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For this paper, you will investigate a culture that is unfamiliar to you (one that is not your own and that you don’t know much about) to develop a more complex perspective.

Preliminary steps

First, view “The Danger of a Single Story” TED talk by Chimamanda Adichie (Links to an external site.). Think about a time where you realized that you only knew a single story about another culture. What is a culture you have a limited perspective about?

Next, consider your preconceived ideas about this culture. What are they? Where did they come from? When did you realize you only knew a single story about the culture?

Third, use technology to access different perspectives and stories. You will explore the unfamiliar culture/identity by finding personal accounts relating to the cultural identity or experience. These might come from: blog posts, speeches, testimonies showcased in an exhibit or performance, video interviews, etc. Read or listen to several – at least four to five – of these stories. (Your goal is not to criticize the story or storyteller, but to look at ideas and viewpoints you have not been exposed to, to see with more complexity, and to see things from another’s perspective, whether or not you agree with it.)

Writing the paper

Section 1: Introduction – Introduce your subject and thesis.

Briefly identity the cultural group or identity you chose and state your thesis (the point your paper is going to make). Figuring out a thesis will take some thought. Based on the accounts you read, develop an idea for the paper… what insightful point can you make about the cultural group or identity? It needs to be a claim that you can dig into that sheds light on the complexity of this culture and connects to course material. Clearly state your thesis in one sentence at the end of the introduction, and please underline it so I can easily identify it.

Note: Please limit subject matter to the types of cultural identities salient to our course. For example, avoid an analysis of identities associated with diets or hobbies, i.e., actors or veganism.

Section 2: Reflection – Reflect on your experience reading/listening.

Describe your writers/speakers. Who are they? What was their experience? What emotional tone do you find in their accounts? How are they similar or different from you? What do you notice about your own culture? What have you learned about the complexity of culture and stories other than your own? Utilize course vocabulary or theories in reflecting on yourself.

Section 3: Discussion – Advance your thesis and integrate research.

Whatever your thesis is, you will discuss and unpack it here. This is your opportunity to use the experience of stories to look more deeply into the culture. Your discussion might critique a theoretical conclusion about the culture, identify some cause-effect phenomenon, connect things to a set of cultural values or norms, raise critical questions about power dynamics or standpoints of privilege, advance an argument about cultural appropriation or ethics, evaluate cultural space, uncover the role of immigration, colonialism, or economic globalization, build a social justice perspective, etc. Get insightful and interpretive in this section!

This is a research paper. You will need to support your discussion with research from at least 3 external, credible sources (other than the course readings). Citations and bibliography required.

Note: Writing this section may help you carve out your thesis further – so after you write this, don’t be afraid to go back and polish up your thesis further (or even change it if need be). Writing is a dynamic and fluid process!

Examples of blogs/sites.

In your search, you many encounter voices that are sarcastic, political, advocating change, or angry, and these represent the writers’ perspectives – keep in mind that a writer or speaker does not represent everyone in their group. Try not to stereotype.