Embracing Difference Interview Assignment

Overview of Basic Requirements:

• 5-6 pages, double spaced, 12-point Times New Roman, 1 inch margins
• APA style (special attention to title page, headings, pagination, references, etc.)
• Minimum of 8 scholarly sources
• Due November 29^th  uploaded to Canvas by 11.59pm
• Points: 150  

Assignment Overview:

Communication students, and those specifically engaged in journalism, are often required to identify a variety of participants for projects. For this project, you will need to identify someone who has experienced any sort of difference. So how do we identify someone who is different? For example, in China, although the term “foreigner” is a collective term for those who are not Chinese, the experience of foreigners varies. A foreigner from Canada may have a different experience from a foreigner from Nigeria for example. A person who is multiracial may also have an experience that is different. However difference is not limited to nationality or race, but also comes in other forms, such as one’s social class, sexuality, religion, age, physical or mental capabilities among other aspects. If you took my 4265 Gender and Comm course, you are not allowed to use gender or sexuality as the basis for difference in this class. Identify someone, who feels comfortable to engage in an interview about their difference. Their true name does not need to be revealed for purposes of privacy. Please refrain from interviewing friends who have gone overseas to study. Please also try to refrain from interviewing other close friends and relatives. The purpose of the exercise is to challenge yourself to identify and engage with someone who you consider to be “different” from yourself, one whose lived experiences are not the same as yours in any way. If you attended the Gender 4265 class, please do not engage the same person, or any of the others who had participated in that project. Please find someone else. This activity also seeks to boost your confidence when engaging with others you are unfamiliar with while also honing your interview skills.

This project is solely for class purposes and the content from these interviews MUST not be used for any other reasons. Please explicitly state that their participation is completely voluntary and that any information shared is solely for class purposes.  Many times difference is difficult to discuss for a variety of reasons.

We are often faced with confronting our own stereotypes and “Thinking Under the Influence” of dominant beliefs” (Allen, 65). As students of communication, we will be exposed to readings and films that discuss difference, but engaging with someone who has experienced or continues to live with difference is ultimately an eye opening experience. Upon completion of the interview, you will need to hand in your notes and your recording. Please also submit a list of the final interview questions that you used for the interview. If necessary, you can conduct the interview in Chinese, depending on who the person is. Based on your findings, you will need to select three themes that were raised in the interview to reflect on further. I am noticing that many people are relying on translation devices, AI and other online tools to write their papers. Doing so now, will only make you a weaker student in graduate school. So try to hone and practice your writing skills now as opposed to later. You may think I don’t know when you copy excessively or use these devices, but using words you cannot pronounce or do not know the meaning of is a clear indicator that you either used translation devices, you are plagiarizing or that someone else did your work for you. As UCD students you can take advantage of the writing center both in Denver and at ICB. Use the tools at your disposal.

The purpose of this paper is to utilize communication through the interview process, to identify learn and to embrace difference (LOC#8). In doing so, you will critically analyze this interview and the issues/ themes/aspects chosen (LOC#5) while employing communication theories, principles and concepts (LOC#2). Your analysis may also result in you posing additional societal questions which further illustrates your ability to engage in communication inquiry (LOC#3). You will need to make reference to the text and to conduct additional research from six external academic sources.

In addition to these themes and your analysis, I would like you to write a brief personal reflection, where you share your own personal thoughts on this interview process. What did you learn from this experience? Did this encourage you to reflect on other aspects of your life? Was there anything else interesting from the interview that you did not get a chance to analyze/incorporate as a part of your paper? After your personal reflection, you may pose your questions. Your personal reflection and questions should be a part of your conclusion. As you wrap up and conclude your paper, you should summarize your main points once more and then end with the questions that you are posing. These questions should be thought provoking and could potentially serve as an area for future research.

 Your interview & reflection paper are to be done individually.

Prior to arranging a time for the interview, please ensure that you explain the purpose of the assignment to the interviewee. Explain that the interview is completely confidential and it does not require their real name, or photo. However, ask for their consent to do an audio recording for note-taking purposes that you will use to complete your assignment. I will also ask you to submit a link to your audio-recording of your interview for verification purposes, to ensure that you actually completed the interview as opposed to fabricating the experience. You can use baidu net disk or wetransfer or a program like that.

