Cultural
Background Paper Assignment Instructions
Overview
In the Cultural
Background Paper, you will describe the background of your parents or
primary caregivers in regards to family culture and how this background impacts
you both personally and professionally as a counselor. If you have a
multi-racial background, pick the 2 most predominant cultures represented
from your family background. You will consider how your cultural background
influenced the family system patterns found in your family of origin, your
identity development, and the role of culture and social justice in your
counseling theoretical perspective. Specifically, you will look at some of the
research describing people from your background, explore internet resources
related to your culture, and interview your parents/significant care givers or
other significant family members to get information. Below you will find
further information.
Instructions
Please utilize the guidelines noted below in
completing this assignment:
·
This
paper should be around 2000 words. Please note that the quality of your answer
is important, and use the approximate words count noted in each section (#1 –
#4) as you craft your responses for each section.
Please use the
current APA style which is the 7th edition of the APA publication
manual that includes information on appropriate formatting for section
headings, levels of section headings, in-text citations (narrative and
parenthetical), and references. In addition, review the sample
professional paper for further specifics on APA formatting. For more
information on APA formatting and sample papers, use APA Format Quick
Guide located in the Cultural Background Paper Resource
section.
· Scholarly (peer-reviewed)
sources are required and must be published within the last 5 years. A minimum
of five scholarly (5) sources are required for this assignment, and you are
welcome to use more as needed in your research.
· Acceptable
scholarly sources include journal articles, scholarly websites, relevant chapters
from the McGoldrick et al. supplemental e-book. (E-book link for McGoldrick et
al. located in syllabus.) NOTE: The Hays and Erford can be used as one of
required sources.
· In addition to the
five (5) scholarly (peer-reviewed) sources, a minimum of two (2) Internet/media
sources related to your culture should be utilized. These can include (but not
limited to) periodical websites (newspapers, magazine) and organizational
websites. (Online journal databases would be scholarly sources and not
internet/media sources.)
· First person may
be used in this paper.
·
For
clarification, the Cultural Background Paper is not a focus on your family
history, family genealogy, or family biography, but rather a focus on your
cultural identity as it relates to the questions you will address in the
assignment.
For the two parts
of this assignment, address the following prompts, and organize the paper based
on the prompts using appropriate section heading and sub-section heading format:
Cultural Background Paper
1.
Identify 1 or 2 predominant cultures
represented from your family background. You may describe your culture(s) by
discussing the following: (approximately 750 words)
· Personal
background and identity (your background may include a single heritage or
multiple heritages (e.g., multiracial, multiethnic); you may choose to include
information about one or all; include the ones that have had the most influence
if not all).
· When
and how did you first become aware of your cultural background, and how did you
respond to this (e.g., your specific group(s) and its impact on you of this
awareness of being part of a specific or multiple groups)
· Prominent
customs, practices, values, and behaviors to your family’s background
(communication patterns, gender roles, marital roles, educational and
vocational pursuits). The McGoldrick et al. (2005) textbook is a strongly
recommended source.
· Influence
of cultural background on spirituality and/or religion as appropriate
· Information
about your family’s cultural background not previously known (new information)
2. Describe
similarities and differences between your family of origin and other cultures
whom you have encountered in the country/region where you grew up. Include a
discussion of the positive AND negative experiences between you and the other
cultures (approximately 250 words).
3. Provide a clear and in-depth exploration of how your
research and knowledge gained about your family’s cultural background influences your perspective on the
importance racial/cultural identity development for other individuals. As part of your narrative, integrate information
from at least one model from the chapter titled “Cultural Identity Development”
(chapter 2) of Hays/Erford into your response (approximately 500 words).
4. Provide a clear and in-depth exploration of how your
research and knowledge gained about your family’s cultural background shapes your view of conducting social
justice and client advocacy for others
(approximately 500 words).
Helpful
Hints
·
The recommended
McGoldrick text may have a specific chapter on your particular group(s) that
would be helpful. Here are some examples: Students with a White background
often are initially stumped with this assignment because they haven’t
considered their cultural background before. If you are White and have a
Scots-Irish background, there’s a specific McGoldrick chapter on that group.
White and Colonial English? There’s one on that, too. German? The same. The key
is for you to discover more specifically the culture(s) of your original White
roots. If you have a Latino background from Cuba, there’s a specific chapter on
that. Puerto Rico? The same. If you have an Asian background from Korea,
there’s a specific chapter on that. Japan? The same. You get the idea. The
McGoldrick text has chapters on specific subcultures rather than just the
generic White, Asian, and Latino categories. Be as specific as possible in
your cultural sources. If you have a U.S. Black background, it is
acceptable to use general chapters on this group. Also,
consider regional areas within the United States as a possible
influence towards your cultural identity. For example, an individual
born and raised in the Southwestern portion of the U.S. will have a different
experience than one raised in the Northeast/New England area of the U.S.
·
In addition to
looking at relevant research to obtain information on your cultural background,
interview available family members as they may provide useful information as
you develop this paper.
·
If you are from
an adopted family background, focus on the cultural background of your adoptive
parents. You might be surprised at how their cultural background influenced
family system patterns in the home. If you are from a foster care background,
this project may be painful for you. It can also be very healing and
informative. Feel free to write about the Foster Care Culture and its impact on
you if it fits with your background. You can share as much or as little as you
want to share in your Cultural Background Paper. Take care of yourself in the
paper-writing process and keep your instructor informed about your experience.
·
Do not
start this paper the week it is due.
Start early. You’ll find it helpful to let your instructor know of any problems
you’re experiencing so that brainstorming and problem-solving can take place.
Your instructor will be limited in how they can help you in a meaningful manner
if you only recognize you have a problem in the week the paper is due.
Note: Your assignment will be checked for originality
via the Turnitin plagiarism tool.
