A 3-page (double-spaced) paper (not including the Works Cited page) that provides a
thorough and detailed explanation of the cultural element you studied/made and its
cultural significance. Here, your goal is to illustrate the in-depth knowledge you gained.
Therefore, be sure to provide a good amount of specific, concrete detail rather than
just relying on broad generalizations about a culture. What will be particularly helpful
here is to have a fairly narrow focus in terms of the culture you choose and the object
you create. In other words, focus on a specific element of a culture rather than trying to
cover a lot of things about a culture. When writing the essay, keep in mind that you want
to move beyond summary (what) and also provide interpretation (why and how). So, in
addition to describing and summarizing the facts and details of a cultural practice or
belief, you’ll also want to explain and analyze several areas of the larger
significance of the practice or belief. In other words, your project, research and essay
should demonstrate close and careful thought about multiple levels of meaning or areas
of cultural importance associated with your artifact. Explore multiple areas such as the
origins/history, the practical uses or importance, and also the areas of symbolic
meaning (religion, family, social norms, economics, art etc.) See the sample essay(s) in
D2L for more of what this means.
Your essay be formatted according to MLA guidelines, and you should cite a minimum
of 3 quality secondary sources (not counting the course text or the literary text).
thorough and detailed explanation of the cultural element you studied/made and its
cultural significance. Here, your goal is to illustrate the in-depth knowledge you gained.
Therefore, be sure to provide a good amount of specific, concrete detail rather than
just relying on broad generalizations about a culture. What will be particularly helpful
here is to have a fairly narrow focus in terms of the culture you choose and the object
you create. In other words, focus on a specific element of a culture rather than trying to
cover a lot of things about a culture. When writing the essay, keep in mind that you want
to move beyond summary (what) and also provide interpretation (why and how). So, in
addition to describing and summarizing the facts and details of a cultural practice or
belief, you’ll also want to explain and analyze several areas of the larger
significance of the practice or belief. In other words, your project, research and essay
should demonstrate close and careful thought about multiple levels of meaning or areas
of cultural importance associated with your artifact. Explore multiple areas such as the
origins/history, the practical uses or importance, and also the areas of symbolic
meaning (religion, family, social norms, economics, art etc.) See the sample essay(s) in
D2L for more of what this means.
Your essay be formatted according to MLA guidelines, and you should cite a minimum
of 3 quality secondary sources (not counting the course text or the literary text).