Body Ritual Among the Nacirema

Last updated about 8 years ago

6 questions

Note from the author:

This formative goes over ethnocentrism and uses "The Body Ritual Among the Nacirema" to teach it.

For this assignment, it is best to read the questions first and then the text.  This will help you answer the questions more readily at the end of your reading.  Do your best to answer the questions with textual evidence and support.  

STOP at this point.  There will be a brief class discussion before you will do this final piece.  Thank you.

Body Ritual Among the Nacirema

Last updated about 8 years ago

6 questions

Note from the author:

This formative goes over ethnocentrism and uses "The Body Ritual Among the Nacirema" to teach it.

For this assignment, it is best to read the questions first and then the text.  This will help you answer the questions more readily at the end of your reading.  Do your best to answer the questions with textual evidence and support.  

Look throughout the text and list what activities are deemed "rituals". Why are they given this title? What makes them "rituals"?

Look throughout the text and list what people are deemed "magical". Why were they given this title? What makes them "magical"?

Look through the entire piece and explain what is the most peculiar habit of the Nacirema. Explain with supporting evidence.

Why is this place called a "ceremony" and not a "ritual" or "magical"? What makes it different? Explain.

Are the Nacirema an advanced race? Why or why not? Explain with textual evidence.

STOP at this point.  There will be a brief class discussion before you will do this final piece.  Thank you.

In the space provided write a narrative where you do one of the following:
* Write about a ritual or ceremony that is part of your culture. Try to write it in the perspective of an outsider looking in with enthnocentric eyes.
* Write a story where the main character cannot remember how to do basic tasks that we do every day and how he/she reacts to them.

Be sure your narrative has a beginning, middle, and end. Also, your story must have at least six lines of dialogue punctuated correctly. Do your best.