Your assignment is to research your culture and its contributions to American society, then write a 10-page research paper to share your findings with your class. In order to do so, you will need to complete each of the steps outlined below.

Step One: Using communication skills developed in Grade 10, plan, conduct, and record an interview of an older member of your family (e.g. parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, etc,) or community. Focus on your shared cultural heritage. How has your culture contributed to the American culture? How did this heritage influence your family member’s life? How do your shared culture and the decisions of your forebears affect your family member? How has your family member had an impact on your own future? Use the interview guidelines attached.

Step Two: Using the Media Center print resources, find 20 articles or books which discuss your culture’s customs, foods, languages, dress, arts, family structure, religious practices, beliefs, ways of raising children. How is your culture depicted in film, song, and in the media? Find sources that tell how your culture originally came to America and what your culture contributes to American society. Look for sources that deal with your culture’s country of origin. Find sources that discuss the significance of your culture to the American culture. Make a bibliography card for each of your sources. At least 10 of your sources should be print sources. You may use no more than a total of 5 internet sources. You may not use Wikipedia or any other encyclopedia.

Step Three: Using the sources identified on your bib cards, take notes on your topic, keeping in mind the organizational structure of your paper. Think about what information you currently have and what information you still need. Be sure to label your note cards according to the format discussed in class.

Step Four: Using your notes and the skeleton outline, write an outline of your research paper.

Step Five: Write a rough draft of your research paper based on your outline. Your rough draft must include adequate parenthetical documentation in order for you to receive credit for this step.

Step Six: Participate in a peer review cycle.

Step Seven: Revise your rough draft based on the feedback of your peers. Write a second draft.

Step Eight: Edit your draft and write your works cited and title pages.

Step Nine: Type your final draft and submit it.

Step Ten: Share your findings with your classmates and teacher in an oral presentation. You may want to find other members of the class who researched similar topics and combine your presentations. Your presentation should include at least one audio/visual aid and one class participation segment and should be 5-7 minutes in length. See the presentation guideline sheet for more details.