Questions and Answers on American Culture - 480 Words

Question 1 By the mid-1800s America had seen much change since its inception and regionalization soon became an interesting phenomenon. The many changes were everywhere. Society had changed, the political structure had changed and the economy grew to new heights never witnessed before in history. All of these changes significantly impacted how America has since developed. The Civil War and all of the circumstances surrounding that brutal and barbaric exchange definitely regionalized the country into two distinct factions; north and south. The text pointed out that Between 1830 and 1860, southerners experienced dramatically different developments than northerners. In every way, cotton became king. It constituted nearly half of the exports of the entire nation, and southerners knew that they could get rich if they could succeed as cotton farmers. But even within these large divisions other regions were being carved out. The realization of independent living and abundant natural resources helped spur on this development as America continue to expand west in conquering these lands. Indians and ancient cultures that once ruled this land were soon dismissed and diminished further regionalizing and dividing the country. Unfortunately, many of these barriers still exist today as distinct cultures and politics still surround some of these divisions. In Americas case in the 19th century it was impossible to stop their expansion and conquering westward due to the temptingShow MoreRelatedInternational Students Cope With Eating American Cuisine Essay831 Words   |  4 Pagescoping with American food. With food being linked to culture, international students must face one of the hardest tasks when coming to America, eating someone else’s culture while neglecting their own. 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Next why do some of the practices and rituals of other cultures seem odd or foreign to us? Finally, how do our own cultural norms affect our understanding and perception of other cultures? The Identity of the Nacirema Tribe To startRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book American Way By Gary Althen892 Words   |  4 PagesI was always interested in understand wf the american (capitalize proper nouns) culture. When I first came here I noticed that americans are really independent and self-reliant individuals, so for the research I chose the topic â€Å"American friendship† so I could understand better what americans think about friendship. According to the author of the book American Ways (written by Gary Althen with Janet Bennet), americans do not like to feel dependent on someone or that someone become V dependent onRead MorePilot Social Work Research : American Indian Behavioral Health Assessment1182 Words   |  5 PagesPilot Social Work Research: American Indian Behavioral Health Assessment Introduction Culture is the way people view their world. Through culture, beliefs are born. What a person believes is directly associated with their behavior. Cultural sensitivity can be defined in the broadest sense to be an awareness and utilization of knowledge related to ethnicity, culture, gender, or sexual orientation in explaining and understanding situations and responses of individuals in their environment (BroomeRead MoreEssay about History of Rock and Roll1285 Words   |  6 PagesQuestion  1     (1  point) Brackett,  Chapter  11:  Independent  (Indie)  record  labels  are  often  able  to  take  chances  that  major  labels  cannot.   Why?   Student  response: Percent Value Student e Respons Answer   Choices a. Low   talent  Ã‚   recording   costs  for   indie   labels 0.0% b. Indie   labels  set   up  their   distributio n   carefully   (identified   their  key   demogra phic  and   distributio n  areas   and  only   sent   material   to  those   disc   jockeys   and  radio   stations) c. Major   labels  Read MoreCommunication and Correct Answer763 Words   |  4 Pagesyou include Answer Selected Answer: c. slang, such as This product really rocks! Correct Answer: b. action-specific verbs, such as e-mail me if you have any questions rather than contact me if you have any questions. Response Feedback: A multicultural audience is less likely to understand American slang, idioms, or acronyms. The audience is more likely to understand clear writing that uses short sentences, short paragraphs, and action-specific verbs. . Question 2 .1 out of 1Read MoreEssay on Lesson Plan Social Studies710 Words   |  3 PagesStudent Teaching Lesson Plan Template Subject: Social Studies | Topic: Who Where the first Americans? | NCSCOS/Common Core Objective: The learner will acquire strategies for reading social studies materials and for increasing social studies vocabulary. 1.01 Read for literal meaning. 1.02 Summarize to select main ideas. 1.03 Draw inferences. 1.04 Detect cause and effect. The learner will analyze important geographic, political, economic, and social aspects of life in the region prior to theRead MoreAnalysis Of The Article Puzzlements Of A High School Watcher Essay1343 Words   |  6 PagesSociety undoubtedly has a convincing and prevailing public literacy, as well as, numerous accepted symbols and ideas that legitimize the meaning of being an American. As the author of â€Å"Puzzlements of a High School Watcher†, Theodore R. Sizer explains how American media is the leading edge of shared experience, which is pronounced in the generally shared language and symbols and how it is our reality. Sizer focuses on the fact that as a nation, America has â€Å"a persuasive and powerfu l public literacy

