For Student Mini-Ethnography

For a person of different Ethnicity/Culture than you (Americans excluded):

Remember, we're talking about people with a strong sense of cultural identity (not race, but connections to specific language, religion, ancestry/homeland, customs, traditions) (ex. Italian-American, Mexican or Mexican-Americans, Vietnamese-American, Native American, African from the continent, Iranian, Arab, Indian, etc.).

Except for Question #1, don’t let them necessarily get away with short answers; follow-up with “how so?”, or “can you elaborate on that?”. If the opposite happens and you get long-winded answers, you will have to paraphrase (personally edit/condense) their comments.

During the interview you should keep your personal opinions and reactions (verbal & nonverbal) to yourself unless the interviewee asks for your opinion directly. We are acting as detached objective researchers, not a casual personal conversation.

Use a “question then answer” format followed by one long summary paragraph on how you thought the interview went, what you learned from it, what surprised you to hear, or not, etc.. It should come to around 1 ½ to 2 ½ pages typed double-spaced. (3 pages max or point deduction)

1) What is your ethnicity or cultural background)? Do you have a subcultural, geographical or tribal identity as well?

2) How much of your personal identity is based in your ethnicity?

3) What sort of behavior or activities (customs, traditions, religious events, annual events) do you engage in that represents your ethnicity?

4) How much history of your ethnic group are you knowledgeable of, or aware of?

5) What are some of the major differences between your culture and American society that stand out in your mind?

6) What do you think about a "melting-pot" America (cultural diversity melting together becoming more alike, or as one)? Do you resent the Melting-Pot (everyone being more or less alike) or embrace it?

7) Have you experienced any discrimination/prejudice based on your ethnicity/nationality? – if yes, give examples. Is your ethnic group a minority group in the homeland country (Mexico, Somalia, China, etc.), or challenged by outside influences?

Before, or during the interview, come up with a couple of extra questions of your own if you want some “brownie points”.

Online Students Only: Send your survey to me through the special assignments link in iCollege titled “Activity Report”. You can do this through a document “attachments” link or simply “copy & paste” the survey into the available space within the link.