Give a copy of Appendix D to a friend or family member and ask that person to complete
the table contained therein. In doing so, your chosen participant will consider what he or
she thinks are the common United States-centric viewpoints on Muslim and Arab
American and Christian American groups. Ask your participant to return their completed
appendix at least one day before this assignment is due.
• Complete a duplicate copy of Appendix D yourself, following the same directions as your
participant.
• Compare and contrast your participant’s answers with your own, and write a 350- to
500-word summary that answers all of the following questions:
o How are your table answers similar? How are they different?
o Do either tables list descriptors in the Both Groups category? Describe.
o From either or both tables, name one or two descriptor(s) that you think represent
true facts about each group and one or two descriptor(s) that you think are false.
o How do you think an average American’s perceptions of each group are created?United States-Centric Views Comparison
Consider this question: What are an average American’s perceptions about Muslim/Arab American and Christian American groups?
Copy each descriptor from the paragraph below and paste it into the table according to how you think an average American would categorize the descriptor. Would each descriptor best apply to Christian Americans only, Muslim and Arab Americans only, or to both groups? In organizing this information, you are conveying what you think most Americans perceive about these groups, so there are no “right” answers. In fact, your table categorizations may be markedly different from what you personally believe is true.
Descriptors
Good neighbors, family oriented, oppressive to women, not oppressive to women, women as homemakers, women who go to work, patriarchal society, modest dress, immodest dress, well educated, undereducated, religious content in education, secular content in education, devout, law abiding, conservative political values, moderate political values, governed by Biblical law, governed by the Qur’an, fanatically religious, religious values perpetuated in politics, religion part of government, male-dominated political environment, political environment open to both sexes, violent, peaceable, socially exclusionary, socially inclusive, socially oppressed, socially compliant, sexist, feminist, strict moral values, moderate moral values, flexible moral values
Table
Christian Americans Both Groups Muslim and Arab Americans
I have to in turn do this same table and make the comparison in a short essay. I just need someone to help me with the table and do one or two for my comparison. once I get that done and the essay i will come back and post the essay for you to view. Thanks
Since you posted your assignment on this public message board, I assume you want opinions from anyone who reads your post.
In MY opinion, this is a ridiculous assignment. All of those "Descriptors" can apply to individual Arab/Muslim Americans and to individual Christian Americans. To demand that students encourage friends to stereotype these two groups is not academically valuable nor does it seek to educate people.
From what school are you taking this class???
I wonder if the teacher has done any deep thinking this. Prejudice is rooted in these descriptors. It is an odd assignment.
You may want to focus this point on your essay: Any of these descriptors can describe anyone, it has nothing to do with being a Muslim or a Christian, or even a Satanist. A Satanist could be described with those, but what purpose would it satisfy? We suffer from shallow rooted prejudice, and reinforce it when we classify folks according to labels.
I assume this assignment was college level. If you get many of these, I would consider changing colleges. You are not going to get a well rounded education doing this, one can get a cheaper substitute, and more fun, at any red-neck tavern. (Unless you don't fit in because of your ethnicy...)
Yes, of course, we will critique your essay. Give it thought.
Axia online college, and I agree with you about this assignment. Anyone can do this chart if they wish. I just need something to compair my answers to for the essay part.
Well here's what I have so far. Let me know what I can add to it or if it needs any changes. Thanks
The Essay Part
In consideration to the question, what are an average American’s perceptions about Muslim/Arab American and Christian American Groups? ; I would have to say that they both have similar lifestyles, values and customs. In looking at the descriptors for this assignment and placing them in categories I found that for the most part they all fit in with both groups. The person I have asked to do this chart agrees with my decision and also added that this falls in stereotyping of the two groups. I feel like this goes against what I believe in, which is never judge a person or make comparison to without getting to know them first.
I know it's not enough wording in the essay part but that's what I have so far.
I never thought I'd say this -- but fake the answers. If you don't want to offer this survey to real friends and relatives, then make up the answers.
I'd be tempted, if I were you, to say that all of you agreed that most of the descriptors apply to both groups. The only difference is the two that say governed by the Bible laws or governed by Quran laws. I don't think either group is governed by religious laws, although a minority may be.
Great! :-) You have a wonderful start!
ok... Thanks. That is sorta what I did with the short essay I started. I am just not sure what else I can add to it to make the word count.
Some suggestions --
Your community is not "typical" of Americans. If you're in the rural South, you probably know more conservative Christians than if you are in an urban northern or eastern area. People in the Detroit, MI area have more contacts with Arab/Muslim Americans than most other people.
Your essay should answer these questions:
"• Compare and contrast your participant’s answers with your own, and write a 350- to
500-word summary that answers all of the following questions:
o How are your table answers similar? How are they different?
o Do either tables list descriptors in the Both Groups category? Describe.
o From either or both tables, name one or two descriptor(s) that you think represent
true facts about each group and one or two descriptor(s) that you think are false.
o How do you think an average American’s perceptions of each group are created?United States-Centric Views Comparison "
I'm sure you can add words to your essay as you answer the assigned questions.
Good luck!