Final Reflective Essay

Before the beginning of the final exam period, you will submit via Moodle a short reflective essary that
brings together the principal aspirations of the class: to create in you the ability to think comparatively
about different cultures.
The purpose of this exercise is to allow you to dig more deepling into the material covered in the class and
make observations that are particular to your own experience. We hope youll be able to make some crosscultural comaprisons between your own cultural identity and one of those covered in one of the four units.
For example, a student who identifies as American may write on something he/she found comparable to his/
her culture in Iranian culture, or conversely, heshe may wish to emphasize how his/her culture differs from
Iranian culture in these regards. On the other hand, someone in the class who identifies as Swedish may
want to make these comparisons or contrasts with Ancient Greek culture.
As you write, bear in mind that we will be looking for how you can express a growing awareness of how
cultures vary, how interactions between them may have reciprical influences back and forth, and how
globalization will influence cultures different. We also would like to see some new ideas or information that
have not specifically been covered in class. In other words, wed like to see you make creative use of the
basic body of information weve passed on to you in four units. We know this is a lot to ask in a two or twoand-a-half page essay. You wont be able to be thorough or detailed. Were just looking for a spark of
creative thought that holds out the promise for productive, future reflection.
Heres what we will have in mind as you read and evaluate your essays:
5%

Area

A Range

Cultural
Differenc
es

Response indicates a
strong grasp that
societies have different,
and valid, cultures

Response shows strong

understanding of
globalization as a
Globalizat
process of mutual
ion
change deriving from
interaction between
cultures

Differenti
al Impact

Response shows strong

understanding of
potential for differential
impact of globalization
on different groups
within interacting
cultures.

B Range

C and Lower Range

Response shows awareness

No or minimal evidence of the
that societies have different, awareness of the differences
and valid, cultures but
between cultures
tending toward the
superficial
Response shows some
understanding of
globalization as a process of
mutual change deriving from
interaction between
societies/cultures

Response shows little or no

understanding of globalization as a
process of mutual change deriving
from interaction between societies/
cultures

Response shows some

understanding of potential
for differential impact of
globalization on different
groups within interacting
cultures.

Response shows little or no

understanding of potential for
differential impact of globalization
on different groups within
interacting cultures.

To help you get started, trying writing as if youre addressing someone who has not taken the class. You can
even think in your mind I took this class in Global Connections and now I can see how German and American
cultures differ and yet have a lot in common. Then you can begin to lay out your ideas.
You can organize your essay as follows:
Part One (about 1/2 Page)
Set up your essay by getting quickly to the point. State the ways in which youre going to make the
comparison on contrast. This is a short essay, so you shouldnt take on too many. One or two points of
comparison should be sufficient.
Part Two (about 1 Page)
Its time now to get down the specifics. If youre going to compare, say, holidays in Ancient Greek
and American culture, give your reader a quick introduction and get to the point by citing a few
examples from each that will illustrate your point.
Part Three: (about 1/2 page)
Reflective Afterthoughts write a note to your instructor, who taught the culture, that explains what
you learned by doing this assignment and what new questions arose while you were completing it.

Finally, we offer you this planning sheet that should help you keep on track.

1.
1.

Write clearly the topic of your

essay

I will be comparing which two cultures and in what particular

ways.

2.
.

What will be the title of your

essay?

This is actually very important. Writers often start to wander off

topic as they progress. Having a meaningful title of your work
always in mind will help keep your from getting lost in your own
ideas and forgetting what the subject is. For example: Ageing in
Romanian and German Cultures, or Educating the Next
Generation in Japan and Ancient Greece.

What one/or two specific

cultural aspects or values will
you be discussing in your essay?

Read the grading rubric above

attentively. How will your essay
address the three areas of
reflection weve identified?
1) Cultural Differences
2) Globalization
3) Differential Impact
in relation to the cultures that
you compare and specific
cultural aspects/values you
chose.