“Body Ritual Among the Nacirema” by Horace Miner

Purpose: Practice analyzing and interpreting a text using critical thinking. Apply knowledge of
course terminology. Orient ourselves to the course learning objectives.

Task: Download this assignment as a Word doc. Complete the steps below. Then upload this
document with your responses to Bblearn in the Week 2 folder and have a copy for a group
debrief in class. This will count as In Class Discussion points.

1. Before reading the article, read the title. What do you already know about the
Nacirema? (Blooms level 1: Remembering/knowledge)
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2. Identify some products of the Nacirema. (Blooms level 1: Remembering/Knowledge)
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3. Describe some practices of the Nacirema. (Blooms level 1: Remembering/Knowledge)
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4. Compare and contrast these products and practices to your own life. (Blooms level 2:
Understand)
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5. Relate these practices and products to the possible perspectives (values and beliefs) of
the Nacirema? (Blooms levels 3 and 4: Apply and Analyze)
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6. Evaluate this article. What argument is the author attempting to make? What evidence
does the author use to support their argument? Why did they write this? (Blooms level
5: Evaluate)
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7. What were some of your biases and/or assumptions about the Nacirema? (Blooms
levels 3 and 4: Apply and Analyze)
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8. So what? What can we learn from this reading experience in terms of useful skills for
interpreting culture? (Blooms levels 3 and 4: Apply and Analyze)
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Criteria: Completion of this assignment will be worth 10 points and will count as In Class
Discourse.