Please ensure that you get the interviewee’s willful permission to conduct the interview. If the person is reluctant to participate in the interview, please do not coerce them to do so. Identify another more willing candidate.

Once you have identified the person, please ask them if they would be willing to have the interview recorded (audio only). Please assure them that the recording is strictly for a class assignment and will not be used for any other purposes. Once they have accepted, please ask them to verbally confirm their acceptance on the recording before you proceed with the questions. It does not matter what language the interview is conducted in, I will have translation assistance to ensure that the clip submitted is authentically an interview.

Here is a list of potential questions that you may consider. The following is just a sample. Please note that the questions that are relevant to the aspect of difference that you choose to explore will differ.

1. You may ask any combination of the following questions and note your interviewee’s responses:

1. Can you tell me about yourself? Where you are from?
   1. Can you briefly tell me about your childhood?
   1. What was your relationship like with your parents?
   1. When did you decide that you wanted to study/work in your current field?
   1. What has the experience been like?
   1. Are you satisfied/ dissatisfied with this choice?
   1. Are you married? How would you describe your current home life?

Feel free to add any questions that may be relevant to you getting to know the person a bit more. The next segment of the interview, involves the aspect of “difference” that you intend to ask more about. Please remember that sharing one’s personal history can be difficult for some people. Try to probe gently but respectfully. The following is an example based on the interviewee being a foreigner. Your interviewee DOES NOT have to be a foreigner, but the person engaged for this interview must consider themselves “different” from the “mainstream” population in some way. This difference may be based on social class, gender, ability, sexuality, race, religious beliefs, identity or any other perceived difference. You are not allowed to interview members of your immediate family as the purpose of the assignment is also geared towards you genuinely learning about someone else’s experience, someone who you are unfamiliar with. If you choose to interview a foreigner, you cannot approach ICB lecturers. You are welcome to interview someone who is Chinese and to conduct the interview in Chinese.

The following questions can be of assistance if you choose to interview a foreigner:

1. When and why did you decide to come to China?
2. What has the experience been like?
3. Being a foreigner, do you think locals interact with you differently?
4. What are some of the challenges of being a foreigner in China?
5. Have you ever been so frustrated with a situation that you thought of returning home? Can you describe the situation and how you felt?
6. Do you think you have been treated differently based on your race? Can you give an example?
7. Do you have any other foreign friends who are not the same race as you? Have you heard of them being treated differently in any way?
8. Has your experience changed after Covid-19? Please explain
9. Is there any other information related to your treatment in China as a foreigner that you would like to share?

Have your interviewees explain their answers and feel free to probe for themes and patterns. We ask that you look for and share interesting and unique insight into perceptions about what your interviewee thinks and communicates to you during the interview discussion. Please feel free to adjust these questions and to think of additional questions that are better suited to the three (3) issues/themes/aspects you are exploring.

Once you have completed the interview you will need to identify three (3) themes/issues/aspects that you wish to explore in your paper. Please remember to connect these to course concepts and to your external research.

Submission Requirements:

• 5-6 page paper in APA format
• A final list of interview questions used
• A copy of notes taken during the interview
• A link to the interview

Evaluation Rubric

I. Content (140 points)

Evaluation of this area is based on the following:

Appropriate issues/themes/aspects that were clearly identified and shaped in a well-articulated thesis statement that illustrates what areas of these three issues/themes/aspects you are exploring. The introduction elaborates sufficiently on these three areas before further development in the body of the paper	15
Each issue/theme/aspect is thoroughly explained with relevant and sufficient examples from the interview, while providing some of your own insight/interpretation of these examples.	50
Analysis utilizes course material by including connections to concepts highlighted in the text & at least 8 external academic sources. This illustrates understanding of course concepts. Concepts & external sources are used effectively to demonstrate and to link key ideas	50
Personal Reflection: Include a brief personal reflection, where you share your own personal thoughts on this interview process. What did you learn from this experience? Did this encourage you to reflect on other aspects of your life? Was there anything else interesting from the interview that you did not get a chance to analyze/incorporate as a part of your paper? Is there anything else you would like to share or for me to know about what you experienced as you conducted this assignment?	10
As you wrap up and conclude your paper, summarize the main points discussed previously and then identify multiple questions that were related to the issues/themes/aspects that were left unanswered. Perhaps an issue came up that the person was unwilling to discuss, you could pose these questions and perhaps try to identify why in your opinion these areas may have been difficult to talk about. The conclusion should be well written.	15
Total: 140

