7 Page Anthropology Research Paper

Irvine Valley College Anthropology 1 –Introduction to Physical Anthropology Honors Chris Hurst-Loeffler Guidelines for Research Paper – Fall 2017

I. A research paper is required for this class. The following is intended to answer some of the questions you may have regarding my expectations for this project. Choose a topic of interest to you that is not discussed in class or elaborate on one that is discussed. First hand observation or fieldwork in combination with library research, or solely library research are both options for this assignment – your choice.

II. Suitable Topics:

-Select a topic of interest to you relevant to one of the three main foci within Physical Anthropology: contemporary human variation, non-human primate behavior and anatomy, hominid evolution.

-The topics that can be addressed within these three very broad categories are virtually limitless – uncertain about the topic you have in mind? Talk to me.

III. Format:

-Length will be seven pages minimum, ten pages maximum of text, typed, double-spaced, one inch margins, twelve point font. Your abstract, references cited section, any tables or figures are not included in the seven to ten page minimum. This should be a tight, well-organized paper.

-A minimum of five sources of information should be used, three of which must be from peer reviewed professional journals. Review and consider the validity of your sources carefully. This should be a scholarly paper based on credible information/research.

-Sources must include: title of work, author, date of publication, publisher and place of publication, pages used. Internet sources must include the complete web address as well as the name of the website and additional information as for hard copy sources if applicable – see section VI below.

- A preliminary typed topic and then outline including at least three of your references must be submitted in advance.

-The paper will consist of five basic parts:

-Abstract

-Introduction

-Body

-Conclusion

-References cited (a bibliography of sources examined, but not cited in the body of the text, may follow the references cited page).

-Your paper should be a typographically clean, clear, concise and grammatically well-written. You may find that your topic is far broader than you anticipated. Your outline should function as a guide however, feel free to pare this down as necessary. Write your abstract last.

IV. Deadlines

A preliminary typed topic is due by the end of the day on Thursday, September 21. A preliminary outline listing major topics to be addressed and at least three sources of information is due in class by Thursday, October 26. I will of course be happy to receive outlines prior to this date – I regret I cannot accept them late.

The final paper is due on or before Tuesday, November 16. I regret I cannot accept late papers.

V. Criteria for Grading:

-This paper is worth a total of 100 points.

- Topic 5 points

-Outline including references 10 points

-Abstract 15 points

-Appropriate format 10 points

-Clarity and thoroughness of paper and topic 40 points

-Presentation 20 points

100 points

VI. AAA (American Anthropological Association) guidelines for references:

A. The American Anthropological Association uses the Chicago Style for referencing material. Consult the AAA website at http://www.aaanet.org for appropriate citation style. Once locating the website go to "Publications" and then "Style Guide".

VII. An abstract should precede the body of your paper. It should not be more than five sentences in length and should describe the direction your paper will take: briefly, what you are going to do and how you are going to do it. Write your abstract last .

Ex. ( a sample abstract – a bit long) "Property" and Aboriginal Land Claims in the Canadian Subarctic… - Paul Nasaday. From American Anthropologist 104(1): 247-261. 2002

Abstract Many of the world's aboriginal peoples are currently engaged in struggles over land and self-government with states that encompass them. In Canada, aboriginal people have effectively used the concept of "aboriginal title" to force the government to negotiate land and self-government agreements with them. Such agreements, however, along with the notion of "aboriginal title" itself, are based on the European concept of "property"; they grant First Nations "ownership" of certain lands and spell out the rights they possess in relation to those lands. This means that aboriginal people have had to learn to think and speak in the "language of property" as a recondition for even engaging government officials in a dialogue over land and sovereignty. Yet the concept of property is in many ways incompatible with many Canadian First Nation people's views about proper human-animal/land relations. In this article, I argue that the land claim process – because it forces aboriginal people to think and speak in the language of property – tends to undermine the very beliefs and practices that a land claim agreement is meant to preserve.

VIII. An accompanying Powerpoint presentation featuring highlights of your paper and lasting approximately 10 minutes benefits the rest of the class.