For this assignment, students will read and analyze an ethnography, The Gebusi:
Lives Transformed in a Rainforest. World. The purpose of this assignment is to ...
Reading Ethnography (65 points) Due: July 11 For this assignment, students will read and analyze an ethnography, The Gebusi: Lives Transformed in a Rainforest World. The purpose of this assignment is to acquaint students with the fieldwork methods of cultural anthropologists, as well as introduce students to another culture, examine the interaction of a cultures and its environment, and practice analytical and written communication skills. Mechanics:
Read The Gebusi. Answer the questions below – bulleted lists are fine Formatting guidelines: o make sure your name is in the header o single-space o 11-12 point Times, Geneva, Tahoma, or Arial font o spell check
Analysis: There are two parts to the assignment: 1) analyze the ethnography using the questions below. Don't forget to support your statements using examples from the book. We will be using questions from Core Concepts in Anthropology (R. Lavenda and E. Schultz, 2006. Boston: McGraw Hill: 237-238) to analyze the ethnography.
What is the ethnographer’s main thesis? What was the purpose of the research? How did the author embark on this particular research? How did it come about, who paid for it, etc. What is the ethnographer’s role? Active participant with a(n) position/agenda or detached observer? Was the ethnographer an advocate for the people or working for the people? Does the author take any positions about the issues that are raised? What does the ethnographer reveal about their interactions with the people in the study? What has the author omitted from or not discussed in the ethnography? e.g., Men? Women? Effects of modernization/ globalization? Intra-group conflict? Are there topics you would like to know more about? What most impressed you while you were reading? What don’t you agree with? 2) Pick one trait/behavior (e.g., a marriage ceremony) highlighted in the ethnography. Address the following questions: What is the trait? Who is involved and what are their roles? What norms are reflected in the roles? What societal values are represented in the trait? What artifacts are involved? How do the artifacts function? How does the trait function in society? (How is the trait adaptive?) How is the trait related to other aspects of the society? What commonalities can you find between the experience of the people you’ve read about and your own life?
Assessment Learn Actively: 10 points recognize key elements of human culture and have a basic understanding of fundamental cultural anthropology concepts: student demonstrates ability to identify a cultural trait, can use anthropological terminology in the
discussion, and detail the interrelationship of cultural components
have a basic understanding of cultural anthropology’s fieldwork and methods: student demonstrates knowledge
about the ethnographic research and writing process
Communicate with Clarity and Originality: 15 points
have begun to develop or improve your communication skills: student’s writing is coherent (well-organized/flows),
know how to properly cite course and provide complete citations for sources: student uses page numbers within
logical, on topic, critical, and free of spelling and grammatical errors text to reference specific material in the book
Think Critically, Creatively, and Reflectively: 30 points understand how to look at culture at various levels (individual, community, national): student can describe and
analyze a cultural trait at the group/community level
be able to assess the interaction between culture, biology and the environment: student can articulate the
interaction of the trait being analyzed to other cultural traits as well as any biological or environmental influences have learned to assess anthropological information in general and scholarly sources: student analyzes the ethnography using questions above understand the difference between making an argument from fact versus opinion: student uses examples from reading to support statements understand that while there are various ways of being human and we are each unique, we also share basic commonalities of experience and living: student can identify patterns of behavior that are common to the human
experience
Interact in Diverse and Complex Environments: 10 points have some tools to use to help you identify ethnocentrism: student demonstrates ability to identify function of
cultural traits; can identify own bias that might impact analysis of trait