Winter Holiday Activities for Middle and High School

How can teachers, especially in public schools, use the many December holidays to their advantage without excluding any groups of students? One way is to celebrate the rich customs and holidays of the season from around the world with students through a variety of informational activities.   Try these meaningful and fun activities in the weeks leading up to winter break to keep your students engaged and teach them about a few common end-of-year celebrations and customs. Christmas According to Christian belief, Jesus was the son of God born to a virgin in a manger. Countries celebrate the religious aspects of this holiday in very different ways. Christmas is also a secular holiday of which the figure Santa Claus is often the focus. Santa is believed by many children to travel in a sleigh drawn by flying reindeer to deliver them presents on Christmas Eve. Learn more about Christmas around the world by reading the traditions of these countries, both religious and secular. Have your students investigate their unique customs. United States Christmas trees, real or artificial, are usually put up in homes early in December in the United States. They are often decorated with multi-color lights and ornaments. Stockings, a decoration in the shape of a sock, are also hung. On Christmas Eve, many children set out cookies and other treats for Santa Claus and his reindeer. On Christmas morning, children rush to the tree to open gifts. England Santa Claus is known by the name Father Christmas in England. Here, Christmas trees are decorated and stockings are hung as well. A spiced cider drink called  wassail  is usually served. On Boxing Day, celebrated on December 26th, the tradition is to give to those less fortunate. This day is also the feast day of St. Stephen. France A popular dessert called the Bà »che de Noà «l  or Christmas log is consumed on Christmas day in France. Often, a feast called the rà ©veillon takes place just after Midnight Mass, a Catholic time of worship, on Christmas Eve. Gifts are given to children by Pà ¨re Noà «l, which translates to Father Christmas. He travels with a man called Pà ¨re Fouettard, who tells Pà ¨re Noà «l how children behaved during the previous year. In some parts of France, gifts are given on both December 6th (St. Nicholas feast day) and Christmas day. Adults also give gifts on New Years Eve. Italy Christmas in Italy is celebrated with a large feast after a 24-hour fast before Christmas. Children do not typically receive their presents until January 6th, the day of Epiphany. This day symbolizes the day that the Magi visited Jesus Christ at the manger. Gifts are brought by Le Befana or Befana, a woman who flies around on a broom. The legend goes that Befana, a housewife, was visited by the Magi on the night they visited Jesus. Kenya Great quantities of food are prepared and goat is especially abundant during Kenyan Christmas celebrations. A flatbread called chapati is often served. Houses are decorated with paper decorations, balloons, and flowers. Many children in this African country also believe in Santa Claus. Groups frequently go from house to house singing and receiving gifts of some kind from the houses occupants in the days leading up to Christmas. On Christmas day, they give any gifts they received to their church. Costa Rica The weather is warm at Christmastime in Costa Rica, making it a beautiful holiday full of life. As Costa Rica is predominantly Catholic, Christmas is customarily observed as both a religious and commercial affair. Most Costa Ricans attend Misa de Gallo, Midnight Mass, and display nativity scenes. On Christmas Eve, children leave their shoes out to be filled by the baby Jesus or Nià ±o Dios. Tamales and empanadas are commonly eaten at celebrations. Christmas-Related Projects These are only some of the ways that students will enjoy studying Christmas traditions. Remember not to assume that your students celebrate this holiday themselves. Investigate the legend of Santa Claus in a given country.Study different aspects of the Christmas celebration including the tree, decorations, stockings, carols and more.Perform or translate Christmas songs in at least one other language.Research traditional Christmas foods of a culture and make them for the rest of the class to sample.Present skits representing the origin story of each cultures version of Christmas.In many countries, Christmas celebrations are becoming more like those  in America. Debate whether the loss of traditional celebrations is positive or negative.Read O.  