The Anthropological Perspective
Anthropology 1000Y
Term Paper Guidelines
This is a 2000-3000 argumentative, or academic, term paper on any topic that interests
you related to sociocultural anthropology. This means the essay, rather than simply
summarizing information, should have an argument, or a thesis, and attempt to persuade
the reader that the opinion is valid by using reasoning and evidence. It should show that
you can analyze and synthesize published material. The paper is due the last day of class.
See The course outline for due date.
Objectives
As with the other social sciences, anthropological research at the undergraduate level
involves a great deal of reading and writing. The primary purposes of this assignment are:
 To develop research skills by investigating a topic of interest in depth and
approaching its analysis anthropologically
 To develop analytical and critical thinking skills
 To develop writing and communication skills.
Format
 2000-3000 words (8-12 typed pages, double-spaced, 10-12-point font)
 Pages should be numbered and stapled
 Margins one inch on all sides
 The paper must have a separate cover page with your name and student number,
the course name and number, Instructor’s name and submission date, along with
the title (and subtitle) of the essay.
 The paper must have a separate Table of Contents listing
1. Headings (including introduction and conclusion)
2. Subheadings
3. Reference page
4. Appendix (if appropriate)
5. The corresponding page numbers for the above
 The paper must conform to the Anthropology Department’s guidelines (as above)
which generally follow the American Anthropological Association (AAA) style.
The AAA uses The Chicago Manual of Style (14th edition, 1993) and MerriamWebster’s Collegiate Dictionary (10th edition, 2000). A copy of the style guide is
posted on Blackboard but can also be found at:
http://www.aaanet.org/pubs/style_guide.pdf
 Marks will be deducted for failing to meet any of the above requirements
 The essay may be hand written or submitted electronically
 Marks will be deducted for failing to meet any of the above requirements
References
 A minimum of 3 (in addition to the textbook) and a maximum of 10, scholarly
references must be used.
 Note: Scholarly refers to articles in refereed periodicals, books, or websites.
“References “ refers to books and articles actually referred to in the essay. A
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“Bibliography”, on the other hand, is simply a list of books or articles that may or
may not have been used. It is the former that is required.
You must use the American Anthropological Association’s reference format for
this paper. (APA) Their style guide can be found at:
http://www.aaanet.org/pubs/style_guide.pdf
You may use the course text as a reference, but it does not count as one of the
three references.
About Thesis Statements
Since this is an argumentative paper it is necessary to formulate a thesis statement. Good
essays address one — and only one — precisely defined issue, main point, or question.
A thesis statement is an assertion in one sentence that explicitly identifies the purpose of
the paper or previews its main ideas.
It is not a statement of fact or an observation. For example: “Many Hindus have
abandoned their caste obligations” is a statement. “The forces of globalization are leading
many Hindus to abandon their caste obligations” is a thesis that can be argued.
A thesis statement also makes a stand or takes a position rather than announcing a
subject. For example, “The thesis of this paper is the decline of the Hindu caste system”
is an announcement. A thesis statement might be: “the decline of the Hindu caste system
has led to changes in peoples’ sense of identity”.
Thesis statements are also narrow and specific, rather than broad and vague. If it is two
broad or vague it cannot be properly supported. A broad statement would be: ‘There are
many reasons why the Hindu caste system is declining”. A narrow and specific thesis
might be” “The primary reason the Hindu caste system is in decline is because
advertising of consumer goods is showing people there is a better way of life”.
Everything in your paper should link to the main point you want to make. One way to
identify your thesis is to ask a question. Your general answer is your thesis. A good way
to identify your thesis is to explain in some detail to a friend or colleague what your
paper is about. Often articulating it verbally helps to identify it. Another way is to
complete the following sentence “In this essay I argue that….” It is perhaps best not use
this exact sentence in your paper since it should be in the third person, but you do need to
make the main point you are making very clear. A thesis statement also serves to orient
the reader by highlighting the major themes that will be discussed in the rest of the paper.
A paper that just restates facts and statistics does not have a thesis. A paper that simply
states that you feel this way or that way does not have a thesis. Your thesis or argument
should show some specific insight and not be self-evident. It should not consist of
something almost everyone knows. Saying something like “Many people all over the
world practice religion” or “Ritual is an important aspect of religion” is too broad, vague,
and self-evident.
Your thesis or argument should be expressed at the beginning of your paper in a powerful
first paragraph. This grabs the reader’s attention, makes it immediately clear what the
main point you wish to communicate is, and sets the tone for the rest of the paper. It is
not enough, however, to simply state your thesis. For example, if your thesis is: “The
forces of globalization are leading many Hindus to abandon their caste obligations”, you
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must also state (in your introduction) what those forces are, and why they are causing
Hindus to abandon their caste obligations. You can also state where you are getting the
evidence to support our claims, e.g. fieldwork in India.
As you do research and discover more information and generate new ideas your thesis
may have to be revised. Re-write your thesis after your first draft, i.e. after you have read
what you have written.
Examples and Evidence
Two weaknesses in academic essays are, first being too descriptive and not analytical
enough; the task is not to describe or summarize but to analyze. The second weakness is
failing to support assertions with evidence, examples, references, or logical argument.
