1. Natadecha-Sponsel, who is originally from Thailand, has lived in the United States for more than thirty years. What does she notice about America that people who have always lived in America might not notice? How does she get her readers to look more closely at American culture? (See “Understanding your audience”, and Chapter 33, “Inclusive and Culturally Sensitive Style”.)

2. How does the author set up her comparison of the United States and other cultures? Does she have an opinion about which culture is better? Is her purpose to help us choose which culture is best? (See “Compare and contrast”.)

3. Consider what this essay has to offer both an American reader and a non-American reader. How does Natadecha-Sponsel speak to both audiences?

4. How does Natadecha-Sponsel define the term individualism? Consider how she provides examples that illustrate what individualism means in America. How does each example help the reader understand what American individualism looks like to her? How does she connect these examples? (See Chapter 29, “Transitions”.)

5. WRITING: Create a “beginner’s guide” to culture at your college or university. What would a new student (perhaps a foreign student) have to know to understand the cultural values at your school? Try to write about major cultural values — the big things that students believe in or assume to be inherently true — rather than cultural practices (like partying or studying). Which values would a new student find strange? Why?

6. COMPOSE VISUALLY: Look at your college’s Web site and identify the key cultural values conveyed by the home page and other relevant sections. Do you feel comfortable with the site’s portrayal of your school, its students, and their values? Create a sketch proposing a redesign of the Web site that reflects campus values as you understand them.