Henrys The Gift of the Magi and discuss its meaning.Journal prompts such as:Worst/best Christmas experienceFamily traditionsImportant aspects of the holiday for themHas Christmas become too commercialized?Should people be allowed to say Merry Christmas wherever they want to? Hanukkah This holiday, also known as the Festival of Lights, is celebrated over eight days beginning on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev.  In 165 BCE, the Jews, led by the Maccabees, defeated the Greeks in war. When they arrived to rededicate the Temple in Jerusalem, they found only one small flask of oil to light the  Menorah. Miraculously, this oil lasted for eight days. Hanukkah Traditions Today, Hanukkah is celebrated in many different ways. One common tradition is, for every night of the eight days of the festival of Hanukkah, lights are lit on a  Menorah  to commemorate the miracle at the Temple over 2000 years ago. While working during this time is no longer prohibited as it was many years ago, people generally refrain from working while Hanukkah lights are lit. However, working within one hour of lighting the candles is not allowed. The  dreidel  is used by many Jewish families to play a game. This game is said to have been invented as a way for Jews to conceal their Torah studies from Greeks in a time when this was outlawed. There are many rituals performed by Jews in their homes with only their families, such as reciting blessings each night and lighting the candles. Those celebrating the holiday traditionally eat  Ã¢â‚¬â€¹oily foods, such as gefilte fish and fried potato pancakes, to commemorate the miracle of the oil. Children are often given presents and money during this holiday, often for each day of the Hanukkah festival. This custom arose as a way to reward children for studying the Torah. Hanukkah-Related Projects Try these Hanukkah-themed projects with your students to get them thinking about this religious holiday. Research the origins of Hanukkah.Compare and contrast Hanukkah with another major Jewish holiday.Study the traditional foods of the holiday and prepare them for the class.Identify differences between how Hanukkah was celebrated shortly after its origin and how it is celebrated now.Study the relationship between the Jews and the Greeks around 165 BCE.Research the Jewish calendar and note key differences between that and the Gregorian calendar.Speculate as to why the oil was meaningful to the Jews that celebrated the first Hanukkah. Kwanzaa Kwanzaa, which translates to the first fruits, was established in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga. This professor wanted to give African Americans a holiday dedicated to preserving, revitalizing, and promoting African American culture. Though not as old as other holidays, it is rich in tradition. Kwanzaa focuses on seven principles: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. The most emphasis is placed on the unity of the Black family. This holiday is celebrated from December 26th through January 1st. Kwanzaa Traditions On each of the seven days of Kwanzaa, greetings are exchanged in Swahili. People celebrating Kwanzaa ask Habari Gani?, meaning What is the news?. The answer is the principle of that day. For example, the first days answer would be Umoja or unity. Gifts or zawadi are given to children and these include a book and a heritage symbol.  The colors of Kwanzaa are red, black, and green. Seven candles in a kinara are lit, one for each day of the holiday. These are called mishumaa saba. The candle that is lit first is black and represents the people. Three red candles are placed to the left of the black candle representing the struggle of African Americans. Three green candles are placed to the right of the black candle representing the future and hope of African Americans. After the center candle, the black candle, has been lit, the rest are lit from the outside in, alternating from left to right. Kwanzaa-Related Projects This holiday might be unfamiliar for many of your students and thats why its especially important for them to explore. Discuss each of the seven principles of this holiday and why they are important to Black Americans.Invite speakers to come in and share about Kwanzaa and how it is celebrated.Discuss the role of group identity in this holiday.Study traditional Kwanzaa celebrations and choose one to recreate.Talk about the Civil Rights movement in relation to Kwanzaa.Examine the ways that the origin of this holiday differs from the origins of others such as Christmas.Debate whether Kwanzaa should be considered a public holiday.

