analyzing and understanding a specific culture or co-culture
Final Project (The Korean Culture)
The final project is in the form of a written paper that is worth 20% of your course grade. You will be required in your paper to develop a framework for analyzing and understanding a specific culture or co-culture by examining these characteristics:
·
Language
· Folktales
· Values
· Nonverbal communications styles
· Government
· Education
· Healthcare
· Business
·
Instructions
1. Choose a culture or co-culture that is unfamiliar to you, but one in which you can closely observe and research. Then describe these characteristics of that culture in detail.
2. After you have described the culture, answer these questions:
· What stereotypes or prejudices do you have about this culture before you began the project?
· How are the culture’s values similar and dissimilar to your own?
· What preconceived ideas you had about the culture were wrong?
· What steps would you take in the workplace to be effective in communicating with the people of this culture?
Answer these questions. Then, add any other questions or issues you would like to address.
Your paper must be 7-10 pages long. Be sure to use headings for each individual topic. Also, be sure to give the source for your research in the paper (when you use someone else’s material) and include a bibliography at the end of your paper.
You may not use any more than five sources; most of your information will come from your own observations. For example, you might observe and research an ethnic group, or religious group, or even the military (if you are not already a part of the military).
The key to this activity is to choose a culture or co-culture with which you are not familiar so that you can identify characteristics that may be similar or dissimilar.
Rubric for Final Project
Criterion Exceptional Proficient Marginal Unacceptable
Completeness
[5%]
You fulfill the length
requirement for the
assignment, thoroughly
address all assignment criteria,
and fully develop and explore
concepts.
You fulfill the length
requirement for the assignment
and sufficiently address
assignment criteria and explore
concepts.
You do not fulfill the length
requirement for the assignment
and/or incompletely address
assignment criteria and explore
concepts.
You do not fulfill the length
requirement for the assignment
and/or inadequately address
assignment criteria and explore
concepts.
Characteristics
[12%]
You comprehensively describe
the characteristics of the
observed culture.
You describe the characteristics
of the observed culture in
sufficient detail.
You incompletely describe the
characteristics of the observed
culture.
You barely and/or inaccurately
describe the characteristics of the
observed culture, providing few (if
any) details.
Stereotypes or prejudices
[12%]
You introspectively outline the
stereotypes or prejudices you
had about this culture before
you began the project.
You outline the stereotypes or
prejudices you had about this
culture before you began the
project.
You partially outline the
stereotypes or prejudices you
had about this culture before you
began the project.
You incoherently outline the
stereotypes or prejudices you had
about this culture before you began
the project.
Values
[12%]
You exhaustively explain how
the culture’s values are similar
and dissimilar to your own.
You explain how the culture’s
values are similar and dissimilar
to your own.
You somewhat explain how the
culture’s values are similar and
dissimilar to your own.
You barely explain how the
culture’s values are similar and
dissimilar to your own.
Preconceived ideas
[12%]
You insightfully explore the
preconceived ideas you had
about the culture that were
wrong.
You explore the preconceived
ideas you had about the culture
that were wrong.
You loosely explore the
preconceived ideas you had
about the culture that were
wrong.
You illogically explore the
preconceived ideas you had about
the culture that were wrong.
Rubric for Final Project
Criterion Exceptional Proficient Marginal Unacceptable
Steps to take
[12%]
You convincingly and
completely examine the steps
you would take in the
workplace to be effective in
communicating with the people
of this culture.
You examine the steps you
would take in the workplace to
be effective in communicating
with the people of this culture.
You superficially or incompletely
examine the steps you would
take in the workplace to be
effective in communicating with
the people of this culture.
You unconvincingly and/or
inadequately examine the steps
you would take in the workplace to
be effective in communicating with
the people of this culture.
Purpose
[5%]
You introduce and present the
paper effectively and clearly;
central argument is readily
apparent to the reader.
You introduce and present the
paper adequately; central
argument is clear throughout
the paper.
You introduce and present the
paper somewhat effectively;
writing has a clear argument but
you sometimes digress from it.
You introduce and present the
paper insufficiently; argument is
generally unclear.
Content development
[5%]
You use carefully chosen,
authoritative, and compelling
content that demonstrates
mastery of the subject; provide
an advanced and thoughtful
analysis of ideas; present an
in-depth synthesis of ideas
demonstrating insight and
interpretation; and include
meticulous references to
readings wherever necessary.
You use appropriate and
relevant content that
demonstrates sufficient
command of the subject;
provide a germane analysis of
ideas; and include references to
readings.
You use somewhat appropriate
content that demonstrates
limited command of the subject;
provide a cursory analysis of
ideas that lacks insight and
interpretation; and include
minimal references to readings.
You use inappropriate and
irrelevant content, provide little, if
any, analysis, and do not include
references to readings.
Organization
[5%]
You lucidly organize material
into well-formed paragraphs
and arrange ideas logically to
support the purpose of the
paper; writing is fluid with an
explicit focus and sensible
structure.
You logically organize material
into well-formed paragraphs;
writing has focus and structure.
You loosely organize material
and provide limited supporting
detail; writing is somewhat
disjointed and disorganized.
You incoherently organize material,
often impairing the reader’s ability
to comprehend it; significant details
are missing or irrelevant; writing is
completely disjointed and lacks
correct form and structure.
Rubric for Final Project
Criterion Exceptional Proficient Marginal Unacceptable
Evidence
[5%]
You support points and
subpoints with abundant
clarifying detail, include
relevant and clearly attributed
sources as necessary, and
effectively link ideas.
You support points and
subpoints with sufficient detail,
attribute sources as necessary,
and link ideas.
You support points and
subpoints with limited detail and
improperly link ideas at times.
You inadequately support points
and subpoints with irrelevant detail
and do not properly link ideas.
Mechanics
[5%]
You write in complete, well-
constructed sentences with
faultless grammar, word
choice, punctuation, and
spelling; writing is sharp,
coherent, and demonstrates
sophisticated clarity.
You write in complete
sentences with mostly correct
grammar, word choice,
punctuation, and spelling; minor
errors may exist but do not
compromise meaning.
You write in unclear sentences
with significant errors in
grammar, word choice,
punctuation, and spelling that
may compromise meaning.
You write in incomplete,
incomprehensible sentences filled
with serious errors in grammar,
word choice, punctuation, or
spelling.
Sources
[5%]
You use no more than five
sources and effectively draw on
your own observations and
experiences to support your
paper.
You use no more than five
sources and adequately draw
on your own observations and
experiences to support your
paper.
You use more than five sources
and/or scantily draw on your own
observations and experiences.
You use more than five sources
and/or deficiently draw on your own
observations and experiences.
Bibliography
[5%]
Your paper contains well-
documented statements and
detailed references.
Your paper contains
documented statements and
appropriate references.
Your paper contains limited
support for statements or
references.
Your paper contains few (if any)
documented statements or
references.