In the Final Research Paper,
you will examine your own culture from an etic (outsider’s) perspective and
another culture from an emic (insider’s) perspective to demonstrate your
understanding of cultural relativism and examine misconceptions and ethnocentric
beliefs concerning each of these cultures. Keep the distinction between
cultural relativism and moral relativism in mind as you write your final paper.
Even if you do not personally agree with a cultural practice, demonstrate your
understanding of the practice in its cultural context. Avoid opinionated or
judgmental language in your paper.
Cultural relativism is the
idea that the beliefs and practices of a culture should be understood within
the context of that particular culture’s background, history, and current
events surrounding it. We should not ethnocentrically impose our own beliefs
and opinions, which are products of our own enculturation.
Cultural relativism is not the
same as moral relativism, however. As Crapo (2013) notes
We need not, for instance, come to value
infanticide in order to understand the roles it may play in peoples’ lives in a
society where it is customary. What cultural relativism requires of us is
simply that we do not confuse our own feelings about such a custom with
understanding it. To do the latter, we must investigate the meanings the custom
has for those who practice it and the functions it may fulfill in their
society. (section 1.4, “Cultural Differences: Cultural Relativism,” para. 3)
Keep the distinction between
cultural relativism and moral relativism in mind as you write your Final
Research Paper. Even if you do not personally agree with a cultural practice,
demonstrate your understanding of the practice in its cultural context. Avoid
opinionated or judgmental language in your paper.
Your Final Research Paper will
consist of two main parts, framed by an Introduction and a Conclusion. See theFinal Paper Flow Chartfor a quick overview of the assignment. See the
following instructions for information on each part of the paper.
Introduction
Begin with an introductory
paragraph that has a thesis statement at the end. The introduction should set
up your topic, giving a preview and summary of the analysis you will present in
the body of the paper. The thesis statement is the last sentence or two of the
introduction and states what the main point structuring your paper will be.
Here is anExample of an Introduction.
Part I
Using the article by Miner
(1956) and the feedback you received from your instructor on your worksheet in
Week Three, describe one aspect of your own culture from an etic perspective.
See the appropriate Sections in the Textbook in theList of Topics,
based on your chosen topic from Week Three, for information on how to approach
your paper from an anthropological perspective. You can describe American
culture in general, as Miner does, or you can describe an American subculture,
such as a specific geographical group (e.g., New Yorkers), a particular
ethnicity (e.g., African Americans), or an age-related category of Americans
(e.g., millennials).
Use reputable statistics
and/or scholarly research to support any factual statements. Do not rely solely
on personal experience or opinion.
Here is anExample of Part I.
Part
II
Refer to the article you chose
for Part II of the worksheet assignment in Week Three and describe an aspect of
another culture from an emic (insider’s) perspective. You do not have to do
research beyond reading your chosen article; however, if you do choose to
conduct additional research make sure to use reputable statistics and/or
scholarly sources to support any factual statements. Do not rely upon personal
experience or opinion.
Here is anExample of Part II.
Conclusion
End with a concluding
paragraph that reinforces your thesis. Summarize and tie together your main
points for the reader. Provide a brief self-reflexive analysis of what you
learned while writing this paper.
Here is anExample of Conclusion.
The
Final Research Paper
·
Must be five to six
double-spaced pages in length (excluding title page and references page,
meaning it will be seven to eight pages total), and formatted according to APA
style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center (see theAPA Essay Checklist for Students).
·
Must include a title page (seetitle page) with the
following:
o
Title of paper
o
Student’s name
o
Course name and number
o
Instructor’s name
o
Date submitted
·
Must begin with an
introductory paragraph that has a succinct thesis statement.
·
Must have well-structured body
paragraphs with clear transitions from one topic to the next. Incorporate
in-text citations (seeIn-Text Citation Guide)
from your scholarly sources to support your analysis throughout the paper.
·
Must describe an aspect of
your own culture from an etic perspective for Part I.
·
Must describe an aspect of
another culture from an emic perspective for Part II.
·
Must demonstrate a perspective
of cultural relativism throughout, avoiding judgmental and opinionated
language.
·
Must end with a conclusion
that that reinforces the thesis and provides a self-reflexive analysis.
·
Must use at least one
scholarly resource in addition to the textbook, the Miner article, and the
article chosen from the list in Part II of the Week Three assignment.
·
Must document all sources in
APA style in the body of the paper and on the references page as outlined in
the Ashford Writing Center.
·
Must include a separate
References Page that is formatted according to APA style as outlined in the
Ashford Writing Center. Here is anExample of a References Page.
