Cultural Anthropology
ESSAY ASSIGNMENT
CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY Anth1220 Instructor: Brian Myhre
(1) Overview of Essay Assignment:
Anthropologists examine culture in many occupational fields in contemporary society. The
main purpose of this essay-assignment is for you tobegin thinking about and developing
theories in cultural anthropology and learning to compare and contrast societies, crossculturally.
Each essay-assignment asks you to utilize 3 case studies from the Cultural Sketches book as
ethnographic examples to support descriptions, ideas and concepts discussed in your essay.
Articles from Peter-Golden’s text “Culture Sketches: Case Studies in Anthropology” provides
cultural case studies on the geography, subsistenceand settlement patterns, history, sociopolitical systems and belief system of various cultures. Definitions and
conceptual
information may be taken from your Miller and Wood “Anthropology: A Preliminary Edition”
textbook as well.
(2) Assignment Instructions:
• Essay Format:
You must select and answer in essay-format Oneof the Threeassigned questions. The
paper should be approximately fivedouble-spaced pages in length (approximately 1200
words) and typedin 12 point font. Please include your name and student number on the
cover page.
• References Cited:
The ‘References Cited’ section of your paper (located as the last page of your essay) must
be formatted in the following way:
Miller, Barbara; John Esterik and Penny Esterik
2007 Cultural Anthropology: A Third Canadian Edition. Toronto: Pearson Education
Canada.
Peters-Golden, Holly
2002 TITLE OF ARTICLE, In Cultural Sketches: Case Studies in Anthropology. Toronto:
McGraw-Hill.
Since you will be using three articles from the Peters-Golden text, you should list each
article using the above format. Then add an “a”, “b”, and “c” after the date (e.g., your first
article is listed as 2002a, your second 2002b, and your third 2002c). The letter (a,b,c) after
the year indicates what article in Culture Sketchesyou are referencing in the text.
Cultural Anthropology Essay Assignment ANTH1220 2
For Example:
o If you chose to write Essay #1, you would need to cite the Trobriand, Kapauku and
Aztec articles from the Peters-Golden text. The ‘References Cited’ section would have
the following references in it:
Peters-Golden, Holly
2002a The Aztec: Ancient Legacy, Modern Pride, In Culture Sketches: Case studies
in anthropology.Toronto: McGraw-Hill, pp. 17-35.
2002b The Kapauku: New Guinea ‘Capitalists?, In Culture Sketches: Case studies in
anthropology.Toronto: McGraw-Hill, pp. 131-146.
2002c The Trobriand Islanders: The Power of Exchange, In Culture Sketches: Case
studies in anthropology.Toronto: McGraw-Hill, pp. 230-245.
o When the Peters-Golden article, ‘The Aztec’ is cited in your essay, you would type
(Peters-Golden 2002a: PAGE NUMBER) – the page number referring to the page in
the text you have quoted or paraphrased. When the article on the ‘Kapauku’ is used,
you would cite (Peters-Golden 2002c: PAGE NUMBER).
• Citing Paraphrased or Direct Quotations in your essay text:
Paraphrases, or ideas you summarize in your own words, and Direct quotations from each
of the above texts (including any other published material you use) must be referenced in
the following way:
If you directly quote more than 4 lines of text in your essay, you must indent it as a new
paragraph (single spaced) in the following way (leaving a line before and after the
paragraph to separate the direct quote from the rest of your essay):
o Example: Direct Quote Referencing (single spaced, indented 5 spaces each side):
Professional merchants were important on an entirely different scale. Their
status afforded them political importance, but alsoeconomic sway: the luxury
items they produced were of paramount importance for the nobility to display
as symbols of their status.
(Peters-Golden 2002a: 22)
o Example: Paraphrase in your essay, and how to cite it (I have boldedthe ideas
summarized or paraphrased from the above quotation):
All people in Aztec society participated in the market system, including priests
and agriculturalist. However, not all people contributed to trade on an equal level.
Cultural Anthropology Essay Assignment ANTH1220 3
Merchants were awarded prestige by the noble-class by producing luxury
goods that were associated with higher-status (Peters-Golden 2002a: 22).
In this way, merchants were able to avoid much of the day-to-day toil typical to
agricultural workers.
(3) Checklist: The following list will help you write a good essay.
Form:
• Is your name, student number, the course title and date in the upper left-hand
corner of the first page?
• Is the body of your essay double-spaced?
• Are the margins no less than 1 inch in width and nomore than 1.25 inches in width?
• Have you written a minimum of 5 pages (or 1200 words). Please avoid exceeding 5
pages, if possible.
• Are the pages stapled? (Do not use paper clips, covers, or folds to hold the pages
together.)
Content:
• Do you have an introduction or thesis statement, outlining your position or reaction
to the essay topic?
• Have you defined all terminology in your introduction?
• Does each paragraph have a topic sentence relevant to the introduction/thesis
statement with at least one sentence of explanation?
• Does each paragraph build logically upon the previous one and support your thesis?
Have you used complete sentences and language appropriate to the class?
Cultural Anthropology Essay Assignment ANTH1220 4
(4) Evaluation:
Criteria:
• Evidence of critical reading (Don’t just describe what is in the text. Analyze and
examine issues and information).
• Reading beyond the course materials (additional information from the library)
• Do you make a clear argument with substantiating evidence? (case-study examples)
• Style, grammar and spelling (use your spell checkers)
• Evidence of revision (e.g., few typos, good grammar,logical flow of argument).
Defining the Letter Grade Scale:
A+ Exceptional– thorough knowledge of concepts and/or techniques and
exceptional skill or great originality in the use of those concepts/techniques in
satisfying the requirements of an assignment or course.
A Excellent– thorough knowledge of concepts and/or techniques together with a
high degree of skill and/or some elements of originality in satisfying the requirements
of an assignment or course.
