Guidelines
Due: Tuesday, March 11
Length: approximately 10 pages (double-spaced, Times New Roman 12pt. type or equivalent)

Assignment:
Write about the economic, social, and cultural life of a thing--whatever item you choose. This will be in the vein of what Kopytoff (1986) calls "cultural biography."  You will tell the reader about your thing: where was it produced? What are its components (if any)? How many companies and countries were involved? What is the labor situation like where the product is made/assembled? Can you trace the distribution network? How do the economic and symbolic values of the item change in this process? Are there any regulations or standards set by government bodies or industry associations? How is the product marketed? To whom? By whom? How is it consumed? What values are expressed in its consumption? Is it hoarded or consumed? Consumed with whom?

Your paper may include original ethnographic research and social analysis, but it must also clearly build on published social scientific research.  This is to say, your bibliographic foundation must be solid.

Your paper should have a clearly stated thesis and include sufficient data to support your argument. 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 style guide for more specifics and examples.