Lessons CAA
The acclaimed international magazine The Daily Globe hosts an annual essay writing contest and this year’s topic is cultural appropriation. The aim is to discuss the complex issues concerning the adaption to or mimicry of customs or practices from various cultures. The Daily Globe has distributed a background material - short stories written by the best-selling author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and a selection of articles from international magazines - to be read by contestants before submitting their work.
After reading the short stories and articles, decide on ideas, claims, statements, examples or arguments that you wish to discuss in your essay. You are allowed to summarise these into 200 words which you may bring with you when writing the essay.
Learning goals
During Cultural Appreciation or Cultural Appropriation, you will:
Learn about postcolonial theory and advanced linking words
Read Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's novel The Thing Around Your Neck (2009)
Discuss cultural appropriation, adaptation and mimicking
Write a 400-800 word essay
Essay instructions
Title: Cultural appropriation or cultural appreciation?
Word count: 400-800
Time: 160 minutes
Style: Formal - ensure that you have checked what you have written with regard to appropriateness of language, content and structure
Essay checklist:
Describe cultural appropriation
You must refer to at least two of the texts in order to discuss and expand upon the material
Expand upon these examples by clarifying and motivating your personal opinions
Discuss and come to a conclusion
As inspiration, you may want to consider the following questions:
How is a person’s identity affected by adaptation, mimicry and cultural appropriation?
What cultural customs or practices are acceptable or unacceptable to mimic?
How far should one attempt to fit in when in new cultures without losing one’s original culture or identity?
In what ways can adapting or mimicking lead to cultural appropriation?