The purpose of the assignment is to reflect on yourself and your cultural background, and to have an opportunity to share this with others, and to have an opportunity to see such portraits of others.

1) Write a 2 page typed double-spaced description of your cultural background and indicate how you think it might affect your world view, your life style, and your communication with others (both people from the same culture as you and those from other cultures). You might want to talk with other family members before writing this assignment.

2) Connect your reflections to concepts in the readings (e.g., culture, communication, components of cultural patterns).

3) Address at least FOUR of the following questions:

• How would you describe yourself in terms of heritage? 
• Are you primarily from one cultural group (e.g. Irish, Italian)? 
• Did your grandparents speak another language?
• Have you been influenced by other cultures, and if so, how? 
• What events in your upbringing can you think of that influenced your cultural identity? Did you travel to foreign places?
• What surface cultural manifestations (clothing, food, music, dress, customs, etc) or deep cultural traits (behaviors, religious beliefs, gender role, health or hygiene habits, etc.) guide your behavior? 
• How are your or you family different from your peers with regard to your outlook on life and daily occurrences, fundamental beliefs, value systems, norms, and your communication style?
• What part of your upbringing is unique? 
• How did/does your family celebrate or mark holidays, births, deaths, weddings, christenings, graduations, tragedies, age markers or other historically significant occurrences?

Grading Criteria for Assignment on

Cultural Autobiography