Description
Essay 4: Cross-Cultural Research Paper
A research paper will combine the information of others in order to form your own argument about a topic. In a good research paper, you will need to use varied credible sources. A cross-cultural research paper looks at a topic through multiple cultures. Therefore, for this assignment, you will need to examine your topic across cultural boundaries and summarize the research or ideas of others in order to draw your own conclusions and arguments.
You will compose a 6-8 page, MLA formatted research essay that examines one monster in various cultures. The monster may have different names in different cultures, but it should be recognizable as the same creature (e.g. the ningyo inJapanese culture, Mama Dlo in Caribbean culture, and mermaid in European culture). You will need to examine three cultures (both Western and Non-Western cultures) and focus on their shared monsters. Please be sure to view the accompanying power point lecture on what is considered “western” and “non-western” for this paper found in Unit 4 Resources module.
Be careful to present an argument about your choice rather than simply a description of it. This should move beyond a simple compare/contrast essay. You will have to research one monster form in various cultures in order to draw a larger conclusion about the cultures, humanity, or monsters.
Some possible questions to consider as you formulate your argument:
Why does this particular monster appear in such different cultures?
What does this monster tell me about its culture?
What can I learn about humans in general based on their shared monster?
