5 pages research paper

Xuexin Liu

English 101

Wendy

Apr. 12

My search plan

For this plan, I wan to discuss about the international students how to join in the native speakers’ “culture”. As I see, most international students are confusing about the native life. I mean we cannot really get into this society, because the culture. So I want to find out what kind of problem prevents us to join in this country?

Resources:

Tom Bartlett and Karin Fisher, “The China Conundrum” New York times published November 3 2011

Tentative thesis

I don’t have thesis yet. I only think the problem would be the communicating and understanding. So I try to find out something to prove my argument.

My plan

I will ask two or three international students why we cannot get into American culture. Maybe I will also ask some native speakers, what they feeling about the international students, and get my question. The get two more article to discuss how to solve those problems.

Xuexin,

This is a very interesting plan. It is a very good question. I think it will be hard to ask American students how they feel about Asian students, though. I would ask a very specific question, such as, “What signals do you get from international students that might make you want to be friends or NOT want to be friends with them?

Do you know a few Americans you can trust, fort example outside of school? It might be better to ask people outside of school—but you can ask classmates if you want. They are likely to get a little defensive about not being friends with Asian students and talking to you about it! So you have to think how to ask a question that they are comfortable answering.

My own pet theory is that many Asian cultures worry about “saving face,” that is, not embarrassing oneself, and I think that is limiting. It is necessary to embarrass oneself if you want to learn a new language or learn about a new culture! You are going to make mistakes! It’s better to make them, learn, and laugh at yourself a little bit. If you can’t bear to lose face, you will not take many chances in another culture, right? But that is just one theory. You can try your own guess at why this gap exists.