Final Exam
Do a cultural analysis in which you describe the beliefs, values, worldviews and cultural practices that are associated with a particular cultural or ethnic group. You may choose one of the more traditional ethnic groups in the United States such as African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, Asian-Americans, Native-Americans, or Anglo-Americans. Your choice may also extend to cultures outside the United States as well as other minority cultures and identities such as Biracial individuals, Women, Gays, Lesbians, the Handicapped or the Elderly. In previous classes, students have chosen to write about such alternative cultures or subcultures as Gypsies, Bhuddist monks, Catholic Nuns, etc.
In your analysis, discuss the group’s experience as well as the social, historical and political forces that shaped the group’s cultural orientation and its particular mode of adaption, i.e. integration, separation, marginalization or assimilation. You may also want to consider the various stages of cultural identity development as a basis of intra-group variations.
While this paper may be descriptive, I also expect that you will apply the relevant theoretical concepts and perspectives which we have learned in the course. In so doing, you are expected to go beyond simply description to a more analytical level whereby you apply the relevant theoretical concepts. Your grade will be highly contingent on you doing so. The paper should be ten pages in length and conform to APA guidelines. I require you to cite your sources and use references in the body of the paper. You should also include a bibliography at the end.(use only journal articles). You may turn in an early draft that you may then revise before receiving a final grade.
Suggested Outline for Paper
1) Introduction
Describe the demographic characteristics of the population i.e. How many people constitute the population, their various nationalities or subgroups, their primary locations, the various waves of immigration they have experienced etc. The historical and social experiences of the group.
Cultural characteristics
2) Discuss the cultural characteristics of the group. In so doing provide a definition of culture, describe the various dimensions and models of culture i.e. surface vs. deep dimensions (ontology, axiology, epistemology), worldview, tight vs. loose, male vs. female, collectivism vs. individualism, subculture vs. dominant culture, Kluckholm’s model of culture etc.
3) Acculturation
Describe the acculturation experiences of the group and in so doing, apply the model of acculturation presented in class. This includes talking about stages such as pre-contact, contact etc. Also describe the particular mode of acculturation such as assimilation, integration, marginalization etc. In addition, discuss the moderator variables that influence the acculturation process i.e. socio-economic status, cultural characteristics, experiences of discrimination etc. Finally describe some of the outcomes of acculturation. For instance, negative mental health outcomes etc.
4) The Influence of Minority Status Discuss the issue of majority-minority relations in relation to the group you are writing about. Say in what ways that the group represents a minority or majority in terms of its status and how this shapes the group members experiences in the United States both socially and historically. In doing so describe how the issue of prejudice and discrimination relates to the group’s experiences particularly as this pertains to the relationship it has with its own group members as well as with other groups in the society. You may also want to explain the causes of prejudice by incorporating the various theories that were presented in class. In addition describe the effects that such discrimination may have had on the psychological wellbeing on both majority and minority group members
5) Racial/Ethnic Identity/ gender identity/sexual identity etc
Describe the models of racial identity presented in class and in the readings. In doing so, describe how these models may be applied in describing how group members perceive themselves as racial beings.
Grading Considerations: Answers will be graded based on the following criteria:
a)Clarity, organization and style of presentation
b)Knowledge of the theoretical and empirical basis of the issue and the demonstration of this knowledge by using the texts and articles presented in class, making appropriate references where necessary
c)Analytical and critical dimensions of one’s ideas
d)Elaborateness and degree of sophistication of one’s arguments
e)The use of concrete, reality based examples to support one’s conclusion
f) Conform to APA Style Guidelines
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