1. What is Culture?
A Cultural Identity

2. Elements of culture
There are many elements of culture, but the majority can be broken down into a short list:
Environment/Location
Race/ethnicity
Gender
Religion
Language
Body image/athetics
Age
Education Level
Socioeconomic Status

3. Environment/Location
Where you live or have lived is a huge part of your culture.
Think about the way that you speak, what you are interested in, and what you do for fun: many of these things are part of your culture because of where you live or once lived
For Example:
Having an accent or using specific words
Liking a sport because it’s popular in your hometown
Dressing a certain way because of the stores around you

4. Race/Ethnicity
There are many different definitions of these two terms, but they are usually used to mean the same thing.
Essentially, your race or ethnicity is the group (or groups) that you belong to who share a similar appearance and heritage. Usually there is a common, historical location (like a continent or country), or maybe even a common faith and history
Think about how your ethnicity has affected your life.

5. Gender
Someone’s gender does not define who they are, but it does determine part of their culture.
It may decide how you dress, what you do, how you speak, ect.
In certain cultures, different genders have very different roles
Think about how your gender has had an effect on your life.

6. Religion
Religion is a very important aspect of culture. It can influence:
Your beliefs
Morals
What is important to you
Family values
Traditions
Food
Think about how your religion (or lack there of) has influenced your life.

7. Language
The language that you speak is part of your culture. Some cultures, in fact, are defined by the language that you speak
This can include dialects of languages and the way that you speak
Language can affect the kinds of people who have contact with you, your job, where you live, ect.
Think about how the way that you speak has made an impact on your life.

8. Body image
The way someone looks may go along with their ethnicity, but is not defined by it. Even people in the same race can look completely different.
Your height, hair color, weight, skin color, eye color, ect., can have a major impact on how you live, how people speak to you, and what you do with your life
Relate how the way you look has caused you to live or act differently.

9. age Age can dictate a lot about a person.
What year you are in at school
How people react to you
What your interests are
What your job is
Who you hang out with
Ect.
What has your age affected in your life?

10. Education level/socioeconomic status
These have similar influences:
What can you afford
What do you eat
What do you wear
What school can you go to
What do you do in your free time
What job must you have
What kind of future do you have
Where do you live/what kind of home do you live in
You want to look at the culture that you have and how it has been influenced by your socioeconomic status, your education level, and even that of your parents.

11. What is culture?
Now, as you write your paper, think about these aspects of culture:
How do they define you?
How do they create culture?
Why do we think of them as parts of culture?
How you have been influenced by these parts of culture?