Introduction:
- Start with a question or fact about perception and cognition.
- Briefly introduce the concepts of cognitive processes and perception.
- Clearly state that a person’s background, including culture, education, and experiences, significantly influences their cognitive processes and perceptions of the world.
Paragraph on Culture and Cultural Influences:
- Explain what is meant by culture, i.e., culture not as a reference to genetic past, but rather the aspects a person has grown up with, perceived, processed, and deemed normal.
- Culture as shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes a person’s involvement in the world.
- Cultural norms and patterns of thinking and behaving accepted by an individual person’s community.
- Discuss how norms and values shape how individuals think and perceive.
- Perception of time in different cultures (e.g., punctuality vs. a more relaxed attitude towards time).
- Individualism (valuing personal independence) vs. collectivism (valuing group harmony).
Paragraph on the Role of Formal and Informal Education:
- Explain how formal and informal education impacts cognitive development and perception
- Discuss how different educational systems emphasize various thinking skills.
- Memorization vs. critical analysis.
- Problem-solving approaches in different educational systems.
- Explore how access to diverse information influences perception.
- Influence of textbooks and media on worldview.
- Impact of the internet and global connectivity.
Paragraph on Experiences: Describe how experiences shape cognitive development, e.g.:
- The role of parenting styles.
- Exposure to diverse environments and situations.
- Life Events and Milestones: Discuss how significant life events influence perception.
- Moving and/or new environments
- Experiencing successes or failures.
- Explain how interactions with different people impact cognition.
- Peer influence.
- Professional networks in adulthood.
- Present a real-life example of cultural influence on perception.
- Provide an example of how personal experiences shape perception.
Conclusion:
- Restate Thesis
- Summarize how a person’s background influences cognitive processes and perceptions.
- Briefly recap the main points discussed in the paper.
- End with a statement or question about the importance of understanding diverse perspectives.