Assignment:
For this Assignment, you will create your own list of co-cultures with which you identify and then write an expository essay explaining how these cultural groups influence your communication with those who may be outside of your co-cultures.
To begin your Assignment, think about the co-cultures with which you identify.
As you think about your co-cultures, think about the following questions:
- To how many cultural groups do you relate?
- Does one take prominence in terms of personal importance?
- Would you be comfortable limiting yourself to only one co-culture?
- Why or why not?
How we describe ourselves and the groups that we identify with is a significant aspect of understanding intercultural communication since we do not belong to just one cultural group. It is also important to note that culture is not just a racial or ethnic designation.
Once you have identified your co-cultures, you can begin writing your expository essay explaining how these cultural groups influence your communication with those who may be outside of your co-cultures. Your essay must include the following:
- List the co-cultures you identify with and would use to describe yourself.
- Explain which co-culture is the dominant one; the one you would use to describe yourself the most.
- Explain why you would or would not be comfortable limiting yourself to one co-culture as a description.
- Give an example of how you would communicate with someone from a different set of co-cultures to work on a problem that is important to you both.
Assignment Guidelines
Each essay should include:
- A title page
- The body of the essay (900 to 1200 words; the word count does not include the title or reference page)
- A reference page
- Use standard margins: 1" on all sides
- Use standard 12-point font size, Times New Roman or Arial
- Use standard double-spacing
- Use left-aligned text, do not right-justify
Your essay should follow the conventions of APA style, including a minimum of two parenthetical citations (one of which can be your textbook, and the remaining from other sources).