Understanding Cultural Identity: A Guide to Writing a Cultural Identity Essay, Summaries of Dynamics

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My cultural identity essay example

The influence of culture has a significant impact in one's self-concept, or collection of beliefs about one's overall place and identity in society. Self-concept includes all elements related to one's perceptions about the self, including socioeconomic status, gender identification, sexual orientation, ethnic identity, motivations and self-esteem (Byrne, 2006). Because individualistic... 975 words | 4 page(s) Read More Iconoclastic is not an adjective that finds its way into very many resumes or job applications. Despite the attractiveness of the word “icon” making up two of its syllables, the connotation carries with it a sense of the more untrustworthy and undependable sort of non-conformist. And why not? The original... 969 words | 4 page(s) Read More 120 ViewsMy brother is someone that inspired not only me, but also everyone else he met. As an older brother to me, he was everything that you would expect in an older sibling: watchful, caring, but also firm, and he also seemed to know everything. I could come to my brother... 667 words | 3 page(s) Read More Still haven't found the topic among our "Identity" samples? We will write it for you! Order Now 49 ViewsThere are so many things that I am and so many things that I am not. Yet if I had to answer the question “Who am I?” I would say the following. First and foremost, I am a human being. But also I am a woman, I am a mother,... 653 words | 3 page(s) Read More While there are numerous ways to identify any individual, how a specific person identifies himself may be quite different from how others identify him. How an individual identifies himself can affect the social actions, cultural affiliations, the amount of self-esteem that is carried, and the relationships a person builds. Self- identification... 1068 words | 4 page(s) Read More The export of the Caribbean cultural identity to the diaspora cab be beneficial to Caribbean islands because it is a form of marketing which increases the representation, awareness, demand for and pride in goods, services and intellectual property which is produced in the Caribbean. This helps the island nations in... 395 words | 3 page(s) Read More Who's your role model in life? Is it your mother, grandfather, or school teacher? In this role model essay sample we will explore the essence of role models and their importance for the positive reinforcement of good behavior. As society tries its best to give children the opportunity to succeed,... 785 words | 3 page(s) Read More 39 ViewsLoneliness is a modern "disease" of our society, which became a global problem both in developed and urbanized countries. The development of technology and science generate various phobias and sociological problems (Molloy, 2017). People often become self-absorbed, do not share the experience with others and get obsessed with social networks.... 766 words | 3 page(s) Read More 45 ViewsBeing healthy is more than being free from illness; it includes emotional health and a healthy frame of mind. It is important to feel good about myself and have a healthy self-image and self-esteem. Towards this goal, my personal sustainability plan involves healthy diet, active lifestyle, healthy choices, as well... 596 words | 3 page(s) Read More Questions concerning the nature and existence of the self are as old as philosophy. Plato noted in The Symposium that our common practice of taking ourselves and others to be identical, enduring entities is subject to question. For we all change as we grow old; for example, psychologically. It is... 1234 words | 5 page(s) Read More Over eight years ago, little did I know how much my life and the life of my family would change so much. Having grown up in a small town in Romania, I led a life of simple means. I had a good job, a wonderful wife and child and a... 1082 words | 5 page(s) Read More Introduction My best space is my bedroom. Over the past years, I have travelled to many places with expensive furniture, but the areas do not have my taste and feel. My house is a right place for me to live but my bedroom remains my best space. Particularly, I decorated... 316 words | 3 page(s) Read More 39 ViewsThe CEO Program is of great interest to me. I am a dedicated business corporate planning professional with vast experience in business planning and budgeting, strategic decision making processes, investment advising, sales and marketing, and company financial analysis. I have worked in various managerial positions across different sectors of the... 604 words | 3 page(s) Read More A person’s culture is influenced and shaped by many different factors, and the language they speak is one of the most important. It is also true that a person’s language is affected by their culture. Eskimos have many words for the term “snow,” while the majority of other cultures use... 602 words | 3 page(s) Read More 37 ViewsWhat is the overall purpose/direction behind personality? Comparing everyday individuals to that of scientists, Kelly believes that people strongly despite to understand the surrounding world, develop predictions about future events, and subsequently compose theories that serve to explain such events. The Personal Construct Theory was proposed and designed as an... 666 words | 3 page(s) Read More Aspects of my culture are difficult to describe with any clear purpose because I consider myself a normal, Christian, heterosexual, African American woman. I am from a middle class family and have not suffered much as an adult, however the culture I identify with would be important to understand because... 