ETHN 110: Sikh Identity and Cultural Practices

ETHN 110: ESSAY QUESTION (40 points) (500 words min., typed, single-spaced)

Please answer ALL these short essays for the essay part of your exam.

ESSAY: Analyzing Asian American identity and cultural practices.


PART 1 (20 points). Sikhs in America

In Marissa Aroy and Niall McKay's PBS/KVIE documentary Sikhs in America, Sikh Americans discuss their identity and cultural practices that they KEEP and some that they no longer practice.

Explain why some Sikh Americans decide to wear their hair long, wear a turban, and date and marry within their culture and why some do not. Explain what are the advantages and disadvantages of maintaining certain cultural practices. *As supporting evidence, provide at least 4 (four) short quotes from the video and explain what the quotes mean.

PART 2 (20 points). Asian American identity and cultural practices in America

Finally, given what we have learned about on Sikh American cultural practices and identity from Aroy and McKay's documentary, if you were Asian, what cultural practices would you keep and which would you not keep. If you are not Asian, what cultural practices from your culture and family are you going to keep and which that you will not? Explain why you would maintain or not maintain those cultural practices. 

FORMAT
*For the entire essay, 500 words minimum, but NOT longer than 800 words.

TYPED and SINGLE-SPACED. Write in complete and coherent sentences—I do not want to see bullet points or “notes.”

Indicate which section in your essay is PART 1 and PART 2. Do a word count on your word processor and write the number of words in your essay.

Professor will collect the essays in the beginning of class.

Do NOT put your NAME in the front page—put name in the BACK of the last page so I cannot see your name unless I turn the page over.

DUE: At the assigned date given by the professor.

 

Good luck with the essay.

Dr. Sobredo