Social study paper Six Pages

Evidence exists that facts, data, examples, and categories provided in teaching sessions for trainees being prepared to enter an overseas culture, but whose learning experiences did not include interactions with representatives of the cultures studied, do not readily transfer to practical, meaningful applications. Social scientists have pointed to the fact that interaction skills are more effectively learned through guided experience in the behavior itself, and that such learning is even more effective if the learner can immediately apply what he or she has learned. The purpose of this homework assignment is to encourage moral imagination, the active understanding, including the development of an attitude of acceptance, respect, and tolerance for cultural differences.

To complete this assignment follow these steps:

1. Select one individual from another culture, for example an international employee from your work or neighborhood, an international student, a student from a different sexual orientation, race, or age, or possibly an agency in the community. Find someone from a different ethnicity, religion, age, sexual orientation etc. This person must be someone you did not know well before (your classmates should be excluded from this assignment). This assignment will give you an opportunity to get to know him/her and his/her culture at a deeper level.

1. Develop at least 3 person interactions (at least 1 hour each) with this person that

1. provide opportunities for learning about each other’s cultures;

1. provide opportunities for understanding cultural as well as individual differences;

1. provide opportunities for shared experiences such as meals, cultural events, and visits (either in person or virtual) in each other’s homes and with each other’s families;

1. are responsive to specific needs in specific circumstances (e.g., information, experiential learning, specific problems with agencies or customs) including those of the student or the international person;

1. allow them to serve as intercultural informants for each other;

These interactions are not interviews or Q&A sessions. They intend to help you develop a relationship and learn about this culture.

1. Keep a detailed electronic diary of your experiences with this person. This diary documents every interaction with this person, and should analyze and deal with personal reactions related to your own feelings, the situation, and the specific factors you have learned and can relate to your classroom learning experiences.

1. Prepare a written and an oral report that summarizes your diary by assuring anonymity of the specific person. In this report, information about specific ethnic, racial, and cultural factors should be provided. This report should include your insights, general cultural and communication-related information, and relevant relationships to the material covered in this course. The most important part of this paper is the new things you’ve learned about this culture that you did not know before, and your culture shock experiences. Tell us how this experience changed you. It should center around the following themes:

1. Culture shock

1. Perceptions, expectations, stereotyping, prejudice and attributions

1. The role of culture, cultural and individual differences,

1. Intercultural communication experiences

1. Applicability of the theoretical models learned in this course

1. Principles, concepts, and theories learned in this course

This paper should be typed, 6-10 pages (not including the diary), double-spaced, 12-point font, with page numbers, and must in be APA format. The diary can be hand-written, or typed, and does not have to be in APA format. There is no page limit for the diary.

This is the evaluation rubric for this paper:

	Points	Score
Part I. Diary (100 pts.)
I. Selection of the encounter Partner · Clearly and adequately describes the selected partner, including information about specific ethnic, racial and other cultural information (but maintaining anonymity) · Provides strong rationale for why this individual was selected · Specifies intercultural encounter learning objectives	20
II. Number and Level of Detail of Entries in Diary · Documents at least three interactions with the “partner”, preferably more, if feasible · For each encounter, describes in detail the kinds of experiences and activities engaged in with the “partner”	40
III. Short Analysis Per Diary Entry · Each diary entry includes a short analysis of the situation, personal feelings, and specific learnings	40
Part II. General Reflection and Integration with Theory (200 pts.)
I. Personal Reflection · Demonstrates depth of insight and honesty about self (including confronting vague and uncomfortable situations, doubts, biases, etc.) · Summarizes what you learned about yourself through this project, that you may not have been aware of. · Demonstrates increased capacity to view things from another perspective.	60	60
II. General Learnings about Culture and Communication-Related Information · Highlights key learnings about the other culture, and communicating and relating effectively with this culture	60	60
III. Integration with Cultural Diversity Concepts, Models and Research · Makes linkages between personal experiences and relevant cultural diversity theory and research · Discusses themes such as culture shock, perceptions, expectations, stereotyping, prejudice, attributions, the role of culture, cultural and individual differences, intercultural communication, and other relevant models like those of Cox, Hofstede, Triandis, etc. (not all themes need to be discussed; but address two or more relevant themes). The models can be from the course books or via independent research.	80
TOTAL	300