Overview of this paper
This paper is about intercultural communication conflict and the challenges that occur when people from different cultural backgrounds communicate. To prepare for this paper, you will be reading/watching and analyzing a “case study” in which a conflict takes place (or problem develops) between people largely due to cultural or co-cultural differences. You will use an example from this case study, examples and ideas from two articles, and a personal example to develop a thesis statement in which you take a position on the problem of intercultural communication and conflict. The paper is not an analysis of the case study alone. Rather, it is an analysis of the topic intercultural communication and conflict (analyzing why cultural differences lead to communication conflict as well as how intercultural communication competence can be achieved).
Specifics:
1. 3 pages + Works Cited page (use Times New Roman 12 pt. font or Calibri 12 pt. font; double space/use page numbers)
2. Topic: Intercultural communication and conflict (also called cross-cultural communication conflict)
In this paper, you must take a position on the problem intercultural communication and conflict. In essence, you will be analyzing why conflict or misunderstandings sometimes occur when people from different cultural backgrounds attempt to communicate. You should also consider how conflicts due to cultural differences can be resolved and how intercultural communication competence can be achieved.
3. Thesis statement: Your thesis should be one sentence in length and is the main idea of your paper. The thesis sentence is where you take a position on the problem (topic) intercultural communication conflict and/or competence. The thesis statement is always located in the first paragraph (near the end of the paragraph or as the last sentence in the first paragraph). Many writers follow their thesis with a preview of the main points of the paper (to be developed as separate paragraphs in the body of the paper).
4. Case study (ONE only): Select one case study to discuss in your paper. To prove your thesis, you must analyze one example of intercultural communication conflict from the case study (only use one case study). In your analysis, determine what made the individuals from different cultures or co-cultures misunderstand one another (explain what occurred; suggest how differences in values, beliefs, perceptions and/or communication styles may led to misunderstandings and/or conflict; consider what the specific individuals involved could have done differently to avoid conflict; show how the case study example reflects a larger or common problem that occurs when people from different cultures attempt to communicate. You may include more than one example from the case study (but only one is required). Your thesis statement is your point of view or position on the larger problem of intercultural communication conflict; your analysis of examples from the case study is used to support or prove your thesis).
5. 2 of the assigned articles: your paper must also include ideas and/or examples from two of the assigned articles (all articles are posted on Bb/do not use both articles by Rasmussen). You should use ideas and examples from the two articles to support your thesis and/or main points. Note: do not do any additional research; the only articles you may use for this paper are the ones assigned. If you have found an article elsewhere, do not include it in your paper (you will not receive credit for any outside research). If you think it is an excellent source, email your professor (and include the article) as it may be approved (but will then be made available to all students).
6. Personal example: your paper must also include one example from your personal experience or from popular culture (e.g., social media, TV). The personal/popular culture example should be developed as a separate paragraph (include details and explain not only how it reflects intercultural differences but how it connects to your essay’s thesis).
7. Works Cited page (MLA format): this is the fourth page; use MLA format for in-text citations and for the Works Cited page (full citations)
Prompts: (Ideas for a thesis) Below are a list of questions developed by members of the CAS Department to help students think out their thesis statements for the R & A paper. If you can answer one of these prompts (questions), you have the beginning of a thesis. You may develop your thesis with or without the using these prompts.
Prompt # 1: What are some specific ways that differences in one’s key cultural values (low vs. high context culture, power distance, individualism versus collectivism) or key co-cultural values can create problems in intercultural communication situations? How can communicators successfully address these value differences?
Prompt # 2: What are the major causes of intercultural communication conflict? How can these causes be successfully resolved? Explain your position and provide evidence to support it.
Prompt # 3: What are some key challenges that communicators face in intercultural communication situations or contexts and what are some specific ways they can resolve them? How can one communicate competently despite cultural differences?
Prompt # 4: How can differences in co-cultural group membership lead to misperceptions and miscommunication? What are some specific ways that these can be resolved?
Co-cultural groups to consider: LGBTQ (or gender centered co-cultures), disability, religion, hobbies, race, ethnicity/nationality, activity, socioeconomic status, age . . .
Case Studies (Select One Only – All Case Studies are on Blackboard)
“Japanese Ghosts Don’t Have Feet”
“My Family’s Honor”
“When to Take a Stand and When to Let it Go”
“The Danger of a Single Story”
“How to Raise a Black Son in America”
Articles (Select Two)
All articles for this assignment are located inside the “Reasoning & Analysis Paper” button (below this assignment). You need to include examples or ideas (as citations) from two of these articles in your paper. The ideas from articles can be paraphrased or cited directly. However, if you use a direct citation (wording is taken directly from the source), limit how much you include to 2-3 sentences. For each source cited, explain what the author’s idea is, then explain how the idea in the article supports either main points in your paper or your paper’s thesis. Do not use any outside sources. Also, do not use two articles by the same author.
Things to Keep in Mind
1. This paper will be graded using the departmental rubric found in this folder.
2
2. If your paper is less than three pages in length, it will be considered an incomplete paper. Use full pages double spaced, with a standard font. Number each page. You also need an additional Works Cited page.
3. 3. Follow MLA guidelines for format and citations rules. Note: in-text citations in MLA follow an author-page format (author page).
4. 4. Your paper will be scanned for plagiarism using Safe Assign. Any paper determined to be plagiarized will receive a 0 grade and will be reported to BCC’s Vice President of Academic Affairs.
5. 5. Do not do outside research. Inside the R & A paper folder on Bb, several articles have been posted. You are to select two of these articles to use to support your thesis.
6. 6. Use your textbook for all definitions you include in your paper.
