Reference no: EM133785912

Assignment: Anthropology

Anthropologists have helped solve a wide variety of human problems throughout the history of the discipline by applying knowledge gained through ethnographic research, their unique approach to understanding the human experience. Your Mini-Ethnography assignment gives you the opportunity to think and work like an applied anthropologist by observing a particular person/group of people in a particular setting, describing specific problems or challenges they face, and thinking creatively and critically about how anthropological perspectives and methods might help solve these problems or challenges. Ideally the person/group you choose will be related to your major or career plans. Your overall goal in this assignment is to demonstrate-through clear and careful writing-your sharp observation and description skills, thoughtful exploration of specific challenges faced by the people you are studying, and creative and critical thinking about how anthropological methods and approaches might be applied to help resolve these challenges. The Mini-Ethnography assignment consists of two parts, a Proposal and the Mini-Ethnography itself. Below is the assignment for the Proposal

Mini-Ethnography Proposal

I. Identify the person or group you would like to observe as the basis of your Mini-Ethnography. Again, ideally these will be people involved in your major or intended career (PYSCHOLOGY/social work) (Note: If some other group of people overwhelms you with fascination and you cannot look away, you may focus on them, with instructor approval, as long as it permits you to complete the rest of the assignment.)

II. Identify and briefly discuss one or two specific research questions or problems these people face that you would like to explore. These may well change as you actually spend time with people, but because there is always a ton going on in any slice of the human experience, it will be useful to have questions in mind beforehand to help structure your focus. It will also be a useful exercise for you to think about issues facing the profession you plan to pursue. What specific problems or challenges are people in this social group facing and trying to solve?

III. Identify and briefly discuss one or two specific research methods you think would be most useful and practical to explore these questions and challenges.

IV. Identify and briefly discuss any chapters of the Kedia and Van Willigen volume that relate to your chosen group and/or research methods. Which domain discussed in their book might your Mini-Ethnography contribute to or draw from?

V. Properly cite any resource you use in this exercise following the American Anthropological Association Style Guide.