Questions and Topics We Can Help You To Answer:
Paper Instructions:

Purpose: 

The goal of this Assignment is to observe an 'archaeological site' as an anthropologist would. The student will analyze their observations in terms of themes from the subfield of archaeology such as how it helps frame our understanding of how we can learn more about the human past by studying and interpreting material culture.

Description:

Motel of the Mysteries is a well-known book among archaeologists (see basic description in Smith, 2009).  This humorous (now sadly out of print) book takes a look at how an archaeologist of the future might look at a late 20th century roadside motel.  While our artifacts make sense to us, how might they preserve and be interpreted by future archaeologists?  In this Assignment we will explore this idea.

Smith, S.  (2009).  Motel of the Mysteries.  The Society for Georgia Archaeology.  Retrieved from: http://thesga.org/2009/01/motel-of-the-mysteries/



Directions for 4-6 page Assignment:

Choose one room of your home or a specific place in your community (playground, parking lot, restaurant).  Visit and observe the site for 10-15 minutes.  
Map (photos, hand drawn and scanned, digitally created map) the site and describe the physical characteristics of the site.
Collect and document artifacts.  Describe the artifacts noting color, shape, weight, texture, quantity, material, and other features you think are important.  Be objective as you examine the site, remember not to mention what it is in today's terms, but pretend you have do not recognize or have knowledge of the artifacts and site
Using your imagination, what are some other purposes the artifacts and site might have?  What conclusions can you draw about the origin of the artifacts, their use, and the purpose of the site?
Using our course materials, what type of archaeological tools and methods would you want to use to help you interpret your artifacts and site?  
Reflect on some of the challenges archaeologists face in piecing together the past.
Cite at least one of our course materials in your paper.  This typically works best in steps 5 and/or 6.
Note: 

This course has “Resubmission” status enabled to help you if you realize you submitted an incorrect or blank file, or if you need to submit multiple documents as part of your Assignment.  Resubmission of an Assignment after it is graded, to attempt a better grade, is not permitted.

Disclaimer

Originality of attachments will be verified by Turnitin. Both you and your instructor will receive the results.

Writing Expectations

All written submissions should be submitted using APA formatting. In part, this includes:

Typewritten in double-spaced format with a readable style and font and submitted inside the electronic classroom.
Arial 11 or 12-point font or Times New Roman styles.
Page margins Top, Bottom, Left Side and Right Side = 1 inch, with reasonable accommodation being made for special situations and online submission variances. 
Save as .doc, .rtf, or .pdf 
See a Basics of APA Style tutorial for coaching on APA formatting.  For additional resources see our Library, and the Purdue Online Writing Lab.


Grading Rubric

View the grading rubric so you understand how you will be assessed on this Assignment.  Click the grid icon at the top of this instruction page, or the grid icon under "View iRubric" on the main Assignments page.



Assignment 2: Mini EthnographyDue Feb 9, 2020 (in 10 days)
Assignment 2: Be An Anthropologist

Mini ethnography

Due:

11:55pm ET on Sunday of Week 5

Purpose:
The goal of this exercise is to observe a 'cultural scene' as an anthropologist would (i.e. based on everything you have learned in the course to-date). The student will analyze their observations in terms of themes from the subfield of cultural anthropology such as how it helps frame our societies (family, lifestyle, lineage, language and communication) and, in some ways, its evolution.

Description:
Culture as we have discussed in our readings is an incredible advantage that has allowed humans to enter almost every niche in nature. The development and maintenance of culture is what sets humans apart from other species. Culture varies by time and location. For this assignment, students will be observing a particular setting for 25 minutes, writing up your observations, and then analyzing them.  Listen to APUS anthropologist Donna Rosh give you some pointers for people-watching as an anthropologist (or read the script).  Watch APUS anthropologist Jennifer Cramer give you some pointers about studying behavior in primates, tips which also work for studying human behavior.  

Directions for 4-6 page Assignment:

Choose a time and location for where/when you are going to conduct your observations of an ethnographic scene (mall, public transportation, coffee shop, etc.).  Go to the specified location and proceed with your observations.  Find a place to sit quietly for 25 minutes and simply watch what is going on.  Do not talk to or interview people during this time.
Take notes (handwritten recommended).  Include details about the scene itself (time of day, lighting, furniture, plants, sounds, temperature, smell, vibe/energy, etc), with focus on the details about the people around you (their characteristics, their behavior).  At this time, you should start to think about concepts that you've learned in class that fit with your observations.  This step is critical.
Write a 4-6 page paper about your observations  Your paper should: 
Include a ‘thick description’ of the location with clear detail of your observations
Analyze your observations, identifying and defining four anthropological concepts that fit your observations.  Definitions should be supported with cited sources.
Analyze how these anthropological concepts fit your observations.  
Reflect on this activity.  What was it like to observe other people through the lens of an anthropologist?
Include your field notes at the end of your paper
What is an anthropological concept? Anthropological concepts are anthropological terms and ideas.  Examples of some that we've studied include: ethnocentrism, ethnicity, reciprocity, kinship, language and communication. You should not use this exact list of four concepts and expect them to fit your observation scene. You may, of course, use others - depending on what concepts are relevant to your observation.  We also have two examples to share with you from APUS anthropologists- one from Jennifer Cramer's fieldwork in The Gambia and one from James Turner's fieldwork in Mexico.

One common misstep is to apply the four subfields of anthropology or to apply the four parts of the definition of culture.

Conclude with a discussion of and reflection on your experience of the situation. For example you might write how you felt when you started to detect a pattern in characteristics and/or behavior.