COMM 173F: INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION AND GLOBAL UNDERSTANDING/ F. VARONA / Fall 2020
CULTURE AND COMMUNICATION SELF-ASSESSMENT RESEARCH PAPER

PURPOSE: The purpose of this assignment is to give you the opportunity to: first, research and analyze your cultural identity in terms of values or beliefs and communication style; and second analyze the mayor factors or forces (religion, history, ethnicity, race, class, gender, sexuality, region, nationality, generation, education, etc...) that have shaped your cultural identity and communication style. This assignment meets the Learning Objectives #1,#2,#3,and #4.

CONTENT AND ORGANIZATION: Your paper must have the following structure:

Start with a very brief OPENING STATEMENT on the purpose of the paper and preview main points.  (One or two sentences)

I. MY ANCESTORS. (1/2 page) (2 points). Describe very briefly where do your ancestors come from and to what culture do they belong?. Where were you born?. Where did you grow up?

II. MY CENTRAL BELIEFS OR VALUES. Describe and explain, using examples, three (3) central beliefs or values that characterize your cultural identity. (1 and 1/2 pages) (4 points)

III. MY COMMUNICATION STYLE. (1 page) (4 points).
Describe and explain, using examples, the four (4) most important communication characteristics of the  communication style that characterizes your cultural identity.

IV. THE THREE FACTORS THAT HAVE SHAPED MY CULTURAL IDENTITY AND COMMUNICATION STYLE. (2 pages) (5 points)
Analyzed the three (3) mayor factors or forces that have shaped your Cultural Identity and Communication Style in terms of religion, history, ethnicity, race, class, gender, sexuality, region, nationality, generation, education, etc.

End with a very brief CLOSING STATEMENT on the meaning of the paper. (Two or three sentences)

INTERVIEW GUIDE: 

You MUST CONDUCT 3 (Three) INTERVIEWS with people that are familiar with your cultural background: parents, grandparents, etc.

Before you conduct interviews you MUST DEVELOPED AN INTERVIEW GUIDE to collect information on the following topics: 

I. MY ANCESTORS. Where do our ancestors come from?  To what culture do they belong?.

II. MY CENTRAL BELIEFS OR VALUES. What are the three (3) central beliefs or values that characterize our cultural identity? Follow-up question: Please give examples...

III. MY COMMUNICATION STYLE. What are the four (4) most important communication characteristics of the  communication style that characterizes our cultural identity?  For example, being direct or indirect. Follow-up question: Give me some examples... 

IV. THE THREE FACTORS THAT HAVE SHAPED MY CULTURAL IDENTITY AND COMMUNICATION STYLE. What are the 3 factors that have shaped our beliefs or values (cultural Identity) and Communication style? 

CITATION OF SOURCES:

You must support the content of your paper with 3 (three) SOURCES (Your three interviewees). These sources must be properly cited:

First, in the paper. Example: (Last name, Year of Interview)

Second, listed in the REFERENCE section in page 6. Example: Last name, First Name. Relationship with the Interviewee, for example, Father. Place and date of the Interview (month, day and year)

WRITING: 

In order to get a good grade on this paper, try to answer the questions thoroughly, creatively and in depth. Your writing must be persuasive by making a solid argument (reasons) for each of the issues you are discussing in your paper. And support your argument by some interviewees' comments.

If you have any questions concerning this assignment, please see me. 

This paper is 5 pages, typed, 1.5 lines spaced. It is worth 15 points.