Cultural Immersion Project
For this project, you must select a cultural group of interest with which you have no previous involvement or affiliation and attend and participate in events or activities sponsored or provided by the cultural group. You must spend a minimum of two hours engaged in each event or activity. You must interact with various members of the cultural group. Using the information you obtain from your immersion experience, write a 6-8-page paper (including some cited research on the culture). The handout in Blackboard will describe what to include in the paper. A detailed rubric for the paper is attached at the end of this syllabus.
For your cultural group of interest, you may choose a racial, ethnic/international, economic, disabled, religious, gender, sexual attraction, or other groups significantly different than your own identity. If you are unsure of the appropriateness of a cultural experience, don’t hesitate to contact me and the TRA. We will gladly brainstorm with you (we consider this a teachable moment). Examples of events include community organization meetings, fundraising events, school-related meetings or activities, support groups, etc. If you decide to choose spiritual/religion as your cultural group, you must choose a non-Judeo-Christian faith group (Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu, Native American, Jewish, etc.) that is significantly different from your current religious/faith practices, previous religious/faith practices, or new to you. Preferably, this experience would be going to another faith’s worship service, such as prayers at a mosque, a celebration at a synagogue, a Hindi festival, the worship experience of another religion/faith, or other religious/spiritual-related activities. See the Blackboard handout to focus your attention and help to make the religious/faith experience an ‘immersion’ experience.
NOTE: If you attend an activity/event in which you are only a spectator, you have failed to meet the requirements of this assignment.
Remember: All written assignments are to follow APA format. The style, clarity and format of papers will be considered in grading in addition to the content. Paper lengths have been chosen purposefully, and page limitations are not to be exceeded.View Rubric
| Cultural Immersion Experience Rubric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Criteria | Ratings | Pts |
| DEPTH OF DISCUSSION | 40 to >35 ptsEXCELLENTThe paper demonstrates an in-depth discussion & elaboration of the immersion experience from the perspective of a non-majority member at the event/activity.35 to >31 ptsPROFICIENTDiscussion & elaboration in most sections of the paper. The paper demonstrates a discussion of the immersion experience from the perspective of a non-majority member at the event/activity.31 to >26 ptsMARGINALThe writer has omitted pertinent content or content runs-on excessively. Quotations from others outweigh the writer’s own ideas excessively. Cursory discussion of the immersion experience from the perspective of a non-majority member at the event/activity.26 to >0 ptsUNACCEPTABLECursory discussion in all the sections of the paper or brief discussion in only a few sections. Event/activity chosen did not provide an immersion experience from a non-majority perspective for discussion. | / 40 pts |
| CULTURAL KNOWLEDGE | 40 to >35 ptsEXCELLENTThe paper demonstrates an informed understanding of diversity within and between their personal cultural dimension and the cultural group of interest chosen for the immersion experience.35 to >32 ptsPROFICIENTThe paper identifies some beliefs and practices characteristic of the cultural group of interest chosen for the immersion experience.32 to >26 ptsMARGINALThe paper identifies a limited knowledge of the beliefs and practices characteristic of the cultural group of interest chosen for the immersion experience other than that which is largely stereotypical.26 to >0 ptsUNACCEPTABLEThe paper does not show knowledge of the beliefs and practices characteristic of the cultural group of interest chosen for the immersion experience. | / 40 pts |
| CULTURAL AWARENESS AND SELF-KNOWLEDGE | 40 to >35 ptsEXCELLENTThe writer clearly acknowledges and challenges the myths they believe and the stereotypes and prejudice they have regarding the cultural group of interest chosen for assignment. Articulates insights from the immersion experience.35 to >32 ptsPROFICIENTThe writer acknowledges the myths they believe and the stereotypes and prejudice they have regarding the cultural group of interest chosen for assignment. Identifies experiences from immersion experience that impact their perspective.32 to >26 ptsMARGINALThe writer shows some willingness to acknowledge the myths they believe and the stereotypes and prejudice they have regarding the cultural group of interest chosen for assignment and explore whether their stereotypes or prejudices are accurate.26 to >0 ptsUNACCEPTABLEThe writer recognizes that they may believe myths and hold stereotypes and prejudice about the cultural group of interest but believes their worldview is not very harmful or that it does not influence interactions AND/OR shows little willingness to explore whether the myths they believe and the stereotypes and prejudice they have are accurate. | / 40 pts |
| APPLICATION AND CRITICAL THINKING | 40 to >35 ptsEXCELLENTThe paper demonstrates that the writer fully understands and has provided examples of culturally competent counseling strategies for the cultural group of interest chosen for the immersion experience or interview. Concepts are supported by the literature and the writer’s own insights from the immersion experience. The writer provides concluding remarks that show analysis and synthesis of ideas.35 to >32 ptsPROFICIENTThe paper demonstrates that the writer, for the most part, understands the rationale for the use of culturally competent counseling strategies for the cultural group of interest chosen for the immersion experience/interview. Some of the conclusions, however, are not supported by their immersion experience.32 to >26 ptsMARGINALThe paper demonstrates that the writer, to a certain extent, understands the rationale for the use of culturally competent counseling strategies. However, no specific strategies were shared in the paper for the cultural group of interest chosen for the immersion experience.26 to >0 ptsUNACCEPTABLEThe paper does not demonstrate that the writer has fully understood the importance of culturally competent counseling strategies for the cultural group of interest studied. | / 40 pts |
| ADHERENCE TO APA WRITING STYLE Expectation: No abstract needed; Project is supported by references from literature; Writing style is clear, organized, and formatted according to latest APA guidelines; correct use of sentence structure, parts of speech, spelling, punctuation, and grammar; no slang or colloquialisms | 40 to >35 ptsEXCELLENTCites all data obtained from other sources. APA citation style is used in both text and bibliography. Few, if any, writing/typing errors. Body of paper is 6-8 pages35 to >32 ptsPROFICIENTCites most data obtained from other sources. APA citation style is used in both text and bibliography. There may be a few minor writing and/or typing errors. Body of paper is 5 or 9 pages in length32 to >26 ptsMARGINALCitation style is either inconsistent or incorrect in text but correct in bibliography. There are some major and minor writing errors. Body of paper is 4 or 10 pages in length26 to >0 ptsUNACCEPTABLECitation style is either inconsistent or incorrect in both text and bibliography. Excessive major and minor writing and/or typing errors throughout the paper. Writing is below graduate level mastery. Body of paper is less than 4 pages or more than 10 pages in length | / 40 pts |
| Total Points: 0 | ||
