Your assignment is to write an essay in which you analyze
how cultural identity influences an individual’s perspective.
Your essay should address the following prompt:
To what extent does one's culture inform the way one views
others and the world? After reading the literature selections
from Unit 2, write an essay that utilizes three different texts
and argues how perspective is shaped by cultural identity. Be
sure to support your position with evidence from the texts.
How does culture influence our perspective of…
Other cultures?
Family?
Authority?
Media?
Fashion/Style?
Tradition?
Etc.?
Morality/Religion?
Friendships?
Education/Schools?
Government/Politics?
Class/Wealth?
Progress/Change?
Major Sources:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
“The Terminal Check” (Pico Iyer)
“My Problem with the Current Beauty Standard” (Yuwa, Edomwande)
“Of My Friend Hector and My Achilles Heel” (Michael Kaufman)
“Going to Japan” (Barbara Kingsolver) (in Springboard workbook)
“An Indian Father’s Plea” (Robert Lake) (in Springboard workbook)
Dead Poet’s Society (Peter Weir)
Other possible sources…
1. "Us & Them" (David Sedaris)
2. "Thanksgiving: A Personal History" (Jennifer New)
3. "Sure You Can Ask Me a Personal Question" (Diane Burns)
4. "Imagine" (John Lennon)
5. "Legal Alien" (Pat Mora)
6. "Where I'm From" (George Ella Lyon)
7. "My Mother Pieced Quilts" (Teresa Paloma Acosta)
Also, go back through what we read in Unit 1 and the first
part of Unit 2, and choose at least ONE additional text that
you might use in your paper. Do the same for that text that
you did above. All of these texts are in your Springboard
workbook.
1. "Us & Them" (David Sedaris)
2. "Thanksgiving: A Personal History" (Jennifer New)
3. "Sure You Can Ask Me a Personal Question" (Diane Burns)
4. "Imagine" (John Lennon)
5. "Legal Alien" (Pat Mora)
6. "Where I'm From" (George Ella Lyon)
7. "My Mother Pieced Quilts" (Teresa Paloma Acosta)
Requirements for Synthesis Essay:
Typed, double-spaced, 12-point font
Approximately 2 pages in length (nothing less than 1½ pages will be
accepted)
Includes references to at least 3 different texts we’ve read in class (in
support and in concession/refutation) with blended quotations and
parenthetical citations.
Includes a Works Cited page.
Layout for Synthesis Essay:
1. Introductory Paragraph (HOOK & CLAIM: Claim = thesis
statement, the last sentence of the paragraph)
2. At least two paragraphs of SUPPORT (Follow ACE paragraph
format – Answer, Cite, Explain)
3. At least one paragraph of CONCESSION & REFUTATION
4. Conclusion = CALL TO ACTION
5. Last page = Works Cited Page
CLAIM/THESIS STATEMENT
To what extent does one's culture inform the way one views others
and the world? After reading the literature selections from Unit 2,
write an essay that utilizes three different texts and argues how
perspective is shaped by cultural identity. Be sure to support your
position with evidence from the texts.
Defend, Challenge, or Qualify the Issue Presented in the Prompt
Include a Rational or Reason to Support Your Stance
Make sure you address the “to what extent” in your CLAIM.
INCORPORTATING SUPPORT
When using texts as support, include brief context (what the article was about and
who wrote it). Example:
The movie Bend It Like Beckham portrayed a young woman, Jesminder Bahmra,
who was conflicted with how to balance her family’s cultural expectations with her
passion for soccer.
Then incorporate your quotation directly after that.
Jes continued to play soccer as long as she could but chose to keep it secret
because “everyone knows that Indian girls don’t play soccer. [They] marry good
husbands and cook chapati for them” (Chadha).
INCORPORTATING SUPPORT
Then include explanation that makes your point clear. Why does this quote support
your argument?
Jesminder knows exactly what her family expects of her and she doesn’t want to
disappoint them. However, she also realizes that they life they want for her is not
the life she wants for herself. Therefore, it can be seen that her culture has taught
her to be respectful and try to please her parents by meeting their expectations.
But Jes is only going to go along with this charade for so long. She knows that
these cultural expectations are not going to make her happy in the long run.