This project addresses the concept of cultural universals. Cultures arose as people grouped together and communicated about how to adapt to the environment in order to survive. What were the best ways to build shelters? What were the optimal ways to protect a people from threats by other groups? What were the best ways to prepare food to prevent illness? This project demonstrates cultural universals (i.e., practices, activities, and/or beliefs) that face all societies if they are to survive. The assignments also demonstrate how cultural variation arises as particular groups/societies meet these needs in diverse ways.
Type of Material:
Assignment.
Recommended Uses:
This exercise would probably be best used as an out-of-class assignment done by individual students or by students working in small groups. Class discussion about student responses should generate strong student interest and engagement.
Technical Requirements:
Documents can be downloaded in WORD format.
Identify Major Learning Goals:
This assignment provides students the ability to understand the concept of cultural universals, and encourages students to apply the concept through using a comparative structural functionalist framework. The assignment developer lists these objectives at her site:
1. Identify, define, and provide examples of cultural universals.
2. Provide a sociological explanation of why a particular cultural universal exists.
3. Demonstrate how cultural universals are met in a variety of societies.
4. Begin to understand the concept of cultural relativism.
Target Student Population:
Exercise could be used productively in intro sociology class either at high school or college level.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
None.
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
While exploring the concept of culture, students address in some detail, questions related to cultural universals. This project demonstrates there are some cultural universals--practices, activities, and/or beliefs that all societies must meet in order to survive. However, it also demonstrates how cultural variation arises as groups/societies meet these needs. The exercise calls on students to think seriously about why certain institutions, activities, and beliefs are indeed universal, then asks them to identify how American culture meets these in comparison to another culture selected by the student.
Concerns:
None.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
The assignment requires students to think deeply about culture and cultural variation. It requires students to examine at least one other culture and compare how each meets a particular cultural universal, and thereby encourages students to understand that there are multiple solutions to meeting critical human needs. It encourages students to understand that cultural practices should be understood within the broader cultural context in which they are located, and should therefore bring students to greater cultural competency.
Concerns:
None.
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
The assignment provides clear and simple directions for students to follow.
Concerns:
None.
Creative Commons:
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