You are assigned four short papers over the course of the semester. The papers are based on articles you choose yourself. You can find articles from a lot of places. Start with myanthrolab website by looking at the resources and myanthrolibrary. You can also use google scholar, or the online article databases from our library. DO NOT USE WIKIPEDIA wikipedia is not an academic web source and you will fail the paper!! NO WIKIPEDIA NO NO NO!
How do I write the paper?
- For each section choose an article that fits in with your chapter readings. For example you are assigned chapter one, two, three, and four in the Stanford book before your first paper is due. Pick an article that fits in with those subjects for example the four subfields of anthropology, mitosis, meiosis, Mendal, Darwin, Wallace, DNA structure, how evolution works, etc. etc. etc. Be SURE that your article ties in with the readings you do before each paper or you will receive a zero. You can ONLY write on current readings. Please be sure to ask me if you have any confusion I will happily pre screen your articles, but realize if you email the article to me straight from ebsco you will have to put your name and email address in the subject, OR its better to email it to yourself first, then to me to check. Also please realize if you email me your article to see if it is "ok" for your paper at 11:30 at night the night before it is due you will not get an answer!! Send them early!
- Summarize the article in your own words
- Connect the article to class using specific terms or concepts from the chapters, ideas from class participation, or ideas from weekly discussion questions
- These papers are very very important. They show that you are capable of finding research and showing you understand it by applying the terms. If you say things like "This article is about DNA and we studied DNA" that is not a connection that is an introduction! You need to write in academic third person format and provide terms and concepts within a real science article.
What are the mechanics of the paper?
- Two full pages minimum (do you see "minimum" it does not have to be spot on two pages. I am happy to have you write more if you need to, but don’t go over five pages that is too much!)
- One inch margins
- Twelve point pitch or smaller type face
- Double Spaced
- Correct grammar and spelling (an occasional mistake is O.K. but if the paper is so full of mistakes that the professor cannot read it, it will be graded down)
- Proper referencing and citation of sources including a bibliography In APA style. (NOTE: copying directly from articles, textbooks, web sites, or other related materials is considered plagiarism and will cause you to flunk the assignment). I will handout an APA cheat sheet I created to help you. I do not care if you follow the APA guidelines for an abstract etc, just the reference page and citing within the paper!
How am I graded?
- Each paper is worth 50 points
- Students are graded on a proper summary and connection to class using specific anthropological terms and concepts this is the critical part of the papers!!
- Students are graded on proper presentation of paper including mechanics
- Student are graded on following directions
- Students are graded on a neutral presentation
- Late papers are not accepted for any reason so plan ahead
How do I turn in the paper?
- Papers may be sent as an attachment to an e-mail message using Microsoft Word as a .doc file or Microsoft Works as an .rtf file or Adobe as a .pdf ONLY. If you have a MAC save it as an .rtf don't ask me why it just works better. Please note papers sent in the body of an email will not be accepted and you will receive a zero. If you do not have access to those programs remember the school computers do and you can use them for free.