B+ Very Good– thorough knowledge of concepts and/or techniques together with
a fairly high degree of skill in the use of those concepts/techniques in satisfying the
requirements of an assignment or course.
B Good– good level of knowledge of concepts and/or techniques together with
considerable skill in using them to satisfy the requirements of an assignment or
course.
C+ Competent– acceptable level of knowledge of concepts and/or techniques
together with considerable skill in using them to satisfy the requirements of an
assignment or course.
C Fairly Competent– acceptable level of knowledge of concepts and/or
techniques together with some skill in using them to satisfy the requirements of an
assignment or course.
D+ Passing– slightly better than minimal knowledge of required concepts and/or
techniques together with some ability to use them in satisfying the requirements of
an assignment or course.
D Barely Passing– minimum knowledge of concepts and/or techniquesneeded to
satisfy the requirements of an assignment or course.
Cultural Anthropology Essay Assignment ANTH1220 5
(5) Essay Assignment Options:
Additional literature on cultures may be used, but is not required. Once you have decided
which essay-assignment you will answer, I will get you the articles or make them available
at Dafoe Library circulation desk. Please be sure to cite all sources. Please Select and
Answer ONEof the following Essay Questions:
Option 1:
In any society, status goes to those who control the distribution of valued goods and
services outside the family. Keeping this idea in mind, discuss the characteristics of
horticulture as a mode of production that lead to ahigher status for women compared to
intensive agriculture. Why should the shift from horticulture to agriculture be associated
with a loss of status for women?
Compare and contrast Kapauku, Trobriand,and Aztec cultures and economies to explain
how social statuses and roles relate to the controlof subsistence in each culture. To support
and exemplify your discussion, please use ethnographic case-study data from article,
“Kapauku: New Guinea Capitalists”, article, “Trobriand Islanders: The Power of Exchange”,
article, “Aztec: Ancient Legacy, Modern Pride”, andinformation from your textbook (see
page 7).
Option 2:
We are increasingly affected by a homogenizing world capitalist system, a process called
globalization. Others argue that globalization ironically creates unique mixes of (and
conflicts between) ethnic, religious and gendered identities. What impact does globalization
have on racial, ethnic or religious differences of indigenous people? Choosing one or two of
these categories, compare and contrast how Haitian,Nuer and Hmong social relations have
changed due to globalization (and colonialization).
Compare and contrast the Haitians,Nuer, and Hmong to support your argument. Please use
ethnographic case-study data from article,“Haiti: ANation in Turmoil”, article, “Nuer: Cattle
and Kinship in Sudan”, article, “Hmong: Struggle and Perseverance”, and information from
your textbook (see page 7).
Option 3:
Shamans, sorcerers and medical doctors all depend, to a greater or lesser extent, on the
cultural construction of illness; the use of “medicinal substances” and “healing rituals”; and
depend on the “placebo effect” to obtain a cure.
Describe, compare and contrast these different cultural roles, cultural constructions and
substances in Tiwi,Ojibwa, and Yanomamocultures to support your argument. Please use
ethnographic case-study data from article, “Tiwi: Tradition in Australia”, article, “Ojibwa:
The People Endure”, article, “Yanomamo: Challenges in the Rainforest”, and information
from your textbook (see page 7).
Cultural Anthropology Essay Assignment ANTH1220 6
ESSAY QUESTION: ARTICLE & TEXTBOOK PAGE REFERENCES
MILLER, ESTERIK, ESTERIK “CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY”
OPTION #1:
Chapter 3 and 4, on modes of production and
consumption
(re: horticultural and agriculture)
Chapter 10, p. 246-247 (re: status/women)
Chapter 2, p. 34 (re: Trobrianders)
Articles at Dafoe Library:
U1 Anth1220 066: “Kapauku: New Guinea
Capitalists”
U1 Anth1220 051: “Trobriand Islanders: The
Power of Exchange”
U1 Anth1220 068: “Aztec: Ancient Legacy,
Modern Pride”
OPTION #2:
Chapter 16 and 17, on culture change and
development anthropology
(re: Globalization, pluralism, migration,
colonialization, etc.)
Chapter 1, p. 20 (re: globalization)
Chapter 7, p. 182 (re: plural medical systems)
Chapter 1, p. 21-22 (re: basic definitions: ethnicity,
race, gender)
Chapter 13, p. 288-289, 291-292, 297-298 (re:
definition: religion/religious)
Chapter 10, p. 248-252 (re: social groups: ethnic,
racial)
Chapter 2, p. 34 (re: Hmong)
Chapter 3, p. 70-71 (re: Nuer)
Chapter 16, p. 364, 369-370 (re: Haiti)
Articles at Dafoe Library:
U1 Anth1220 065: “Haitians: Nations in
Turmoil”
U1 Anth1220 072: “Nuer: Cattle and Kinship
in Sudan”
U1 Anth1220 073: “Hmong: Struggle and
Perseverance”
OPTION #3:
Chapter 7 (on cultural construction of illness/disease;
placebo effect, p. 179; healing process, p. 175-178;
diagnosing, p. 174-175; culture-bound syndromes, p.
171-172; ethnomedicine, p.170-174), and 13 (on
religious practitioners such as shaman, sorcerers,
etc.)
Chapter 3, p. 60-61 (re: mind/body dualism)
Chapter 3, p. 65-66 (re: Tiwi)
Chapter 8, p. 190 (re: Yanomamo), p. 196-197 (re:
Tiwi)
Articles at Dafoe Library:
U1 Anth1220 070: “Tiwi: Tradition in
Australia”
U1 Anth1220 069: “Ojibwa: The People
Endure”
U1 Anth1220 071: “Yanomamo: Challenges
in the Rain Forests”
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