Course Paper Tip Sheet
Anthropology 121
The Basics
w The paper must be 4 – 5 pages, double spaced, typed,12 point Times New Roman font, with standard margins (1” – 1.25”)
w Be sure to mark your name and the date and time of your discussion section on the first page, preferably single space this heading.
w Staple your papers before you turn them in
w Don’t forget to proofread your paper and run spell check. Grammar is important and does count.
Writing the Paper
w Your paper must be neat, coherent, and thoughtful.
w As any academic paper, this paper must include an introduction, body, and conclusion.
w Here is a suggestion as to how to structure the paper, of course there are other ways.
Introduction: Your introduction should catch your reader’s attention and make them interested in your interviewee. (1-2 paragraphs)
− Mention how you chose your topic and why it interests you.
− A brief explanation of the topic you are addressing
− What questions will you be answering in this paper (i.e. “How does the Hula ritual help Hawaiian society to function”)?
− Relevance of the paper to 3 topics in the class
− Have a thesis statement which outlines what you will talk about in the paper. For instance, “In this paper, I argue that the Hula is essential to Hawaiian culture because it teaches the next generations the stories and myths of the past, and it teach children proper behavior.” It is often helpful to follow this statement with 2 or 3 examples of your topic that you plan to discuss in the body of your paper.
Theoretical Discussion: Explain the theory that you have chosen to engage with, in general. Then explain how you think your theory illuminates our understanding of gender and the body. (1-2 paragraphs)
Analysis:
In this section, you will discuss the topic, the class concepts you chose, and you will construct your argument. In every section, you need to state a main point, argument or appropriate information. Use in-text citation properly if you have quoted some text from book, journal or any other source. Continually refer back to your question and thesis and make sure you are addressing these throughout the paper. (3-4 pages)
Conclusion: In the conclusion of your culture term paper, state the problem you posed and explain the results you found from your research. You need to give a summary of the observations and interpretations.
If you want to, you can propose a solution to the issue you have discussed. Remember, I don’t expect you to change the world, but anthropologists work very hard to help the people they work with everyday- you can too.
References / Bibliography: In the bibliography of your culture term paper, you have to list all the information sources in a standard and consistent format. At least 5 sources are required.
Just Remember
w Do not stress about this paper but do not put it off until the last minute either. Give it some thought and attention over the next few weeks.
w You may use “I” and write the paper in the first person. This is acceptable in anthropology.
w Ask! If you are having any problems or have questions please email me or come to my office hours. I am more than happy to look over your drafts or outlines before reading the final paper you turn in.