365 words | 3 page(s) Read More 38 ViewsThe novel, Erasure, by Percival Everette, is an interesting and thought-provoking narrative about African American identity and literature. It explores the main character, Thelonious “Monk” Ellison and his literary work, which serves to erase the negative stereotypes of the black experience. Thus, he attempts to discover his own racial identity... 996 words | 4 page(s) Read More When I think about my experiences reading and writing, I think of how far I’ve come from when I was very little. Today, I can read large books and write multiple-page essays. But when I was very little, I was just happy if I could read and spell C-A-T. I... 626 words | 3 page(s) Read More 41 ViewsWhen something happens, do you blame on yourself, the world, or look for resolutions in the future? Existential theory focuses on accepting the fears to overcome them by looking ahead. Person-centered theory focuses on letting the person figures out a solution based on his or her individual ability. I prefer... 775 words | 3 page(s) Read More A cultural identity essay may turn out to be either the easiest task you've ever got assigned to write or a real torture. It all depends on the topic you choose and the techniques you use in writing this kind of academic paper. Some students google for "my cultural identity essay example" trying to use someone else's experience. However, there are no 100%-suitable cultural identity essay examples for you on the Web because each person has a unique background. Don't you worry! Here is a guide to help you to come up with excellent cultural identity essay topics on your own. What a Cultural Identity Essay Is Before you start writing or even picking a topic, you have to get a clear understanding what a this type of essay is and how it differs from other essays. This type of writing reveals your personality regarding your cultural background. No matter what aspects of your culture you've decided to depict, you should always write about how they have influenced your life views, behavior, beliefs, etc. So, one can state that this essay has a lot in common with a reflective one. Many students ask: "Do I always have to write a cultural identity essay about myself?" The answer is yes unless anything else is specified. In some cases, you may be asked to write an essay about the cultural identity of some other person or a fictional character. How to Pick the Subject The subject under your consideration is your cultural identity. However, you should narrow it down to write a successful essay. You may touch upon the themes of nationality, customs and beliefs, the environment you were raised in, the environment your parents were raised in as long as it concerns you, the historical background of your country, etc. If you've moved to another country, you may describe the differences between the aspects listed above and what you see here. On the other hand, you can search for parallels between your culture and the culture of the country where you live. Order now Choosing Cultural Identity Essay Topics After you have selected the main subject of your essay, it is time to invent a perfect topic. Mind that there are several rules you are to follow while making your choice. Rule #1 Consider Who You Are Going to Write About As mentioned above there can be three main types of "protagonists" in this type of essay: you, another person who is usually well-known, or a fictional character. This is the first criterion for choosing your topic: ABOUT WHOM you are going to write. If it is about yourself, try to describe the unique experience you've got. If you work with a piece of literature, for example, try to reveal the character's traits rooted in his or her cultural identity. Rule #2 Connect Your Topic to the Subject You've Chosen Then, consider the subject you have chosen. The topic should demonstrate the strong connection between the person you are writing about and your subject. Rule #3 Sparkle the Interest Many students are wondering "If I write this essay about myself, will anybody read it?" If you think that nobody will read your personal essay attentively because it is boring, you can't be more wrong. Your teacher will read it anyway because this is the job to be done. However, it doesn't mean that you can relax. What makes your topic interesting to your readers is whether you give them an opportunity to associate with your experience or not. No matter whether you and your readers belong to the same culture or to different ones, you can fascinate them with your descriptions, awaken the feelings everybody has when they think of their home, and make your narrative really catchy. All this should find reflection in the topic you choose. Rule #4 Make It Laconic We have already discussed that cultural identity essay topics should reflect the content to grab the reader's attention. It is even more difficult given that the topic should be as short as possible. In the majority of cases, a topic includes a single sentence. But if you think it is impossible to say it in one sentence, your topic might have two. It is vital to remember the structure of such topic and titles, although you are better to work on the final title version when the body of work is ready. Use semicolon for a two-sentence topic. The second part can be either declarative or interrogative. Writing a cultural identity essay is an exciting academic exercise that allows students to develop and utilize