Critical Intercultural Reflection Report

The assignment is a critical incident report that requires students to reflect on an intercultural experience that has been significant for them. The report should include a narrative of the experience, analysis of the context, engagement with learning resources, and a conclusion. Students are expected to demonstrate cultural reflexivity, analyze key dynamics at play, and draw on academic writing, culturally significant artefacts, news media, and modern electronic media to deepen their understanding of the incident. The report will be assessed based on criteria such as dynamics, integration of theory, engagement with learning resources, procedure, argument, written expression, and referencing.

Progressive cultural reflection report
In a critical incident report you are required to describe, analyse, evaluate, and reflect on an
intercultural experience that has been particularly significant for you. It will help you grow in the
skill of cultural reflexivity. Selection of the particular intercultural experience to be analyzed is
very important – it should be specific, current, personal and important. It is not the magnitude of
the event but the magnitude of the effect that it has had on you and the potential it has to shape
you which determines whether an event or incident is ‘critical’ for you. Normally, the event or
incident you select for this paper will be either a ‘high point’ or a ‘low point’ in your life and/or
work experience (something involving your interaction with another/others). It will be significant
enough to stimulate reflection, and substantive enough to connect theory with the experience.
Examples of intercultural experiences you could choose:
 A guest speaker in class who’s story significantly impacted you
 A shared traditional meal with a person from a different culture
 A visit to a cultural site
 A developing cross cultural relationship with a college or client
Follow this format to prepare your CIR:
1. Narrate the experience (~250 words): Describe the event or incident and its setting. Note who
was involved and the sorts of communications between those involved. Describe the emotions that
you sensed in others and those that you felt yourself. Be succinct, including only what is necessary,
but at the same time, invite the readers into the story. Stick to who? what? when? where?
Questions; avoid the why? at this stage.
2. Analyse the context (~200 words): Think deeper about what happened, analysing key
subterraneous dynamics at play. Consider interaction between cultures and the Australian social
contexts might have been influential in how you perceived the experience (think about class, age,
gender and sexuality issues, cultural forces, background information, etc)
3. Engage with learning resources (~350 words): Draw on the range of academic writing (journals
and books), culturally significant artefacts, news media, and modern electronic media used
throughout this course to deepen your analysis of incident. Describe what have you learnt that
would guide culturally intelligent human service provision.
4. Conclusion (~200 words): Summaries the main points in your report. Offer a strong, thoughtful
and respectful concluding statement that encapsulates your learning from this experience.

Criteria Very Good Good Acceptable Unsatisfactory Poor
Dynamics: The report is
convincing in terms of its
significance to the
presenter, honesty, humility
and respect of culture.
Demonstrates a cultural
reflexivity and insight
Described & integrated
theory accurately and with
sophistication
Demonstrates a strong
understanding of a cultural
difference.
Described &
integrated relevant theory
to support argument
Reflects on cultural
difference and its impacts.
Described relevant theory
(minor mistakes) with
reference to the topic
Some understanding of
cultural difference
reflected.
Theory described with
mistakes and little
reference to the topic
No discernible cultural
reflection
Irrelevant/absent/
inaccurately use of theory
Engaged with a variety of
resources including:
academic writing (journals,
books, etc), culturally
significant artefacts, news
media, and modern
electronic media.
Described and interpreted
resources with
sophistication.
Integrated in the
discussion.
>8 diverse & culturally
relevant sources
Accurately described and
interpreted resources.
Used to support
Statements
>5 relevant sources
Described resources with
minor mistakes
Discussed with reference
to the topic
>3 relevant sources
Described resources with
major mistakes
Discussed with little
reference to the topic
<2 relevant sources
Irrelevant or
limited sources
Inaccurately
described/interpreted
0 relevant sources
Procedure: The student has
closely followed the
proscribed outline, including
the word allowances
Sustained & sophisticated
argument
Logical progression of ideas
Sustained & strong
argument
Logical progression of ideas
Identifiable argument
Relationships between
usually ideas evident
In consistent argument
Little relationship between
ideas
No argument
No clear relationship
between ideas
Written Expression Fluent, engaging &
appropriate writing style
Fluent & appropriate
writing style
Conforms to Standard
English
Expression often
unclear/inappropriate
Needs significant work
Referencing Sources always acknowledged
Style appropriate and correct
Sources always
acknowledged
Style appropriate with
minimal, minor errors
Sources often
Unacknowledged
Style inappropriate
No attempt