US24-ANP-200-730 – Navigating Another Culture Write 800-1200 words in response t

US24-ANP-200-730 – Navigating Another Culture
Write 800-1200 words in response to the prompt below. Use your favorite word processor, and then submit your document in the “Initial essay about culture” assessment folder located in d2l (link to this is in the “Introduction” folder or access it directly from top of our d2l page: Assessments -> Assignments -> Initial essay about culture). Your document MUST be MS Word, Plain Text, or PDF format, and you should save a backup copy of your work on your own computer. There is no right or wrong answer; we want to read *your* thoughts and experiences. The only wrong answer is if you do not follow the directions or answer the questions coherently. No need to stress out about this assignment – just answer the prompts using your thoughts and your voice; however, be sure you have handed in the work you want to hand in, as we cannot allow revisions after the assignment deadline passes.
We will deduct points if your essay falls below the word count, so use the word count function in your word processor to check this. However, it is OK if you go *over* the word count, but please email the TA if you are planning to write more than twice the suggested word count.
You will be graded on how you answer each part of the prompt below (1 through 4):
1. Define what you think “culture” is in one paragraph. We are interested in hearing your personal opinions –what this word means to you– and not really in whether your definition is “correct”. There is no correct answer, so please do not use any definitions that you find online, just discuss what you think about this word. You will loose points if you use a definition you find in the dictionary or anywhere online.
2. In the next paragraph, describe some aspects about your culture, including how the circumstances of where you grew up, your family, school, identities, and wider society have shaped your culture. Specific examples and details will make this section stronger.
3. If you had the power to do this, what is one specific thing you would change about your culture (that would affect both you and others who share this cultural background with you)? Have fun with this answer.
4. Finally, write about an encounter with cultural difference (this could range from interacting with a neighbor from a different ethnic group or a different religion than yours to traveling or living in a different country). Specific examples and details will make this section stronger.
4a. Describe that encounter and what made it intercultural, and how you initially felt about the encounter and why. Was there anything about the encounter that made you uncomfortable and why (or why not)?
4b. Describe any challenges you had communicating or understanding the other person, or if no challenges, why not.
4c. Describe an assumption you held about them or vice versa.
4d. Describe how you felt after the encounter and why.
4e. Finally, based on your experience, describe one factor or characteristic that promotes a successful or rewarding intercultural encounter (maybe it was something you did, or something you realize you should have or should have not done). What did you learn from this intercultural encounter that might help you navigate a similar encounter in the future?