Cultural Anthropology
PLEASE READ EVERYTHING CAREFULLY. I HAVE ATTACHED THE FILES NEEDED TO HELP WITH THE ASSIGNMENT.
In the Final Research Paper, you will examine your own culture from an etic (outsider’s) perspective and another culture from an emic (insider’s) perspective to demonstrate your understanding of cultural relativism and examine misconceptions and ethnocentric beliefs concerning each of these cultures. Keep the distinction between cultural relativism and moral relativism in mind as you write your final paper. Even if you do not personally agree with a cultural practice, demonstrate your understanding of the practice in its cultural context. Avoid opinionated or judgmental language in your paper.
Cultural relativism is the idea that the beliefs and practices of a culture should be understood within the context of that particular culture’s background, history, and current events surrounding it. We should not ethnocentrically impose our own beliefs and opinions, which are products of our own enculturation.
Cultural relativism is not the same as moral relativism, however. As Crapo (2013) notes
We need not, for instance, come to value infanticide in order to understand the roles it may play in peoples’ lives in a society where it is customary. What cultural relativism requires of us is simply that we do not confuse our own feelings about such a custom with understanding it. To do the latter, we must investigate the meanings the custom has for those who practice it and the functions it may fulfill in their society. (section 1.4, “Cultural Differences: Cultural Relativism,” para. 3) See attached file labeled 1.4 textbook.
Your Final Research Paper will consist of two main parts, framed by an Introduction and a Conclusion. See the Final Paper Flow Chart for a quick overview of the assignment. See the following instructions for information on each part of the paper.
EducationßTHIS IS MY TOPIC
Introduction
Begin with an introductory paragraph that has a thesis statement at the end. The introduction should set up your topic, giving a preview and summary of the analysis you will present in the body of the paper. The thesis statement is the last sentence or two of the introduction and states what the main point structuring your paper will be.
Here is an Example of an Introduction.
Part I · This section should be two- to two-and-a-half pages long.
Using the article by Miner(1956) and the feedback you received from your instructor on your worksheet in Week Three, describe one aspect of your own culture from an etic perspective. See the appropriate Sections in the Textbook based on your chosen topic for information on how to approach your paper from an anthropological perspective. You can describe American culture in general, as Miner does, or you can describe an American subculture, such as a specific geographical group (e.g., New Yorkers), a particular ethnicity (e.g., African Americans), or an age-related category of Americans (e.g., millennials).
See attached file Body Ritual among the Nacirema for the article by Miner.
See attached file Chp3sec3.2Chp4sec4.6textbook for the appropriate Sections in the textbook based on the topic I have chosen.
This is the feedback from my professor.
(Your summary of the Johnsson article is very thorough. Try to find an article on the anthropology of education in the United States to better suit the paper you will be writing. For the Thesis Statement write something that quickly tells the reader what topic and cultures you will be exploring.)
Use reputable statistics and/or scholarly research to support any factual statements. Do not rely solely on personal experience or opinion.
Here is an Example of Part I.
Part II This section should be two to two and a half pages in length.
Refer to the Jonsson article you chose for Part II of the worksheet assignment in Week Three and describe an aspect of another culture from an emic (insider’s) perspective. You do not have to do research beyond reading your chosen article; however, if you do choose to conduct additional research make sure to use reputable statistics and/or scholarly sources to support any factual statements. Do not rely upon personal experience or opinion.
See attached file Jonsson-2014-Anthropology_&_Education_Quarterly for Jonsson article.
Also see attached file ANT101.W3.Assignment.Worksheet.Education for the information I already have from the Jonsson article.
Here is an Example of Part II.
Conclusion
End with a concluding paragraph that reinforces your thesis. Summarize and tie together your main points for the reader. Provide a brief self-reflexive analysis of what you learned while writing this paper.
Here is an Example of Conclusion.
The Final Research Paper
- Must be five to six double-spaced pages in length (excluding title page and references page, meaning it will be seven to eight pages total), and formatted according to APA style
- Must include a title page with the following:
- Title of paper
- Student’s name
- Course name and number ANT 101 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
- Instructor’s name
- Date submitted
- Must begin with an introductory paragraph that has a succinct thesis statement.
- Must have well-structured body paragraphs with clear transitions from one topic to the next. Incorporate in-text citations (see In-Text Citation Guide) from your scholarly sources to support your analysis throughout the paper.
- Must describe an aspect of your own culture from an etic perspective for Part I.
- Must describe an aspect of another culture from an emic perspective for Part II.
- Must demonstrate a perspective of cultural relativism throughout, avoiding judgmental and opinionated language.
- Must end with a conclusion that that reinforces the thesis and provides a self-reflexive analysis.
- Must use at least one scholarly resource in addition to the textbook, the Miner article, and the article chosen from the list in Part II of the Week Three assignment.
- Must document all sources in APA style in the body of the paper and on the references page
- Must include a separate References Page that is formatted according to APA style