This paper is about intercultural communication conflict and the challenges that occur when people from different cultural backgrounds communicate. To prepare for this paper, you will be reading/watching and analyzing a “case study” in which a conflict takes place (or problem develops) between people largely due to cultural or co-cultural differences. You will use an example from this case study, examples and ideas from two articles, and a personal example to develop a thesis statement in which you take a position on the problem of intercultural communication and conflict. The paper is not an analysis of the case study alone. Rather, it is an analysis of the topic intercultural communication and conflict (analyzing why cultural differences lead to communication conflict as well as how intercultural communication competence can be achieved).
Specifics:
1. 3 pages + Works Cited page (use Times New Roman 12 pt. font or Calibri 12 pt. font; double space/use page numbers)
2. Topic: Intercultural communication and conflict (also called cross-cultural communication conflict)
In this paper, you must take a position on the problem intercultural communication and conflict. In essence, you will be analyzing why conflict or misunderstandings sometimes occur when people from different cultural backgrounds attempt to communicate. You should also consider how conflicts due to cultural differences can be resolved and how intercultural communication competence can be achieved.
3. Thesis statement: Your thesis should be one sentence in length and is the main idea of your paper. The thesis sentence is where you take a position on the problem (topic) intercultural communication conflict and/or competence. The thesis statement is always located in the first paragraph (near the end of the paragraph or as the last sentence in the first paragraph). Many writers follow their thesis with a preview of the main points of the paper (to be developed as separate paragraphs in the body of the paper).
4. Case study (ONE only): Select one case study to discuss in your paper. To prove your thesis, you must analyze one example of intercultural communication conflict from the case study (only use one case study). In your analysis, determine what made the individuals from different cultures or co-cultures misunderstand one another (explain what occurred; suggest how differences in values, beliefs, perceptions and/or communication styles may led to misunderstandings and/or conflict; consider what the specific individuals involved could have done differently to avoid conflict; show how the case study example reflects a larger or common problem that occurs when people from different cultures attempt to communicate. You may include more than one example from the case study (but only one is required). Your thesis statement is your point of view or position on the larger problem of intercultural communication conflict; your analysis of examples from the case study is used to support or prove your thesis).
5. 2 of the assigned articles: your paper must also include ideas and/or examples from two of the assigned articles (all articles are posted on Bb/do not use both articles by Rasmussen). You should use ideas and examples from the two articles to support your thesis and/or main points. Note: do not do any additional research; the only articles you may use for this paper are the ones assigned. If you have found an article elsewhere, do not include it in your paper (you will not receive credit for any outside research). If you think it is an excellent source, email your professor (and include the article) as it may be approved (but will then be made available to all students).
6. Personal example: your paper must also include one example from your personal experience or from popular culture (e.g., social media, TV). The personal/popular culture example should be developed as a separate paragraph (include details and explain not only how it reflects intercultural differences but how it connects to your essay’s thesis).
7. Works Cited page (MLA format): this is the fourth page; use MLA format for in-text citations and for the Works Cited page (full citations)
Prompts: (Ideas for a thesis) Below are a list of questions developed by members of the CAS Department to help students think out their thesis statements for the R & A paper. If you can answer one of these prompts (questions), you have the beginning of a thesis. You may develop your thesis with or without the using these prompts.
Prompt # 1: What are some specific ways that differences in one’s key cultural values (low vs. high context culture, power distance, individualism versus collectivism) or key co-cultural values can create problems in intercultural communication situations? How can communicators successfully address these value differences?
Prompt # 2: What are the major causes of intercultural communication conflict? How can these causes be successfully resolved? Explain your position and provide evidence to support it.
Prompt # 3: What are some key challenges that communicators face in intercultural communication situations or contexts and what are some specific ways they can resolve them? How can one communicate competently despite cultural differences?
Prompt # 4: How can differences in co-cultural group membership lead to misperceptions and miscommunication? What are some specific ways that these can be resolved?
Co-cultural groups to consider: LGBTQ (or gender centered co-cultures), disability, religion, hobbies, race, ethnicity/nationality, activity, socioeconomic status, age . . .
Case Studies (Select One Only – All Case Studies are on Blackboard)
“Japanese Ghosts Don’t Have Feet”
“My Family’s Honor”
“When to Take a Stand and When to Let it Go”
“The Danger of a Single Story”
“How to Raise a Black Son in America”
Articles (Select Two)
All articles for this assignment are located inside the “Reasoning & Analysis Paper” button (below this assignment). You need to include examples or ideas (as citations) from two of these articles in your paper. The ideas from articles can be paraphrased or cited directly. However, if you use a direct citation (wording is taken directly from the source), limit how much you include to 2-3 sentences. For each source cited, explain what the author’s idea is, then explain how the idea in the article supports either main points in your paper or your paper’s thesis. Do not use any outside sources. Also, do not use two articles by the same author.
Things to Keep in Mind
1. This paper will be graded using the departmental rubric found in this folder.
2
2. If your paper is less than three pages in length, it will be considered an incomplete paper. Use full pages double spaced, with a standard font. Number each page. You also need an additional Works Cited page.
3. 3. Follow MLA guidelines for format and citations rules. Note: in-text citations in MLA follow an author-page format (author page).
4. 4. Your paper will be scanned for plagiarism using Safe Assign. Any paper determined to be plagiarized will receive a 0 grade and will be reported to BCC’s Vice President of Academic Affairs.
5. 5. Do not do outside research. Inside the R & A paper folder on Bb, several articles have been posted. You are to select two of these articles to use to support your thesis.
6. 6. Use your textbook for all definitions you include in your paper.
