Details

Assessment Item: Research Assignment – Essay on Cultural Differences

Length: 1,400 words (excluding reference list) plus or minus 10% as per standard university policy.

Essay Topic:
Select a European country and an Asian country and using the academic literature examine the impact of cultural differences on the negotiation process. Outline the cultural characteristics of each country and then provide a comparative analysis of how these cultural characteristics impact upon how they negotiate. Provide relevant examples from the academic literature and/or the contemporary world.

Format:
The assignment must be in essay format (not report format) using complete sentences and paragraphs. Headings are acceptable and encouraged. You may include tables and diagrams if you wish. This is an individual assessment submission NOT a group submission.

Structure:
Introduction: a succinct outline of the aims, purpose and structure of the paper and short summary of conclusions reached. An introduction in papers of this length is usually only one or two paragraphs. Your introduction must include a brief discussion of what you will discuss in your essay.
Body of the paper: the analysis. The social sciences technique of analysing involves more than just describing what happened. In this course, it is used to explain why events occurred, and to suggest implications of the events. The purpose of conceptual literature generally in the social sciences is broadly twofold: to predict and/or explain. The analysis in this paper must use the negotiation conceptual literature to answer the question. It is useful to critically evaluate the literature according to your experiences of negotiation inside as well as outside the classroom – did your experiences differ from the analysis in the literature? If so how? Rely on your own observations, but ensure that you support them by referring to the academic literature.
Conclusion: Some concluding statements which summarise your overall evaluation. It should be a paragraph which restates your argument and sums up your principal conclusions in the paper. The conclusion should not introduce any new material or quotes.

Referencing
The in-text citations and reference list for your essay should be consistent. You should use a minimum of 25 academic sources. Below in this document is an explanation as to different types of sources. It will help you understand what is and what is not considered an academic source. Please speak to your tutor or the convenor if you are still unsure. Students may use some non-academic sources in the essay if they choose, but should still include a minimum of 10 academic sources for the essay to be acceptable. Students should attempt to go beyond the text and materials provided on the Learning@Griffith Course Website, such as lecture notes.
Please note that references to Wikipedia or other non-academic sources are not acceptable for analysis. Non-academic online references may only be used to illustrate examples or comparisons, and must include the URL and details in accordance with the guidelines.
Students may choose either of the Harvard or APA referencing style. Information on both the Harvard and APA style of referencing is available on the Learning@Griffith Course Website under the link to the GBS resource bank.