Finding a certain person

Final Research Paper Anthropology 101

Directions

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)

Keep the distinction between cultural relativism and moral relativism in mind as you write your Final

Research 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.

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.

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. (This is my working thesis statement Language, race, social

economic status, and even gender can be deciding factors in your academic success. I will comprise an

argument to prove that even though times have changed some things remain the same when it comes

to equality.)

Here is an Example of an Introduction (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site..

Revised ANT101 W5

FinalIntroductionIExample.pdf

Part I

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 in the List of Topics (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site., based

on your chosen topic from Week Three,(Mine is education) 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).

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 (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site..

Revised ANT101 W5

FinalPartIExample.pdf

Part II

Refer to the article you chose for Part II of the worksheet assignment in Week Three (School Context

and the Gender Gap in Educational Achievement.) 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.

Here is an Example of Part II (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site..

Revised ANT101 W5

FinalPartIIExample.pdf

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 (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site..

Revised ANT101 W5

FinalConclusionExample.pdf

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 as outlined

in the Ashford Writing Center (see the APA Essay Checklist for Students (Links to an external

site.)Links to an external site.).

• Must include a title page (see title page (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.) with

the following:

o Title of paper

o Student’s name

o Course name and number

o Instructor’s name

o 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 (Links to an external site.)Links to an

external site.) 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 as

outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.

• Must include a separate References Page that is formatted according to APA style as outlined in

the Ashford Writing Center. Here is an Example of a References Page (Links to an external

site.)Links to an external site..

School Context and

the Gender Gap in Educational Achievement..pdf Article I chose to use

Miner's _Body

Ritual among the Nacirema_.pdf Article that must be used

Jonsson-2014-Anth

ropology_%26_Education_Quarterly.pdf Article that must be used

Flow chart given to us

ANT101_List

_of_Topics.pdf Education is my topic

ANT101.W3.Assign

ment.Worksheet_Rogers.docx My week three assignment

ANT101.Flow chart.R

evised.2016.1005(1).pdf