critical thinking, reflective, and analytical skills. Unlike a standard essay, this type of paper requires learners to use the first-person language throughout. In essence, a cultural identity essay is about writers and what makes them identify with a particular cultural orientation. When writing a cultural identity essay, authors should choose a specific identity and focus on it throughout their texts. Moreover, they should reflect and brainstorm, use the “show, not tell” method, utilize transitions to create a natural flow, and proofread their papers to eliminate mistakes and errors. Hence, students need to learn how to write a cultural identity essay to provide high-quality papers to their readers. Definition of a Cultural Identity Essay Students undertake different writing exercises in the learning environment to develop their critical thinking, reflective, and analytical skills. Basically, one of these exercises is academic writing, and among different types of essays that students write is a cultural identity essay. In this case, it is a type of essay where authors write about their culture, which entails exploring and explaining the significance of their cultural identity. Moreover, there are numerous topics that instructors may require students to write about in a cultural identity essay. For example, some of these essay topics fall under different disciplines, such as religion, socio-economic status, family, education, ethnicity, and business. In essence, the defining features of a cultural identity essay are what aspects make authors know that they are writing in this type of essay. In turn, these features include language, nationality, gender, history, upbringing, and religion, among many others. Differences Between a Cultural Identity Essay and Other Papers Generally, a cultural identity essay is similar to a standard essay regarding an essay structure and an essay outline. However, the point of difference is a topic. While standard essays, such as argumentative, persuasive, and informative essays, require learners to use third-person language, such a paper requires them to use the first-person language. In this case, when writing a cultural identity essay, authors should use the word “I” throughout to show the audience that they are writing from their perspective. Indeed, this aspect is the primary objective of a cultural identity essay – to give the writer’s perspective concerning their culture. Besides, another point of difference between a cultural identity essay and other papers is that the former does not require writers to utilize external sources but to write from a personal viewpoint. List of Possible Examples of Cultural Identity Essay Topics 1. Cultural Identity and Socialization in a Learning Environment Here, a cultural identity essay prompt may require students to discuss the significance of culture in education, focusing on cultural identity and socialization. As such, this topic requires writers to reflect on how culture influences behavior in a learning environment. 2. The Impact of Culture Change on Family Here, this prompt may require students to explore and discuss how culture impacts a family unit. Moreover, a theme is a family, and the students’ mission would be to explain how culture in all its dynamics affects families in diverse settings. 3. The Role of Language in Building a Cultural Identity Here, instructions may require students to explore and explain the significance of language in cultural identity. Hence, writers should focus on explaining the place of culture in the sociology discipline, focusing on the connection between language and cultural identity. 4. The Significance of Culture in a Globalized Economy Here, a cultural identity essay topic may require students to explore and discuss how culture affects individuals and businesses in today’s connected world. Also, the students’ task would be to explain how culture in all its dynamics, such as language, is essential in business for individuals and enterprises. 5. How Culture Influences Relations in the Workplace Here, an essay prompt may require students to explore and explain how culture in all its dynamics effects or influences social relations at the workplace. In turn, the task of writers, for example, would be to focus on how Human Resource (HR) departments can use culture to enrich workplace relations. 6. The Place of Culture in Individuals’ Self-Concept Here, an analysis of a theme may require students to reflect on how their cultural orientation has affected their self-concept. Moreover, the student’s task would be to discuss how culture and its dynamics enable individuals to build a strong or weak understanding of themselves. 7. The Importance of Cultural Orientation in a Multicultural Environment Here, assignment instructions may require students to explore and discuss how their cultural orientation enables them to operate in a culturally diverse environment, such as school or workplace. In this case, the student’s task would be to explain how culturall characteristics, such as language and religion, facilitate or hampers social competency in a multicultural setting. 8. How Global Conflicts Disturb Cultural Identity for Refugees Here, this example of a cultural identity topic may require students to explore and explain how conflicts in today’s world, such as civil unrest, affect the cultural identity of those who flee to foreign countries. Also, the student’s task would be to explain how one’s culture is affected in a new environment with a totally different cultural dynamics. 