What Should You Write About?
prompts
If you’re lucky enough to get one, start with the prompt. When provided with a prompt, it is usually complex. Do not skim the prompt. You must make sure you understand everything the prompt is asking you to do, and do just that. It helps if you break down the prompt into each individual component, and think about how you can complete the components individually while writing the paper as a whole. In the intro classes, complex prompts are usually broken down quite well.
This sample prompt (PDF) from a Linguistic Anthropology class is extremely detailed and a good example of how to break down prompts.
Topics
If you don’t get a prompt, you’ll get at least a basic idea of what the professor wants. Think of topics you discussed in class that you enjoyed or a different topic that might interest you.
If you’re having trouble thinking of a topic, ask yourself these questions:
- Are there any readings I remember really well? Why?
- Is there anything that I’ve covered in another class that would be relevant?
- Is there any way I can apply my favorite book/movie/magazine/cd in a relevant and meaningful way?
- What is a group of people/cultural practice that fascinates me? That I know nothing about? That terrifies me?
- Do I have any personal experiences that I can use?
- What is something that my professors have never seen? How can I knock them off their feet?
- And don’t just start writing about your love for Harry Potter. Make it relevant. Apply concepts you learned or talked about in class. And please, run them by your professor for early feedback and direction.
Introducing Your Topic
Having a solid introduction is the base for any paper. This sample introduction of an anthropology paper might help get those creative juices flowing. Just as you want to avoid generalizing about a whole culture, be sure not to generalize about all of humanity, the world, or “time immemorial” in the introduction to your paper. Your paper is on a specific topic. Don’t begin it using phrases such as “Throughout human history,” or “Humankind has always.” Such phrases add nothing to your paper, and anthropological research itself would likely prove them inaccurate as well!
Sample Introduction
The Influence of Language on Gender and Communication
Human beings are classified as belonging to the Primate Order. In addition to
human beings, the Primate Order is more commonly known to include lemurs, tarsiers,
monkeys, and apes. These primates are similar in that they all have origins that lie in
ancient times and in less specialized creatures. However, as can be seen today, there
exists a dramatic difference between human beings and the rest of the primate group.
Why is it that all primates shared in a similar evolutionary process, yet human beings
appear to operate and function at an extremely higher level of intelligence? The answer to this question lies in language.
Both tutors and the professor rated this as an excellent introduction. It avoids gendered
and biased language, and sets up the topic nicely, without a barrage of detail.
Proposal Writing
Proposal writing is something most anthropology majors will do at some point in their curriculum, particularly at higher class levels. Proposals can be written with the plan of completing a research project (such as a senior thesis), for a semester-long project, or sometimes proposals are assigned for the purpose of knowing how to write one. Some professors have their own specific guidelines for proposal writing, so they should always be the ones to go to if a student has questions. Anthropology proposals are driven by strong research questions (usually up to five) followed by a thesis for the project of what the research will aim to do. The proposal will often be comprised of a cover page, table of contents, conclusion, and the sections listed below (again, these sections are suggestions and a professor or course may have different directions for sections or style of proposal):
the Abstract
Abstracts are paragraph-long summaries of the proposal. It introduces the scope of the project such as the major concern at hand or the demographic of population being studied, delves into the researcher’s methods, and briefly explains what the study aims to complete.
the introduction & Significance
The introduction and significance give an in-depth description of the project, including but not limited to a summary of the individuals/area/issue being studied, the specific issues that will be examined in the proposal, methodology, and how the research will be significant in the field and important for the players involved.
the literature review
The literature review serves to summarize the existing work in the topic that the proposal is in. It is an introduction to the audience of the field, before this proposal’s research will build onto that. It should be extensive and thorough, but it should also recognize that the researcher does not know everything there is to know in this field, as that would be impossible. In a literature review, the strengths and gaps of the research that exists in the topic area should be included.
the research questions
Research questions drive the project. They should be detailed and specific. Make sure none of the questions are “leading” questions, in that they already assume something to correlate or have a cause, but are not asking the question objectively. Research questions often start with open-ended phrases such as “In what ways…”, “To what extent…”, “How are…”, and “What does…” The research questions should cover everything from the who, the what, the why, and the how of what the project aims to do.
the proposed methodology
Proposed methodology is how the researcher plans to collect the information. In anthropology, participant observation and interviews are the two most common forms of methodology, both qualitative. Researchers, if they plan to do statistical analysis or another quantitative element of the project, should describe that too. Whatever avenue of research one plans to take should be completely explained in this section and the ways the method will be completed (ex: I will conduct semi-structure interviews on 8-10 adults within the months of June and August).
The researcher identity & preperation
In the researcher identity and preparation section, researchers will explain how their own identity and position might affect their research (whether that be education level, gender, class, previous experiences, etc). This will include why the researcher is qualified and fit to complete this research. It will also include their own assumptions about the topic that might influence their results, and then the steps they are taking to prepare for the project (ex: if you are planning to incorporate statistical analysis, discuss how you’ve taken two statistics courses and are comfortable with data analysis).
the annotated bibliography
The annotated bibliography for a proposal will often be just 1-2 sentences of summary and how the source is used in the paper, below the correct citation for that source. Annotated bibliographies in other projects or on their own are usually more extensive.
the appendices
Appendices usually include a sample of the interview questions that will be conducted, a Lay Summary of the project, an explanation of the informed consent that will be received (through the International Review Board), a timeline of steps in which the proposal will be completed, and a budget plan. The Lay Summary is a paragraph about the project that can be understood by someone not in the field, such as someone being researched. It is a description that could be given to a participant.