Cultural Description Essay
You are to write a short (1-2 pages) essay describing a non-western culture from
around the world. Your job is to describe the following aspects of this culture.*
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Economic System
Political System
Religion
Marriage Patterns
Family Patterns
Norms, Mores, Folkways
Kinship Patterns
Examples of Culture Change
The essay must contain 5 of these aspects. If you cannot find information on parts of
these then it is your job to speculate the system you believe they practice based on the
information you have. I have provided you with a list for a starting point, but feel free
to work outside this list. Also, be sure to exclude your opinions of these cultures and
avoid ethnocentric rhetoric!
Good ideas:
Non-Western "3rd world countries"
Bedouin
Ju/'hoansi
Yanomamo
Bushman
Eskimo
Iniut
Many others. If you are in need of a good starting place check out the list:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_indigenous_peoples
Bad Ideas: (I will not accept these)
America
Chinese
Russia
European cultures
Modern "Westernized" World countries
30 points
Content: 15 points (3 aspects from list, 5 points each)
Effort: 5 points (Worked in class)
Format and Writing: 5 points (grammatically correct and met requirements)
Sources: 5 points (proper format MLA, Chicago, etc; easybib.com)
*Be sure to use in-text citations if you are quoting