Nacirema Discussion PDF

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Dr. Gonzalez. Discussion #2....

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NACIREMA DISCUSSION PREPARATION GUIDE Name _______Jessie Hays___________________________

Date ________1/21/2018________

1. Note words that are unfamiliar or seem to be used in a special manner to create a particular impression. Define the word. (1 pts) a. Wattle and daub construction- wattles (stakes) are driven in for support and different materials are weaved in between them for a structure. Daubing is filling the holes with clay or mud (wattle and duab, n.d.). Wattle and duab. (n.d.) In Encyclopedia Britannica dictionary. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/technology/wattle-and-daub b. Font- basin for liquid or holy water (font, n.d.). Font. (n.d.) In Merriam-Webster dictionary. Retrieved from https://www.merriamwebster.com/dictionary/font c. Neophyte- novice, beginner (neophyte, n.d.). Neophyte. (n.d.) In Merriam-Webster dictionary. Retrieved from https://www.merriamwebster.com/dictionary/neophyte d. Ablution- washing the body in religious rite (ablution, n.d.). Ablution. (n.d.) In Merriam-Webster dictionary. Retrieved from https://www.merriamwebster.com/dictionary/ablution

2. What particulars seem especially significant or puzzling to you? Prepare questions about these items to ask in discussion. “How...” “Why...” questions are especially good. The particulars may include: a statement, the setting, a name, the title, the situation, a conflict, an irony, or anything of interest. (1 pts) a. “real or imagined maladies” Why do they think they’re imagined? Can they not see anything wrong or is it mental? b. Why do they (the reaerchers) assume there are demons being exorcised out of the mouth? Is this a part of their culture or did the natives tell them this? c. Do the researchers expect the “custodians” to do the “ceremonies” without pay? The comment about not letting them leave without more “gifts” leads to believe so. d. How do mothers put a “curse on children while teaching them secret body rituals”?

3. Summarize in one complete sentence the thesis of this work. (1 pt) The more advanced populations place burdens upon themselves which are unnecessary for survival.

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4. What is your personal reaction to the material you read? Be specific and concrete. (1 pt) It took until the middle of the second page for me to realize that this piece was talking about Americans. Once I realized the actions that the author was speaking of, I could draw a mental image of what he was describing. The way he described the dentist was oddly accurate. That seemed to be a major focus of the piece. He also described the hospital or “temple” with accuracy. Overall, the piece seemed to portray an outsiders’ view of the culture practices accurately.

5. What did you learn from the article? Be specific and concrete. (2 pt) I learned that other cultures view our everyday practices as strange. I do not think anything about brushing my teeth every day. Other places do not have nearly as many hospitals as we do. There may be one main hospital with a local doctor. In America there are many hospitals with very few doctors making house calls. Magic is seen as the only way to treat illness or demons. The outside culture does not see medicine in the same way.

6. What is your opinion of this selection? Give a reason for your opinion. (2 pts) It is helpful to see other cultures’ views on our own. While we view their practices as strange and barbaric, they also view ours as strange and sometimes filled with magic. The way we include or do not include people into our daily lives is seen as reclusive and odd to other cultures that do everything as a group. I enjoyed viewing our culture as an outsider to see what every day activities are not seen as necessary or fundamental to a healthy society.

TO THE STUDENT 1. Before class you will have submitted your discussion preparation guide in the eLC dropbox. On the day of the discussion you should come to class with your guide filled out (on paper or electronically available to you). You will be seated with your group. Completed and submitted discussion guides are worth 8 points. You earn an additional 8 points with the group form that you hand in at the end of class. 2. One of you will volunteer to serve as discussion leader/recorder for this specific material. You cannot volunteer if your discussion guide is not completely filled out prior to class. The discussion leader does not “play” teacher but acts as a moderator to budget the time allotted for the discussion and to move discussion along. The discussion leader will record the group discussion responses and submit it in class. Those of you that volunteer to serve as discussion leaders earn extra group work points. It is best that everybody gets the opportunity to be a discussion leader throughout the semester. 3. Once the discussion begins, Dr. González will remain silent (as best as possible) and will sit away from your groups. You are entrusted with the responsibility of discussing the selection. The leader follows the group discussion guide posted on the big screen and calls on those wishing to speak. You will want to make positive contributions to each discussion. The leader’s responsibilities include initiating discussion, giving information, asking for information, raising questions, answering questions, giving a restatement of another’s contribution, asking for clarification, giving examples, encouraging others, or relieving group tension. You need to address your questions and remarks to the group as a whole, not to

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the leader. The leader may call on any member of the group to offer a question or opinion, even if they have not raised their hand. The leader should not ask questions and offer opinions but rather concentrate on drawing out contributions from the rest of the group, making sure that each item is adequately considered before moving to a new question. The group should aim for a dynamic discussion with plenty of interaction among the participants to help accomplish the primary objective of the group which is to illuminate the selection. 4. Unsupported opinions (e.g. as “I didn’t like it”) do not gain points since they do not serve to illuminate the selection. You may also lose individual points for counter-productive behavior such as trying to dominate the discussion, being too quiet, or mocking another group member. 5. If you miss a discussion period, your group will determine your required make-up work, by conferring with and seeking approval from your assigned TA. 6. Once turned in, the grades on the guide and group form are final. The instructor and/or TA records points gained in this way: 8 (filled in discussion guide appropriately) + 8 (group points) = 16 (for a perfect score).

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