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RESEARCH & ANALYSIS PAPER: MEETS GENERAL EDUCATION CRITERIA
ANTH201 (AN101) Introduction to Sociocultural Anthropology
Analyzing Research on a Cultural Group Assignment
Tara L. Tetrault, MA., MAA., AN201
In this assignment you will address the ANTH201 outcome to: use anthropological techniques to
identify, understand and interpret the social economic practices of a cultural group of your choice,
in a specific time and place (cultural context). This assignment will address four General Education
Competencies:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Technological
Critical Analysis and Reasoning
Effective Written Communication
Information Literacy
For this assignment you will write a 4-page essay, including a references page, about the culture
and its history or what it is like today.
Instructions
1. Read the field methods chapter in the Miller text book.
2. Identify, describe in full, a detailed account of 4 peer-reviewed articles on a cultural group and
its social and economic practices.
3. Critically evaluate Research Literature
This section of the assignment addresses the “technological,” “information literacy” and
“Critical Analysis and Reasoning” General Education Competencies.
a. Describe the portions of the article the author does well; identify what if any, topics that
were left out; does this match what the author’s goals were for the article; how did the
article enhance your understanding of the cultural group you selected?
b. Create a brief, one-two page power point slide noting the highlights of your cultural
group.
Find an example of culture and place you are interested in and use the First Search, Academic One
Search, JStore or the American Anthropological Association library on-line or the Society for
Historical Archaeology webpage to find peer-reviewed articles to complete your paper. Before
proceeding, discuss the appropriateness of this case study with your professor. YOU MUST SELECT
4 articles total from the search engines list above.
After your topic has been approved by your professor, begin your research in the area you have
chosen. Make sure to use your skills in evaluating sources and finding relevant articles. You will
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need to select at least two academic articles and two other sources for your essay. Tip: Use the MC
Libraries’ Academic Search Complete or Google Scholar.
3. Begin writing your essay.
This essay addresses the General Education Competency “Written Communication.”
Essay Guidelines
Your essay will have an introduction, a section on the multiple factors underlying a cultural
group. You must describe it within the environment in which they live. What do people do
there? Where do they work? What is gender like? Economics? Politics? Do they have any
enemies? Include a bibliography or references page. Anthropological concepts should be used
and clarified with definitions. Statements should be supported with data and details from
reliable sources. A suggested essay outline is as follows:
A. Introduction
Describe the people, culture and place (environment) that you have chosen. Address
where and when it has (or is) occurring, who is involved in it, and what are the general
issues involved in this place. This should be one paragraph.
B. Describe and explain the social – economic characteristics about the culture you read
about. What was significant? What was the context you read about (that is was it
religious, economic, did it have to do with gender? Use the information from your
literature search (at least four sources including three academic articles and two other
sources). This should be two paragraphs.
C. This section of the essay addresses the General Education Competency “Critical Analysis
and Reasoning”.
In your example, critically analyze how the selected culture interrelate; what are the
important things in this culture? How does its political and economic power run?
Then analyze how the people have changed in the place and time you read about. Last
assess the article itself: what were the article’s strengths (what did you learn),
weaknesses (what did it leave out); and finally, what direction would you go if you were
to write an article on this culture and place? This should be three paragraphs.
D. Conclusion
Restate the issues associated with the culture and place you read about. Here
synthesize your improved understanding of (all that you learned about) the people living
in the place you chose, and their social/economic context in present day society.
E. References. Please use the MLA format.
4. Presentation of Your Essay
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Please type your essay in 10 or 12-point font and double-spaced lines. Make sure you write
clearly about your ideas and use all the features of word processing software, such as spell
check, pagination, and format.
The style of the piece should be that of social science writing used in Anthropology.
If you need help, tutorials exist at the web page of the MC library on Plagiarism, MLA citations,
and doing Research. To see all of the online Library’s tutorials, visit the home page
at http://cms.montgomerycollege.edu/libraries/ and go to the link in the for Students box
If you need help with writing an essay go to the links in the writing center at MC
https://cms.montgomerycollege.edu/EDU/Department.aspx?id=24005
Or
http://weber.ucsd.edu/~jmoore/courses/Parish.html
Your essay will be graded on:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Clearly presenting your topic and issue
Thoroughness and accuracy in exploring your topic and issue
Thoughtfulness of your conclusion
And your interpretation
Creative images and miniature map noting the country or location of your cultural
group, in your power point page
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