I Hate About You is a relocation of the Taming Free Essays

The Taming of the Shrew relocated to high school? Gill Gunner’s 10 Things I Hate About You is undoubtedly more complicated than a relocation of Shakespearean The Taming of the Shrew into high school. The transformation of Shakespearean comedy Into the teen’ movie genre and the integration of Elizabethan values enable the film to be a successful relocation of the play, yet the Incorporation of modern gender conventions discerns it as something more than a relocation. The culmination of these facets produce a cinematic masterpiece that draws parallelism to Shrew In a feminist perspective. We will write a custom essay sample on I Hate About You is a relocation of the Taming or any similar topic only for you Order Now The transformation of Shrews comedic genre into the teen’ genre in 10 Things facilitates its relocation into high school. In Shrew, comedy revolves around the physical violence upon Kate, deception, and a play on words. The sight of a ‘shrew’ physically subdued by a man would have been humorous to an Elizabethan audience. Humor is also evident in Epithetic and Skate’s verbal battle, where elaborate puns are constructed. Women are made to bear and so are you’ (11. 1. 200). Here, Epithetic twists the word ‘bear’ into meaning ‘giving childbirth’, thus twisting Skate’s Insults Into Innuendo. Influenced by the teen’ genre and the rise of fearfulness. N 10 Things, comedy exists verbally and in stereotypical teenage experiences. Ms Perks attempt to describe an erotic scene in her novel is evidence of verbal humor, similar to Pediatrics use of puns. The concept of growing up is embodied in Cat’s antisocial behav ior. Described as a heinous blotch’, her unfriendly manner Illustrates her inability to accept her adolescence, such as dating. This is emphasized in the party scene, where the childhood swings she is sitting on Juxtapose against the adolescent party house In the background. The modern adaptation also explores teenage dating. Dating forms the basis of comedy. Blanch feels the urge to date for the purpose of fitting in to teenage culture. In the words, ‘I’m the only girl that doesn’t date,’ Bianca suggests that her motivation for dating is due to peer pressure. The influence of peer pressure is also apparent in other movies based on a teen genre, such as Grease (1978) and The Breakfast Club (1985). By appealing directly to teenage audiences through common experiences, Shakespearean comedy is relocated into high school. The integration of money and status as Elizabethan values into 10 Things contributes to It being a successful relocation of Shrew. In Shakespearean comedy, marriage Is an opportunity for the men to acquire wealth and Increase their social status. Pedicurist’s motives for journeying to Pad are solely to marry the daughter of an affluent father to increase his own wealth and status, or as he expresses it, to Wives and thrive’ (1. 11. 42). The simplicity of Petroleum’s Intentions accentuates the ease to which It can be accomplished, and therefore suggests that marriage Is a game signed and played by the men. These values are incorporated into the teen’ adaptation by alternating the setting into high school. By incorporating the teen’ Shakespearean work, dating is a tool used to gain money and popularity. Cameron and Michaels plot to use Joey, a wealthy ‘Coco, to bribe Patrick to date Kate is evidence of this. While this increases Patriot’s money and allows Cameron and Joey to date Bianca, it also enables Michael to be ‘cool by association’ to popular people, thus increasing his status among the school hierarchy. In such, the men benefit while the omen become puppets in a male plot. The similarities between money and status in Shrew and 10 Things depict a parallel course to which both texts extend. The distinction in gender conventions between 10 Things and Shrew is crucial in demonstrating that the modern version is more complicated than a high school relocation of the play. In Elizabethan England, women were the property of their men and were expected to loyally serve them. This convention is adequately expressed in Shakespearean drama, culminating in Skate’s ‘submission’ speech. In such, the use of juxtaposition comparing women to men in the words, ‘l see our lances are but straws/ Our strength as weak, our weakness past compare,’ (V. I. 173-174) illustrates female submission to male superiority in a patriarchal society. In consideration of Skate’s violent behavior, her acknowledgement of female servitude undermines her ‘shrewish’ nature, and therefore demonstrates that she is tamed’. Elizabethan gender conventions are transformed to a more feminist and less sexist perspective in the movie, dictated by modern attitu des towards women. Women in 10 Things josses more control of themselves and exert greater influence, such as Banana’s manipulation to induce her sister to date. Similar to Kate, Kate is a young independent woman who strongly supports feminism. In the words, Why should I live up to other people’s expectations except for my own,’ Kate demonstrates she is uninfluenced from social oppression. In contrast to Pedicurist’s use of physical violence of taming Kate, Patrick uses kindness to tame the wild beast’ and socially conform her. The change in gender conventions while maintaining a similar characterization of Kate compels the elm to be a relocation of the play but in a more feminist outlook. 0 Things I Hate About You is a high school relocation of The Taming of the Shrew in a feminist viewpoint. The incorporation of the teen’ movie genre and the values of money and status in the movie ensure the plays relocation into high school, while the change in gender conventions provides a more feminist perspective of the movie. The modern adaptation moves away from its misogynist basis and entertains a teenage audience by transforming aspects of Shakespearean drama into common adolescent experiences. How to cite I Hate About You is a relocation of the Taming, Papers