I am suppose to list some characteristics of Orientalism, but there is nothing in my reading that pertains to that. Can someone help me get started please?

This is an extremely broad term, referring to countries and cultures from Japan, China, Southeast Asia, and others in the far east of "the orient" to what we also refer to as the middle east (Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, and others). Each culture has its own characteristics, and each person in each culture does also. You may find something useful in the following sites, or you may not. If not, be sure to go to www.google.com and enter orientalism or oriental characteristics and see if you get anything of further use.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orientalism

http://www.english.emory.edu/Bahri/Orientalism.html

We must be taking the same class. I'm having trouble with this also.

I understand that you are struggling to find information on the characteristics of Orientalism. It can be challenging when the provided readings do not cover the topic extensively. However, there are several steps you can take to gather the information you need:

1. Start by revisiting the assigned readings and lecture notes. Even if they do not explicitly mention Orientalism, try to identify any related concepts or discussions that may provide some insights.

2. Utilize online resources such as Wikipedia and scholarly articles. While Wikipedia can be a helpful starting point, it is important to critically evaluate the information and cross-reference it with reliable sources.

3. Expand your search using Google or other search engines. Enter relevant keywords such as "Orientalism characteristics" or "defining Orientalism" to find more information. Make sure to consider different perspectives on the topic to gain a comprehensive understanding.

4. Utilize your academic library resources. Libraries often have databases with scholarly articles and books that can provide in-depth analyses of Orientalism and its characteristics.

5. Seek assistance from your professor or classmates. They may have additional resources or insights that can help you in your research.

Remember, the process of conducting research involves persistence and resourcefulness. By exploring various sources and consulting different perspectives, you will be able to gather the necessary information on the characteristics of Orientalism.