Back up any claims you make with concrete examples or references. To test the validity
of your thesis, consider possible counter-evidence and objections to your thesis and
respond to them in advance. Imagine what an intelligent and informed person might say
to challenge your argument. Since every single sentence in your paper should be in
support of your thesis do not include irrelevant material that does not support your
argument or the main point of your paper. Failure to be analytical (i.e. entirely
descriptive) or failure to back up any assertions made, either by evidence or argument,
will result in a lower grade.
Your conclusion should summarize the results of your analysis (not what you did).
Basically it is a reiteration of your argument. You may also discuss any new
understandings or insights that you have arrived at from doing the essay and suggest
areas for future research. The concluding section is not a place to introduce new data.
Help
 Help on writing academic essays can be found at
http://www.uleth.ca/ics/writingcentre/writingresources.htm
 The U of T also has a good site on essay writing:
http://www.utoronto.ca/writing/essay.html
 Individual tutorial help is also available from The Writing Centre
http://www.uleth.ca/ics/writingcentre/ You can send email questions
 I will also provide feedback on drafts of essays, if submitted in electronic form at
least one week before the due date.
 Perhaps the best book on the market to improve your writing skills is the latest
edition of Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style. It is less than 100 pages and
sell for less than $15. The first edition, written in 1918, is available online at:
http://www.crockford.com/wrrrld/style.html
 PowerPoint slides on writing essays and finding materials in anthropology have
also been posted on the Web site.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism: “to steal and pass off the ideas or words of another as one’s own”
(Webster’s). Plagiarism will not be tolerated and will automatically result in a zero grade
for the submission. Any student caught plagiarizing may also be subject to additional
University sanctions. The University’s policies and procedures on academic offences can
be found at the following website: http://www.uleth.ca/reg/calendar/part04.pdf The
University of Lethbridge subscribes to a plagiarism detection service. Students may be
required to submit their written work in electronic form for plagiarism checking.
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Plagiarism can take several forms:
1. Failing to cite sources of quotations, ideas, and wording from another source
2. Submitting a paper that has been borrowed, purchased, or written by someone
else.
3. Submitting the same essay for more than one course without the permission of the
instructor(s) may also be considered plagiarism.
4. Extensive paraphrasing of one or a few sources
Topics
The essay may be on any topic that interests you. The trick is to make it anthropological
 Think in terms of identity. In a particular social group, how is a person’s cultural
identity formed? What role does religion, gender, cultural values, etc. have in
shaping a person's identity?
 Think in terms of symbolism and meaning. What meaning or value do the beliefs,
artefacts, or actions of a culture have for the people and how are they expressed?
 Think in terms of function and society. What role do particular beliefs or practices
play in society?
 Think holistically. How does the religion relate to other aspects such as
economics, gender, politics etc?
 Think comparatively. How do beliefs or practices and their values differ from
other societies (especially the west), and are there commonalities?
Below is a list of suggested topics. If you use the U of c library Anthropology books and
journals are found on the 6th floor of the McKimmie Library and begin with the call
letters GN.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Discuss indigenous rights in Canada.
How are we, as anthropologists, to make sense of terrorism and/or suicide bombings?
What is the value of anthropology for business?
What role does the family play in economic organization of one society compared to
another?.
5. How does language shape gender relationships.
6. How, as anthropologists are we to understand gay/lesbian marriages?
7. Using ethnographic examples discuss the cultural construction of either time or space.
8. Using ethnographic examples, compare and contrast Western and non-Western
concepts of health and illness.
9. Discuss, using ethnographic examples, the role of prestige in exchange relationships?
10. What can the study of the patterns of food preparation, distribution and consumption
tell us about the dynamics of social life?
11. In what ways is marriage economically important? Illustrate your answer with
ethnographic examples.
12. Discuss relativism and ethnocentrism with respect to anthropological methods
13. 'Witchcraft is irrational'. Discuss using ethnographic examples.
14. How does Islam in Nigeria affect family life?
15. How do Wicca marriages compare with Christian marriages?
16. What role does kinship play in Dinka economics?
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Due Date:
 Last day of classes
 No late papers will be accepted
Percent of Grade:
 See Course Outline
Evaluation
All term papers are marked out of 30 and then factored to arrive at the final mark. The
paper will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
 Spelling, punctuation, grammar, correct referencing, format guidelines followed
(5 marks)
 Introduction: is there a clear statement of the thesis or argument of the essay?
Does the author follow through with the promises made in the introduction? (5
marks)
 Conclusion: Does the conclusion neatly summarize the findings? (5 marks)
 Style: Does the report flow? Is it wordy or repetitious? Is the essay clear, concise
and to the point? Is the author familiar and comfortable with the subject? Is the
information presented relevant to the topic selected? For example, do the
illustrations or examples used actually illuminate the points stressed or are they
irrelevant? (5 marks)
 Structure of Argument: Is the argument well supported with references? Is the
information presented in a logical, orderly fashion that can be readily understood?
Does the essay provide new insight into the chosen subject matter via carefully
thought out consideration; is it a synthesis of ideas or does it appear as a simple
"re-hash" of source materials? Is it too descriptive? (10 marks)
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