II. Composition, Organization & Addressed all Components of the Assignment (5 points)

Evaluation of this area is based on the following:

Thesis stated in first two paragraphs, then expanded and supported throughout.	1
Solid organization including a succinct preview, signposts, and clear, effective, and polished beginning, body, and end.	1
Well-thought-out and clearly presented arguments backed by sound reasoning, relevant examples, quotations, and evidence.	1
Accurate use of references, quotes, paraphrases to back up statements, concepts, arguments, and conclusions.	1
Addresses all aspects of assignment thoroughly, accurately, and clearly connects them to each other and the rest of the text.   Submitted the paper (that includes the themes, analysis, personal reflection & questions posed) notes, recording and a list of the questions used.	1
TOTAL	5
Comments:

III. Mechanics (5 points possible)

Issues with paragraphing.	1
Issues with tense-use or consistency.	1
Issues with correct use of articles (the, a/an)	1
Issues with singular/plural construction.	1
Issues with formatting and/or citations.	1
TOTAL	5
Comments:

Total (150 Points Possible)

General Comments:

LET US BRAINSTORM QUESTIONS!

Religion (Christian/Buddhist/ Muslim (Islam etc.)

1. Special food culture & reasons behind this? Religious/Social/Cultural significance
2. How did you learn about this religion, was it a part of your childhood? Are you able to practice in China? Are there regular gatherings? If so, where?
3. Have you ever encountered any obstacles in terms of your religion? Both in China or abroad? Have y
4. Do you have a memorable experience with people from another religion, whether positive or negative? Describe what this experience was and how it made you feel.
5. Asking for an explanation of key core beliefs and how these beliefs guides the person in their lives
6. Have you ever been treated negatively because of your beliefs? Explain the situation and how you felt.
7. Does this religion require you to do anything or follow any rules？If yes, what are they?

Social Class

1. Ask about their childhood, their parents. What jobs did their parents have? Their grandparents etc.
2. What were your childhood dreams? What did you want to become when you grew up?
3. How old were you when you first went to school?
4. What is highest level of education?
5. Are you married and how did you meet your current partner?
6. What was your first job and why did you have to do it?
7. How often do you shop for basic necessities and approx. how much do you spend on food, utilities, rent etc. per month.
8. How do commute to work? How far do you live from work?
9. Do you have any side jobs in addition to your main job?

Different Ability (physical) mental, neurological (autism)

1. What age were you when you first discovered this different ability? Were you born with this?
2. Did this affect your childhood? If so, how did this affect your childhood?
3. Have you experienced any unfair treatment as a child or an adult? If so by whom?
4. Have you ever felt discriminated against in any other social settings?
5. How have you been able to overcome this “different ability” ?  Have you had any support or where do you go for support?
6. Are there any governmental facilities that you use that have beneficial? Or do you think more could be done? If so what would you like to see done?
7. Has your educational experience been different in any way?

Sexual Orientation

1. When did you first realize that your sexual orientation was different from what society perceives as the norm?
2. What event/occurrence/ made you realize this? And when, where and how did this happen?
3. Have you come out to your parents, friends, employer? Etc.
4. Does sexual orientation impact who you become friends with?
5. Have you struggled with your identity in any way? If so, how did you overcome this or have you overcome this?
6. Is there anything/experience/role model etc. in your childhood that may have impacted your gender identity & your sexual identity? Are you open about these aspects of your life with your parents? Were they supportive or did they encourage you to change in any way
7. Do you feel comfortable sharing with others your sexual orientation? Or do you prefer keeping it to yourself?
8. Have you thought about your future plans? What would you do if your parents asked you to marry and have children?

Other areas of Difference

Ability (physical, mental health issues, neurological and developmental issues e.g. autism)  

Gender  identity

Age (but not close relatives like your grandparents or their friends)

Life experience (refugees)

Trauma (rape/any form of abuse whether physical or emotional)

NB. These are questions to get you started. You can think of your own questions. As you conduct the interview, think of how this person’s experience might be related or connected to any of our class content. Also consider your own thoughts and reactions to the person’s life etc. For example, are you “Thinking Under the Influence” in any way? If you are, what were you thinking about in relation to your interview? How has the interview either solidified or changed your previous thoughts?