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Akshita Parikh
Professor Samberg
American Indian Studies 100
20 December 2025
Class Reflection Paper
1.​ What did you like most about this class?
a.​ I really liked how detailed the outline was, and how much I got to learn about
every Native culture. I remember in middle school and high school that even
though we were taught about Native Americans, they were often grouped into one
culture. I never got to learn about the separate culture and different detailed social
hierarchies and customs before this class.
2.​ Is there anything that you felt was missing from the class? What would you change about
the class?
a.​ I felt like there should be more audio lectures from the professor. I know this is an
online class, but the teacher-student interaction felt very limited, especially when
the lectures were all written out. But this is just my personal preference, as I tend
to pay more attention if the information is auditory.
3.​ Is there a specific topic that you learned about in the class this semester that made an
impression on you?
a.​ I really liked Hopi hairstyles. Their squash whorls/Hopi butterfly hairstyle is
something I find so interesting, because even back then, people chose to express
themselves using hairstyles and showing off personal identity and what stage of
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life they’re in, similar to what we do now through fashion. I actually hope to try
one of these Hopi hairstyles one day.
4.​ Is there anything that you would suggest that could be included in future AIS 100 classes
such as projects? Explain in detail.
a.​ I would suggest maybe a project on the impacts on Native Americans today and
what they’re doing to preserve their culture. Additionally, maybe students could
try replicating/drawing/writing about a piece of Native culture they found
interesting. Otherwise, I can’t really think of anything right now.
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Works Cited