I attached my propsoal and she gave me these notes: OK, so you are on the right track but I need a little more information on the specific subject that you are investigating. Also, your two groups need to be more specific in terms of East vs West- you need a cultural group, region, etc. Arabs make up a large group of people with varying cultures.

Make sure that textbook is listed through the Nelson reference if that is how you are sharing the definition in your essay.

You needed two concepts total- you do mention individualism/collectivism so you could use that with the idea of cultural relativism?

Original instructions

• Choose TWO groups to compare and contrast:  one historically-marginalized cultural group within the U.S.; and one from outside the U.S.; and include a specific location for each one.
• What do we mean by “historically marginalized groups”?
  • According to the Pima Community College Curriculum Department and General Education Committee, “’historically marginalized groups’ encompasses categories such as gender (e.g. women, men, transgender), sexuality (e.g. lesbians, gays, bisexuals), racial, ethnic, religious, age-related, and/or linguistic groups (e.g. Latinos, African Americans, Native Americans/First Peoples, Asian Americans, Jewish Americans, Muslim Americans), and/or other emerging cultural subgroups.”
• Remember: 
  • Choose one ’historically marginalized group’ within the U.S. 

The explanation above includes examples for the U.S. If you would like to choose another group, please speak with the instructor to make sure your choice fits the requirements of the course. 

• Choose one ’historically marginalized group’ from outside the U.S.

You are encouraged to think broadly here, and focus on a Non-Western cultural group you would like to learn more about! Please speak with the instructor if you have questions or concerns, or to make sure your choice fits the requirements of the course. 

Write a 1500-word essay (no more than 1750 words), on the topic and two cultural groups you have proposed and researched.

• Include at least 7 internal citations within your essay (with at least one from each of your sources: your textbook and six outside sources), in support of your explanations. So this means:
  • Use your Perspectives textbook as ONE of your sources. This will be good for your anthropological concepts! Use THREE outside sources for the ’historically marginalized group’ within the U.S. 
  • Use THREE outside sources for the ’historically marginalized group’ outside the U.S.
  • Quotations should be 10 words or less.

The essay assignment should include:  

1. Introduction: In your opening paragraph, introduce the topic and the two cultures you are studying. Include in-text citations for your sources.

a. Introduce the topic. 

b. State the names and geographic locations of the two cultural groups you are studying for your cross-cultural analysis.

c. Explain why you chose the topic and the cultural groups.

d. Introduce anthropological concepts. 

2. Exploration of the cultures and topic: This is the heart of your essay! It is a detailed discussion of the specific topic you have chosen, in each of the cultures in your research project. Support and document your findings with citations from your sources. Address the following areas in your essay, to share what  you have learned during your research.  

a. Exploration of the cultures and the topic.

1. Introduce the first culture you have studied for this assignment, and explain how they incorporate aspects of the topic you are studying into their lifeways.

2. Introduce the second culture you are studying, and explain how they incorporate aspects of the topic you are studying into their lifeways. 

b.  Application of anthropological concepts — these should be woven into your information on each of the cultures (not “tacked on” at the end).  

Explain and apply the anthropological concepts you have chosen, and use them to help define and analyze how your topic is incorporated into the lifeways of each culture. For example, how does an understanding of gender shed light on the ways people create and incorporate coming of age ceremonies in these cultures? Be sure to use an in-text citation from your textbook for each concept.  

c. Cross-cultural analysis.

Compare AND contrast the way specific aspects of the topic are incorporated in each culture. For example, each group may have a coming of age ritual, but the rituals will be specific to each culture! Be sure to explain one similarity AND one difference between the two cultures. 

3. Conclusion: Reflect on your research, and think about future research!

a. Explain one way this cross-cultural analysis has deepened your appreciation for the uniqueness of each culture or the topic in your essay. 

b. Discuss the cultural and anthropological relevance of your research. 

c. Describe one new area you would like to explore in your cross-cultural analysis. Explain how that would broaden your knowledge of the cutures or their lifeways.