Anthropology Term Project
alfkhomis
term_project_instructions.docxCuba – US: A New Beginning
Term Project: Students will conduct an internet research on anthropological topics discussed by bloggers on Global Voices (http://globalvoicesonline.org/). Students will write a 6-8 page academic paper. Students are expected to write an academic paper that is well organized, is free from major grammatical, spelling or other writing errors, shows the student’s ability to apply the anthropological perspective and concepts. Specific requirements and details are below and students must follow these requirements to be successful. Papers are due on Monday at 11:00 PM. Ten points will be deducted for each week the paper is late.
1.Click on link and read "Term Project Requirements below on page# 3."
2. Go to http://globalvoicesonline.org/ and click on Show all Special Coverage » You must choose one of a Special Coverage topics that relates to topics in anthropology.
This is the topic I chose on the Special Coverages focus.
https://globalvoices.org/specialcoverage/cuba-us-a-new-beginning/
3. Start reading the blogs for the topic and you can click on the blue hyperlinks which take you to other blogs or news reports.
4. Complete the Pre-Plan form below and turn it in before the deadline (check Syllabus and Class Schedule of Assignments for due date). Here is my Pre-Plan that I have done for this project:
Cultural Anthropology Term Project Pre-Plan
In preparation for Term Project,
· Go to the Global Voices website http://globalvoicesonline.org/). Click on “About.” Who are they? What is their primary goal? Write a short summary here.
The Global Voices is a group of volunteers such as (writers, analysts, online experts and translators) that curate, verify and translate trending news and stories you might be missing on the internet, from blogs, independent press and social media in 167 countries.
Their primary goals is to speak out online censorship and support new ways for people to gains access to the internet.
· Click on “Show all Special Coverage” and select one of the topics given on EO2. Select one that interests you and is a culture different from your own.
1. Which Special Coverage did you choose?
Cuba-U.S: A New Beginning
2. What is the culture?
They are communist
3. What is the issue the bloggers are discussing?
The Cuban and U.S. governments have announced a historic thaw in relations. Global Voices is making sure the world hears what Cuban citizens have to say about it.
· Skim the main blog and identify examples of diversity (different groups of people with different opinions, perspectives, among different ethnic groups, different religious groups, different socio-economic classes, different political groups etc.) and briefly discuss the opinions of each group on the issue discussed in the Special Coverage you chose above. See “Critique of Culture” handout on EO2 under Handout tab and look at Abu-Lughod’s suggestions for how to avoid the tendency to overemphasize cultural homogeneity (sameness) within a culture.
1. Cuban bloggers, citizen journalists, social media users (debating the impact)
2. Global Voices authors ( take action)
3. The U.S. Department of Treasury ( amended a policy to the Cuba Assets Control Regulation)
4. Experts on economic and trade policy ( discuss Deep Differences )
5. Miami’s Cuban Exiles ( disgruntled at Obama’s New Approach to Cuba)
6. Sandra Abdallah Alvarez (writer)
7. USAID subcontractor ( bringing wireless technology without permission in 2009 )
5. Complete your analysis of each blog, identifying the diversity (different people, opinions, debates, perspectives, points of view) the blogger discusses. [Please see Term Project Requirements below.]
6. Write your paper discussing the diversity in the culture and the different opinions about the topic of the blogs based on what the blogger writes. See “Term Project Requirements” below for more details (page numbers, spacing, style, etc.).
Requirements for Cultural Anthropology Term Project
Global Voices On-Line
Research a topic related to anthropology by reading and analyzing blogs on the Global Voices On-line website http://globalvoicesonline.org/ from an anthropological perspective and then writing a research paper 6-8 pages based on the blogs and your analysis of them.
You must focus on one specific culture and a specific topic related to anthropology (Ethnicity, Gender, Human Rights, Indigenous people, Racism, Refugees, Religion, etc.). In your analysis you must apply and organize your paper around Abu-Lughod’s critique of culture, specifically by focusing on diversity within the culture you chose.
The main goal is to take an anthropological perspective and to describe and analyze the diversity within the culture and discuss the topic and the culture from the perspective of the bloggers and the people within that culture. Choose a culture that is as different from your own as possible.
Process- Overview
Collecting data:
1. Go to http://globalvoicesonline.org/ Homepage
2. Click on “About Us” and describe what Global Voice is and what they do.
3. Return to Global Voices Online Homepage and click on Show all Special Coverage » (to the right of your computer screen.) You must choose one of the Special Coverage topics for your project.
4. From the list of Special Coverage 2014 topics, pick one that interests you and that is related to Anthropology.
5. Click on the Title and scan the blogs and click on the blue hyperlinks which take you to other blogs or news reports. If it is an interesting topic, related to anthropology, and has enough good material to analyze, choose this topic. If not, go back to the Special Coverage page to choose another topic.
6. Complete the Pre-Plan form that is on our EO2 Homepage under the Term Project tab and submit it by the deadline that is on our Syllabus/Class Schedule.
7. Read and take notes on the blogs on the Special Coverage topic you have chosen.
Analyzing data:
1. Re-read the notes on Abu-Lughod’s critique of culture under the “Class Handouts” tab on our EO2 Homepage. Focus specifically on her suggestion to focus more on the diversity within a culture and avoid overemphasizing homogeneity or coherence within a culture. In this paper you will focus more on the diversity within the culture.
2. Go line by line through the blogs on your Special Coverage topic and identify examples of diversity within the culture (analysis). Focus on the diversity in this country based on the debates, the contractions, discourses, different groups of people (ethnic, religious, political, socio-economic classes, etc.) discussed by bloggers? Make a list and then classify different kinds of people/groups?
