Write 800-1200 words in response to the following prompt. Write your essay using your favorite word processor, (save your work on your own computer and/or cloud service), and then submit your document in the “Initial essay about culture” Dropbox folder located in d2l (at top of page: Assessments -> Assignments -> Initial essay about culture). Your document MUST be MS Word, Plain Text, or PDF format, and you should save a backup copy of your work on your own computer. There is no right or wrong answer, the only wrong answer is if you do not follow the directions or answer the questions coherently.

We will deduct points if your essay falls below the word count, so use the word count function in your word processor to check this. However, it is OK if you go *over* the word count, but please email the TA if you are planning to write more than twice the suggested word count.

We use Turnitin, an “originality checking” software that is part of the d2l system. Please submit only your own original words. You do not need to look up anything in any books or online, because there are no wrong answers, we are looking for your opinions and thoughts about these questions. You should be able to check your essays “originality” yourself, please call the d2l help line if you are not sure how to do this. Again, for this essay it is not necessary to use outside sources, but if you do use an outside source (by quoting it or paraphrasing it), please cite it somehow – we are not picky about how you cite it, just cite it so the reader would be able to find this source on their own. You may find the following resources useful:

What is paraphrasing?
General discussion of plagiarism and more tips on avoiding plagiarism.
You will be graded on clearly answering each part of the prompt below (1 through 3 and A through E):

1. Define what *you* think culture is in one paragraph. There is no correct answer, so please do not use any definitions that you find online, just discuss what you think about this word.

2. In the next paragraph, describe some aspects about your culture, including how the circumstances of where you grew up, your family, school, identities, and wider society have shaped your culture. Specific examples and details will make this section stronger.

3. Next, write about an encounter with cultural difference (this could range from interacting with a neighbor from a different ethnic group or a different religion than yours to traveling or living in a different country). Specific examples and details will make this section stronger.

A. Describe that encounter and what made it intercultural, and how you initially felt about the encounter and why. Was there anything about the encounter that made you uncomfortable and why (or why not)?

B. Describe any challenges you had communicating or understanding the other person, or if no challenges, why not.

C. Describe an assumption you held about them or vice versa.

D. Describe how you felt after the encounter and why.

E. Finally, based on your experience, describe one factor or characteristic that promotes a successful or rewarding intercultural encounter (maybe it was something you did, or something you realize you should have or should have not done).  What did you learn from this intercultural encounter that might help you navigate a similar encounter in the future?