Cross-cultural social issues and solutions

Cross-cultural knowledge and strong communication and problem-solving skills are increasingly being valued in many job markets. This assignments research, problem-solving, and writing communication skills as well as cultural knowledge can provide you with a competitive edge in the job market and workplace. The examples from this paper can even be used to answer certain questions in job interviews. Moreover, awareness of cultural differences and the accompanying structural inequalities are key for bringing about social justice in many sectors of society. This assignment will help you practice the related skills: formulate a well-supported data-driven argument evaluate a complex problem holistically based on the situational context and develop a solution that fits two different cultural contexts practice flexibility and adaptability in new cultural contexts through illustrating how the same problem in two different contexts needs to be addressed differently explain to a future employer how you can use socio-cultural data to enhance problem-solving in your future career properly and professionally cite academic research This assignment will help you gain the following knowledge a holistic understanding of a complex problem in your future career by using anthropological case study research to identify some of the contributing socio-cultural factors understanding what a cultural relativistic perspective looks like in your field Task Imagine you are in your future career and invited by two different local communities in two different countries to work with each on addressing a similar problem. You have your expertise from your major but also know you need to work with each community to develop a plan that works with and for them and their specific context. For this paper, you will focus on this latter part. 1.) use existing peer-reviewed anthropological articles to identify a social issue or problem that people in two different countries are dealing with AND that relates in some way to your major or future career goals (e.g. if your career is healthcare related, you could look at reducing HIV transmission among two populations in two different countries; if its management or marketing, you could look at addressing inequalities in the workplace or eliminating current stereotypes about a particular group(s) in advertisements) 2.) research this problem/social issue in two different countries using at least one peer-reviewed anthropology case study journal article about each country 3.) write a 4 page double spaced paper explaining the contributing cultural factors to the problem in each country AND possible solutions (what they should consist of and why). Include one paragraph (no longer than 1/2 pg at the end explaining why the exact same solution won’t work in both locations and identify key similarities and differences in the cultural context to support your points of why the exact same solution won’t work. (Do NOT say simply “because the cultural context, economic context, gender dynamics, etc are different” – this is too generic of an explanation). This paper is an argument, not a summary of the articles. Based on what you read about the communities’ experiences and the cultural context, you are taking a position on what should be done and why. Use the data from those articles to build your argument and prioritize the voices of the community as much as possible as portrayed through interview and participant observation data. This will require you to include and cite various specific ethnographic data multiple times throughout the paper from both peer-reviewed articles. The two peer-reviewed anthropology journal articles should not be listed on the syllabus or part of the discussion post reading options. You must cite the articles correctly using Chicago Author-Date Manual of Style. Please note: This is a hypothetical approximation. In real life, a lot more research (library and participatory) would need to be done and several rounds of working with the community and taking their feedback to fix/adjust the proposition. But since this is an introductory class, we are only going to do a little portion/practice version of this to get some initial experience. You can build on that as you move forward in your education and career. Step 1: Map out your argument Tips for Identifying Info and Mapping your argument Guide to Identifying Content and Organizing the Paper Step 2: Organize and Write the Paper This paper is a problem-solution argument. Think of it as a hypothetical situation and write in the first person (use I). Explain what you would do to solve the problem in country 1 and country 2 and justify why. This will involve you… setting up the problem for the first country by isolating out and explaining the key factors that are contributing to the problem there. As you plan your argument, prioritize the cultural factors (i.e. figure out the cause and effect). Then based on your discussion of the contributing factors, argue for a particular solution for the first country, using data from the articles to convince the reader that your solution fits the cultural context and factors. Then move on to the second countrys contributing factors to the problem and the solution. Include a transition paragraph between the two case studies or at the end identifying or recapping the key differences that necessitate a different approach to the same problem in each country. Cite multiple, specific ethnographic details from your two peer-reviewed journal articles as you discuss the factors contributing to the problem and the solution for each country. Remember: you must base your argument on at least two peer-reviewed anthropology journal articles not listed on the syllabus and cite them correctly. Tips for organizing the paper… Introduce the problem in the discipline/career you will be addressing in the introductory paragraph (limit the size of the intro paragraph to 12 page) Thesis statement – It should always appear in the first paragraph. It is one sentence that contains the argument you will make in your paper about how you will address the problem differently in the two countries. The thesis should be a claim that someone could argue for or against. CORRECT: While doctors working abroad need to institute an accompaniment system in Haiti to effectively treat HIV, in Kenya they need to coordinate public education campaigns with local religious leaders to address the social stigma associated with HIV diagnosis and treatment. INCORRECT: In this paper, I will discuss the problems and factors that make treating HIV in Haiti and Kenya difficult and the solutions that can be used to address these issues. [This thesis is not focused on making an argument but rather about telling