9. The Challenges of Acculturation Here, a cultural identity essay prompt may require students to explore and explain the challenges that individuals face in identifying with the dominant culture. In particular, the student’s task would be to explain the significance of the dominant culture and what those from other cultures that try to identify with must confront. 10. Host Country Culture and Multinational Enterprises Here, this prompt sample may require students to explore and explain how a host country’s culture affects expatriates working for multinational corporations. Besides, the students’ task would be to show how one’s culture defines their behaviors and how that can be affected in a new environment with new cultural characteristics. 11. Compare and Contrast Native Culture and Dominant Culture in the United States Here, such instructions require students to explain specific areas of similarity and difference between the Native culture and the dominant culture. In turn, the students’ task would be to define the Native culture and the dominant culture and help the audience to understand whether they mean the same thing. Hence, whether they do or do not, students should elaborate. 12. The Objective of Acculturation Here, this example of a cultural identity essay topic requires students to explore and explain why people prefer to identify with the dominant culture. Moreover, the students’ task would be to note the advantages of the dominant culture over others and the opportunities that one may access to identify with this dominant culture. 13. The Challenges That the LGBTQ Community Faces in the Modern World Here, essay prompt instructions require students to explore and discuss the challenges that lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender people face in their normal day-to-day activities. In this case, the students’ task would be to explain the uniqueness of the LGBTQ community and how stereotyping makes their lives miserable in an environment where people are intolerant to different personalities and viewpoints. 14. Dangers of Cultural Intolerance in the Health Care System Here, instructions may require students to explore and discuss how nurses that are intolerant to cultural differences may jeopardize patients’ lives. 15. Advantages and Disadvantages of Acculturation Here, a cultural identity essay prompt requires students to discuss the pros and cons of identifying with the dominant culture. How Students Know if They Write a Cultural Identity Essay The defining features of a cultural identity essay give students the indication that they need to write this kind of essay. Basically, when learners read instructions regarding their essay topics they need to write about, they should identify one or several defining elements. In turn, these elements include language, nationality, religion, ethnicity, and gender. Structure of a Cultural Identity Essay As stated previously, the primary point of similarity between a cultural identity essay and standard papers is an essay structure and an essay outline. Basically, this structure and outline comprise of three main sections: introduction, body, and conclusion. Like in all other essays, writing a cultural identity essay requires students to address specific issues, which are, in essence, the defining characteristics of the essay’s structure and outline. I. Introduction and Its Defining Characteristics The introduction is the first paragraph of a cultural identity essay. Here, students introduce themselves to the audience, giving a brief background of their cultural identity. Moreover, rules of academic writing dictate that this part should not exceed 10 percent of the entire paper. In this case, writers should be brief and concise. Then, the most prominent component of this section is a thesis, a statement that appears at the end of an introduction paragraph and whose objective is to indicate the writer’s mission. In summary, the introduction part’s defining features are the writer’s background and thesis statement. In turn, the former gives a hint about a writer, and the latter provides the audience with insight into the writer’s objective in writing a cultural identity essay. II. Body The body of a cultural identity essay is the most significant section of a paper and takes the largest part. Generally, writers use several paragraphs to advance different arguments to explain specific concepts. In a cultural identity essay, writers can use different paragraphs to explain important aspects of their cultural identity. Nonetheless, what determines the number of paragraphs and the content of each is a paper topic. Also, the most prominent defining features of a cultural identity essay’s body are paragraphs with each advancing a unique concept about the writer’s cultural identity. In turn, paragraphs are where writers provide real-life experiences and other personal anecdotes that help the audience to develop a deeper understanding of authors from a cultural perspective. III. Conclusion The conclusion part is the last section of a cultural identity essay. In particular, writers restate a thesis statement and summarize the main points from body paragraphs. Moreover, authors provide concluding remarks about a topic, which is mostly an objective personal opinion. In summary, the conclusion part’s defining features are a restatement of a thesis, a summary of the main points, and the writer’s final thought about a topic. Outline Template for a Cultural Identity Essay I. Introduction A. Hook statement/sentence.B. Background information.C. A thesis statement that covers the main ideas from 1 to X in one sentence.