The field of anthropology is experiencing a new vigor as the expertise of anthropologists is
recognized in the resolution of world problem.
Your task will be:
c to look at newspaper and scholarly journals from the first week of the course until the assignment due date and think about how anthropologists might contribute to our understanding of various current events.
c to choose three issues occurring in the news today and write a comparative essay suggesting how anthropological knowledge might be applied. (Can you find any actual references to anthropologists or their work in the sources they choose?)
c Acceptable current topics and issues for this paper are:
1. / What is Anthropology? / 9. / Process of Socialization2. / Human Culture / 10. / Ethnicity and Race
3. / Language and Culture / 11. / Political Organization
4. / Patterns of Subsistence / 12. / Social Control
5. / Economic Systems / 13. / Anthropology of Religion
6. / Social Organization / 14. / Medical Anthropology
7. / Kinship / 15. / Culture Change
8. / Sex and Marriage / 16. / Genetic Testing
This is a research paper, so the more sources you cite, the better. While Wikipedia can be a good starting point for an overview of the current issue of your choice, don’t quote Wikipedia unless you want an F. Always evaluate the source of information you find on the web to make sure you can defend the credibility of the source. STUDENTS FAILING TO CITE A PROPER SOURCE, BOTH IN THE BODY OF THE ESSAY AND IN THE WORKS CITED LIST, WILL LOSE ONE WHOLE LETTER GRADE. The Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue University, https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/, provides writing resources and instructional material that will provide valuable insight into proper citation formats for any citation style you choose to utilize.
A reminder on the practical matters: This is a major research paper for the course, and should be roughly 4-5 pages, typed, double-spaced, Times New Roman. Quality, clear, concise writing is preferred over fluffy filler. I prefer MLA style citations, but ask only that you pick a style and stick with it consistently.
c Provide an introduction in which you define Anthropology’s purpose and goals.
c Organize your essay in a structure that establishes a relationship between concepts.
c Provide a concise, clear explanation and definition of each current event based upon the topics provided above.
c Do NOT move on to the next current event issue until your analysis of each issue is complete
c You MUST explain, with specific details, how anthropological knowledge might be applied to each separate issue in order to solve the problems.
c Cite specific examples from various fields of anthropology in order to support your analysis.
c There is a grading scale provided below! Check it thoroughly to avoid mistakes. Reading it out loud is a useful practice.
c Mr. Bradley is available in room E–12 to review drafts of your essay with you at the following times: 7:30-800AM Monday-Friday, 2:05-2:35PM Monday-Friday, Lunch period everyday. Drop-ins are fine, but appointments are recommended.
c Newbury Park High School has a Writing Center. The Writing Center is open every day at lunch and 5th period with tutors available to assist you. You must bring the assignment directions with you for the tutors to examine.
CATEGORY / A / B / C / D
Content: FOCUS / Topic/subject is clear, though it may/may not be explicitly stated. / Topic/subject is generally clear though it may not be explicitly stated. / Topic/subject may be vague. / Topic/subject is unclear or confusing.
Content: ORGANIZATION / Organizational structure establishes relationship between/among ideas/events. / Organizational structure establishes relationships between ideas/events, although minor lapses may be present. / Organizational structure establishes some relationship between/among some of the ideas/events. The structure is minimally complete. / Organizational structure does not establish connection between/among ideas/events. The overall structure is incomplete or confusing.
Content: SUPPORT / Support information is related to and supportive of the topic/subject. / Support information has minor weaknesses in relatedness to and/or support of the topic/subject. / Support information has major weaknesses in relatedness to and/or support of the topic/subject. / An attempt has been made to add support information, but it was unrelated or confusing.
Content: STYLE - Sentence Fluency / Demonstrates skillful sentence fluency (varies length, good flow rhythm, and varied structure). / Demonstrates reasonable sentence fluency. / Demonstrates minimal sentence fluency. / Sentence fluency is lacking.
Content: ELABORATION / Elaboration consists of specific, developed details. / Elaboration consists of some specific details. / Elaboration consists of general and/or undeveloped details, which may be presented in a list-like fashion. / Elaboration is sparse; almost no details.