3. Organize and write a 6-8 page paper focusing on the diversity within the culture and from the perspective of the people of that culture and based on your list and classification of people/groups within the culture and related to the topic being discussed. Focus on describing the issue/topic from the perspective of each of the diverse groups you identified and taking an anthropological perspective.
4. Make sure you take an anthropological perspective which means:
a. describing a cultural practice and/or belief from the perspective of those who live in that culture (cultural relativism);
b. setting aside your own personal judgments and/or opinions as you describe the beliefs and practices of others (cultural relativism);
c. organizing your ideas around Abu-Lughod critique of culture – specifically by focusing on diversity as a way of avoiding the tendency to stereotype and assume that all people in a culture are more or less the same.
Organizing and writing your Final Research Essay:
Your paper must be organized as an academic essay with an introduction, body, and conclusion. If you need help with writing (and who doesn’t?), go to Purdue’s On-line Writing Lab (OWL) or visit an HCC Writing Center or see me during my Tutoring hours.
Some of the most useful links:
· For help on writing an exploratory essay, go to http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/728/01/ (Note: exploratory essay is closest to what I am asking students to do here, but it is not exactly the same. The questions that we are exploring in this research project are For help on writing good paragraphs, go to http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/606/1/
The introduction must:
1. state the main focus of your paper in a clear and concise thesis statement. What is the topic bloggers are focused on? Briefly, what do the bloggers think about this topic? Is there diversity? Everything in your essay should be in support of this main idea/thesis.
1. identify the cultural context; briefly clarify essential details about who, what, when, where, why of the bloggers and their culture. You can do some basic research to get some background information about the culture. This is for your background information only, but the main focus of your paper has to be what the bloggers are focusing on, their ideas, the issue and what they think about it, their perspectives. The CIA Factbook has brief historical summaries, useful statistical data such as GDP per capita, literacy rates, etc. that can be helpful - https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/ Never quote Wikipedia ever in this class – it is not a reliable source because it can be edited by anyone at any time.
1. briefly discuss Abu-Lughod’s ideas about focusing on diversity and how you plan to apply it in your research.
The body of your essay must :
1. include well developed paragraphs that develop a main idea, by discussing specific examples of the diversity within the culture, how each diverse group, organization, etc. views the issue being discussed in the blogs.
1. have paragraphs that make a logical connection to the thesis of your essay as stated in the introduction and make logical transitions from one paragraph to the next.
1. include specific details from the bloggers that illustrate or give examples or specific details and that support your main thesis. Paraphrase and summarize as needed. Quote sparingly and wisely – quote only the most important points bloggers are making and only when you think the voice, the words of the bloggers are important for the reader to hear.
The conclusion of your essay must:
1. include a final discussion about your cultural analysis. Suggestions: You might reflect and discuss anything noteworthy about the process of analyzing diversity. You can comment on what was difficult or surprising as you completed your analysis.
Cite your sources:
You must cite your source for quotes and for any ideas or examples you take from the blog. See details below for citing sources in footnotes.
Formatting:
Your essay must be typed, double spaced, 12 pt font type, 1” margins, indent each paragraph (make sure you have paragraphs).
Type your name and date you turned in the assignment single spaced on the first page.
All pages must be STAPLED. I will not accept any paper that is messy or with loose unstapled pages.
Citing your blog sources by creating footnotes in Word.
You must cite your sources. When you reference or paraphrase anything from one of the blogs, you MUST cite your source by giving the title of the blog, the date it was posted, and the URL which is the http://.... address.
I have to be able to easily locate the original source. When you discuss details from a specific blog you must include the exact web address. Do this by using a footnote number with the citation details. Include the title of the blog, the date posted and the URL web address. Do NOT give a footnote after every sentence.
Most of your paper should be a discussion of the data you have collected – not just a summary of the blogs. You can quote, but keep quotes to a minimum.
How to create footnotes in Word:
After typing your sentence or paragraph (if the whole paragraph is paraphrased, summarized, discussed topics come from one blog), click on “References” in Word; expand the Footnotes box by clicking on the down arrow, select “Footnotes,” select “Number Formatting” and choose 1, 2, 3, then click “Insert.”
An example of a reference to a source in the main body of your paper using footnotes:
In “Syria Is With You, Gaza” bloggers share their thoughts on the growing sense of solidarity between some Syrians and Palestinians in Gaza.[footnoteRef:1] These Syrian bloggers see themselves as united with Palestinians in Gaza against oppressive regimes. [1: ‘Syria Is With You, Gaza’ Posted 22 July 2014 http://globalvoicesonline.org/2014/07/22/syria-is-with-you-gaza/]
On Facebook, “Syria stands with Palestine” organizers ask people to sign a “Statement of Solidarity with the Struggle of the Palestinians” and they post cartoons, photographs and comments from sympathizers to raise awareness.[footnoteRef:2] [2: ‘Syria stands with Palestine’ https://www.facebook.com/events/740057482718963/?fref=ts]
Helpful Websites:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/
· Link to CIA World FactbookURL
http://eo2.hccs.edu/mod/url/view.php?id=1752365
· Writing an Exploratory Essay OWLURL
http://eo2.hccs.edu/mod/url/view.php?id=1752366
· Writing Good Paragraphs OWLURL
http://eo2.hccs.edu/mod/url/view.php?id=1752367
· What's a Blog? Watch this short YouTube video.URL
http://eo2.hccs.edu/mod/url/view.php?id=1752368
