1. REFLECTIVE ESSAY WHAT IS YOUR CULTURAL IDENTITY?

2. WHAT IS A REFLECTIVE ESSAY? It is personal and subjective, but must still maintain an academic tone and must be thoroughly and cohesively structured. It is personal and subjective, but must still maintain an academic tone and must be thoroughly and cohesively structured. Since it is a personal essay, think ahead as to what is appropriate to include and share. Since it is a personal essay, think ahead as to what is appropriate to include and share. This is one of the few essays in which you can get away with using the first person pronoun “I”. You should still relate your subjective feelings and opinions using concrete and specific evidence or events. This is one of the few essays in which you can get away with using the first person pronoun “I”. You should still relate your subjective feelings and opinions using concrete and specific evidence or events. REMEMBER: This is still an academic work, therefore, you should not be writing a text message. No “LOL”, “FYI”, “BC”, “OMG”…. REMEMBER: This is still an academic work, therefore, you should not be writing a text message. No “LOL”, “FYI”, “BC”, “OMG”…. Use references from the unit you have been working on. Use references from the unit you have been working on. Stay organized. Stay organized.

3. ASPECTS OF YOUR CULTURAL IDENTITY Age Ethnic or national origin FamilyReligionGenderLanguage Geographical region Educational background Job or profession Socio ‐ economic level MATERIAL Dress Dress Art Art Utensil Utensil Tools Tools Language Language Food Food Toys Toys NON MATERIAL Ideas Ideas Fears Fears Values Values Beliefs Beliefs Emotions Emotions ELEMENTS

4. ELEMENTS OF AN ESSAY Introduction: Usually an introduction starts broad and narrows down to your specific topic, ending in the thesis. This is your opportunity to establish why readers might be curious about your general topic, catch their attention, or put your essay in context. Thesis: Your introduction should end with a clear, specific thesis statement, which will tell readers exactly what your paper will be arguing. Each body paragraph will directly and obviously support your thesis.

5. Body Paragraphs: An essay usually has at least three body paragraphs, and these will be the arguments, evidence, or topics that support your thesis. Topic Sentences: Each body paragraph will begin with a topic sentence which introduces its topic. All of the information in that paragraph will be clearly and logically related to that topic sentence, which in turn should obviously relate to the thesis. Support: You use arguments, data, facts, analysis, quotes, anecdotes, examples, details, etc. to support your topic sentences and flesh out your body paragraphs. A good rule of thumb is to have at least three points to support each topic sentence.

6. Transitions: An effective essay will show the connection between paragraphs with transitions. These can be the final sentence of each body paragraph or can be integrated into the next topic sentence with transition words. Conclusion: A conclusion should wrap up your essay, but should not introduce new information or arguments. It should begin with a sentence that looks a lot like your thesis to summarize the general points of the paper as a whole, and then draw your paper neatly to a close.

7. ESSAY OUTLINE I. INTRODUCTION: General info about topic, reason for reader to be interested, context, etc. Thesis statement. II.BODY Topic Sentence A. Support B. Support C. Support Transition Sentence V. CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH Re-state thesis: Summary of main points, return to general context, wrap-up of essay, etc. P.E.E. (point > example > explanation) or P.Q.C. (point >quotation > comment) III.BODY IV.BODY Topic Sentence A. Support B. Support C. Support Transition Sentence Topic Sentence A. Support B. Support C. Support Transition Sentence

8. CULTURAL CONFLICT Clash of values that arises when different social groups have different ideas on what is deemed acceptable behavior. In other words, different social groups have different cultural beliefs and ideas which conflict, and this conflict sometimes leads to crime.