• PRINT
• Select an artifact that depicts a hero and analyze the heroic qualities and transformation journey of that story. Then compare and contrast the hero story to a person you consider a hero in your own life.
Introduction
Other people’s ideas are often better than your own. Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you, spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life.
– Amy Poehler, actress, comedian, and writer
Much of Amy Poehler’s work, including her time on Saturday Night Live and Parks and Recreation, involved her closely collaborating with a team. Just like Amy, working with others who have different perspectives and talents can not only help you successfully meet your goals, it can also inspire you (and others) to work in new ways.
In this assessment, you will continue to strengthen your relationship-building skills as you explore how artists work together to change people’s perspectives and how you can use those same strategies to inspire change in your personal and professional life. Exploring these strategies will also help you hone your self- and social-awareness skills. That’s because, to work with teams effectively, you need to consider how others are feeling and how you can encourage them to do their best work. When your team members are doing their best, you’ll find that you do your best, too.
Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.
– Michael Jordan, professional basketball player
“It’s easier if I just do it myself.” That thought has probably crossed your mind at some point in your life or career. It might happen when you’re working alone on a challenging task, you feel like explaining your process or asking for help will only make more work for you. In some situations, it may truly be easier to go at it alone. But more often, there is a tremendous benefit to working with others, especially when those people have different perspectives than your
During this assessment, you will also strengthen your relationship-building skills by exploring how artists collaborate with others to grow their abilities and how you can also work constructively with other people to achieve great things in your personal and professional life. As you collaborate with friends, peers, and colleagues, you will continue to strengthen your self- and social-awareness skills by learning to grow from feedback.
References
BrainyQuote. (n.d.). Michael Jordan quotes. https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/michael_jordan_167383
Goodreads. (n.d.). Amy Poehler quotes. https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/1227166-as-you-navigate-through-the-rest-of-your-life-be
Overview
As you navigate environments in your personal and professional life, you will engage with people and artifacts from different cultures. In these interactions, you will naturally compare the similarities and differences of other cultures to your own and to other cultures you have been exposed to. This analysis will help you make meaning of information and be more effective in your interactions at work, home, and school.
In this assessment, you will analyze the differences and similarities between the two cultures using the cultural artifacts you have selected. You will then relate your analysis to explain certain aspects of that culture.
Preparation
You will choose one topic from the options listed below to conduct your comparative culture analysis. After you select your topic, you will then select two artifacts related to your topic to use as the subjects of your analysis. You will also support your analysis with relevant course readings and resources.
• Topic Option 1: Cultural Views on Making Decisions. Analyze the cultural artifacts you examined in Chapter 4 of Exploring Cultures. Make sure you identify the cultural artifacts selected for this analysis. Your analysis of the artifacts should inform us of how you perceive the cultures from these aspects:
o Making decisions and/or resolving conflicts: Discuss two similarities and two differences in approaches used by these cultures.
o Cultural values and beliefs: Explain what your analysis suggests to you about the cultural values and beliefs of each culture and how they approach decision-making and/or problem-solving.
• Topic Option 2: Cultural Views on Customs and Traditions. Analyze the cultural artifacts you examined in Chapter 5 of Exploring Cultures. Make sure you identify the cultural artifacts selected for this analysis. Your analysis of the artifacts should inform us of how you perceive the cultures from these aspects:
o Customs and traditions: Discuss two similarities and two differences around the customs and traditions of these cultures.
o Cultural values and beliefs: Explain what your analysis suggests to you about the cultural values and beliefs of each culture related to customs and traditions.