/topic and then address how/why you think this aptly reflects or summarizes certain components of the culture in other words, this example should directly support your thesis statement.

Minimum page length 3-4 pages double spaced

Sources: at least three academically acceptable sources

At least two sources should be utilized for your section on the Cultural Portrait

At least one source should be utilized for your Culture in Contemporary Context section for background on your news item

The textbook can count as one source IF applicable to your selected culture

Sources must be properly attributed with in-text parenthetical citation

Adhere to formal paper structure: title, thesis statement, body of paper, conclusion

Introduction: Address general conceptions of the culture

Body of paper: follow the framework/sections noted on page 1 of this prompt

Conclusion: Include your personal reflection on what you’ve learned and how you are assessing the culture

Works Cited page (MLA and APA)