Class Three

25Jun09

In-class journal:

• For the next ten minutes, I want you to write about the most significant examples that you found for today, and to go into significant detail about how an understanding of these examples and their categories can give us a better understand of the Ladakh people and culture.

Group Work:

• In ten to fifteen minute, I want you to come up with a collective two paragraph statement you will read to the class

Class Discussion of Statements:

• 10 minutes

Mini-Lecture:

• 15-20 mins

Beginning Paper One

EH 123 Cultural Analysis/Cultural Story

For the first paper in Composition and Rhetoric 1, you will be required to write a cultural analysis/cultural story on your own cultural group.  You should begin by applying the cultural categories (kinship, materials, values, social structure, sustenance, and subsistence)  that you learned in class and saw exemplified in Ancient Futures.

The main idea with this paper is that you are able to see how the discrete parts of your own culture make a coherent whole.

You will be composing a paper that illustrates your understanding of culture and cultural categories and demonstrates that understanding by composing your own cultural story based on lived experience or experiences.

The assignment is as follows:

Think of an SPECIFIC SHORT TERM  EVENT that can provide your readers with an example of how your culture works and how your culture has contributed in important ways to the person you are.

Begin by applying the cultural categories to your cultural individually. Next, connect them to a real experience that you have had and write the story of that experience.

While it is important that you demonstrate an understanding of the cultural categories as they relate to your culture, your final paper does not necessarily have to cover each category.

Here are some questions to help you begin:

• How has technology changed/affected your culture?  Can you write a true story that illustrates this?

• What material possessions are important in your culture?  How/why are they important?  How do they help your culture “work”?  Can you write a true story that illustrates this?

• How is the term “family” defined in your culture?  What role does family play in your culture?  Is there a true story that illustrates this?

• What is important for you to survive in your culture?  Can you write a true story that illustrates this?

Your completed paper must be between 3 and 5 pages in length and tell a cultural story that reflects a real experience that illustrates an understanding of one or more cultural categories (or a combination).  Similarly, there must be clear evidence that you understand the basic notion of culture, how culture is composed of discrete parts and how those parts affect real life experiences.

Your paper should not be a mere cultural report and it should you should attempt to withhold all judgments, both positive and negative, as much as possible.

Format: Your paper will need to be typed and double-spaced.  You will need to use a reasonable font size (12) and a reasonable font style (Times New Roman).

Mini-Lecture in action:

• 20 minutes

• Begin breaking your own culture down into cultural categories.

Homework:

1) Draft of paper one. Bring three copies with you next time.

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