Guidelines
Length: 10-15 pages (double-spaced, Times New Roman 12pt. type or equivalent)

In writing your paper you may take one of three approaches, or some variation thereof:

1. analyze a specific theory, idea, or approach in anthropology (e.g., cultural relativism, Marxism, hegemony, postmodernism) in light of the positions of its various advocates and critics (including predecessor lines of thought);

2. trace the intellectual history of an idea or tradition in anthropological thought, showing how it resulted from the cultural contexts of particular times and places and including, where appropriate, biographical data; or

3. critique the methodology of a particular theory or theories based on a body of primary or secondary ethnographic data (Giddens and punk rock, for example).

Your paper should have a clearly stated thesis, include sufficient data to support your argument, and have a conclusion which supports, refutes, or modifies your starting hypothesis.  You should make an argument with your paper, but this does not mean that you have to be argumentative.  Have a point you want to make and construct the paper as a case leading up to your point (although don't keep the reader in the dark: foreshadow your thesis in the introduction).  Your thesis need not shake up the anthropological world, but it should be an intellegent, informed opinion that you have developed from your research (perhaps some synthesis of competing positions).

Your papers should be well researched.  You should consult reliable anthropological books and journals.  A good starting point for anthropology bibliographic work is:   http://www.library.vanderbilt.edu/central/anthro.html

Papers will be graded primarily on content, although excessive grammatical errors and obfuscating and/or incoherent styles will result in substantial reduction of the grade.

References should always be cited. This is central to academic integrity and intellectual honesty. All references should be cited in the text following a parenthetical style that includes the author's last name(s), date of publication, and page number if relevant. Please see the course style guide for more specifics and examples.