people about HIV in two countries and some solutions.] Make your own argument; Do NOT just summarize the two articles. Using topic sentences are a good way to start developing your own argument and distinguishing it from a summary. Lead each body paragraph with a claim about a contributing factor or a claim about what the solution should contain. Your discussion of the contributing factors to the problem in the first country should flow into the discussion of the solutions for that same country. Dont put all of the contributing factors from both countries together and then put the discussion of their solutions together as this disrupts the flow of the argument and thus weakens it. Cite and provide specific ethnographic data from both peer-reviewed articles to support your points when discussing the contributing factors and the solution For example, if you propose working with women rather than men on a water sanitation project, then you need to explain why…i.e. because men in this society are stigmatized when they do this type of work so you are adjusting your approach to match gender norms in this society (article cited). Often we revise our ideas as we write so go back to your thesis and revise it if needed to fit the argument that you developed out. End with a conclusion paragraph that concisely summarizes/restates your argument. The paper should be 4 full double-spaced pages plus references cited. If you use additional spacing at the beginning for the title, this does not count toward the 4 pgs. It is ok if your paper runs 12 to 1 pg over max. Use 12pt Times New Roman or similar font with 1 inch margins. No title or title page is required. However, please type your full name, the course name, and meeting day and time on the first page. Include in-text citations and a reference cited page for any ideas, data, or other information that is not solely yours. Use the Chicago Manual of Style-Author-Date style Link to Examples for Chicago Manual of Style Author Date – Examples of In-text and Reference Cited Page Submit with your paper the webpage or 1 page from the article that indicates the academic journal article is from an anthropology source (i.e. screenshot the front page of the article if it says the journal is anthropology or the author is an anthropologist, or screenshot the web page showing that the article was found in an anthropology databaseyou need to capture in the image the database name and article name on the same pageor screenshot an official web page that indicates the author has a M.A. or PhD in anthropology.) Embed these images at the end of your paper after the reference cited page. Upload your paper to this Canvas site by clicking the submit button. Double check you selected your final version of the paper. You can keep resubmitting up until the deadline. Your paper should follow the above directions for writing and organizing the paper and should balance the problem and solution discussion, using data from the anthropological research articles to support your points. The solution should be about 1.5 to 2 pages double-spaced total. But quantity does not equal quality. Use the below chart to help you identify complete vs. incomplete responses. Tips for Writing Complete, Well-Supported Points… Complete Responses: Incomplete Responses: 1 or more of the following applies accurately integrates ethnographic data from anthropological case studies to make own argument discussion is mostly a summary of data and does not feature the students’ own ideas and argument research data used from the peer-reviewed article is not ethnographic or anthropological research data is drawn from a non-peer-reviewed journal source (i.e. website) or review article or newspaper factors and/or solutions are based on assumptions/common knowledge concepts from class or article are applied inaccurately explains the connection between the research data and the problem/what needs to be done there is a disconnect between the argument and the research data avoids generic references to key factors or solution integrates multiple specific details from the ethnographic data to support main points identifies specific factors and specific components/action points for the solution that go beyond generic or simply solutions discussion of the contributing factors and/or solution is generic Examples of too generic solutions include: broad interventions like proposing more education about a topic changing policies so they are more equal and punishing people who break them These are generic because they could be said about almost any issue and as we know just making a rule and having a punishment does not solve the problem nor make people act differently. We have to understand why people do what they are doing in the first place and work within the cultural context to affect real change. Any social problem is complex so your discussion of it and its solutions should reflect this complexity. approaches the problem/solution with cultural relativism includes ethnocentrism in interpretation of the problem/solution Examples Examples of Intro and body paragraphs from class lecture Writing a Research Paper 2.pptx IU Indianapolis offers free writing support at the University Writing Center (Cavanaugh 427 and University Library 2125). Writers of all skill levels can benefit from working with writing consultants at any stage of the writing process be it brainstorming, drafting, revising, or final polishing. The University Writing Center is open for 45-minute face-to-face and online appointments Monday through Saturday. Appointments can be made by visiting our website to an external site.. Information about our hours can also be found on our website. Call 317-274-2049 with questions about our programming and policies. If you have never visited the University Writing Center, we strongly encourage that you read about what to expect here: to an external site.. Anthropology subject librarian is available for one-on-one research appointments (via Zoom or in-person) if you need help with any aspect of the research process. You can contact the librarian at to an external site. If you need help immediately, and cant wait for an appointment, you can contact the IU Indianapolis library directly. Applying Anthropology Project Applying Anthropology Project Criteria Ratings Pts Thesis + Problem-Solution Clearly stated view longer description / 6 pts Application of Case Study 1 to Problem* view longer description / 10 pts Application of Case Study 2 to Problem* view longer description / 10 pts Identifying the Difference view longer description / 6 pts Anthropological Sources view longer description / 10 pts Citations view longer description / 6 pts Organization view longer description / 6 pts Overall – Strengths & Advice for the Future / 0 pts