American Public University Cultural Anthropology Mini Ethnography Report Purpose: The goal of this exercise is to observe a ‘cultural scene’ as an anthrop

American Public University Cultural Anthropology Mini Ethnography Report 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.

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. In 2013, Jennifer Cramer, an anthropology faculty member, received a fieldwork grant to
support her research in The Gambia, a small country in West Africa. To illustrate how we can
find concepts that we are learning about in class in any cultural scene, see the field photos
below with some concepts that were observed in the scene.
I was invited to attend a local wedding.
Some observations that come to mind
when I revisit this photograph are:
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After visiting a community forest I was
invited for lunch at a colleague’s family
compound. Some concepts that were
present in this scene:
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Subsistence strategy
Generalized reciprocity
Religion (mosque nearby with
call to prayer)
Kinship and extended family
Subsistence strategy
Kinship
Gender roles
Marriage
Artifacts
In 2015, James Turner, an anthropology faculty member, visited Teotihuacan, Mexico. Can
you identify any anthropological concepts we have been discussing in class in the photos
below?
Below:
Obsidian, a volcanic glass used to make extremely
sharp blades and projectile points, is mined near
Teotihuacan. In the past it was traded throughout
Mesoamerica.
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Artifact
Trade
Flintknapping
Stone tools
Left:
Teotihuacan; as seen from atop the Pyramid of
the Moon. In the foreground you see active
archaeological excavations. In the upper left
quadrant of the photo you can see the Pyramid
of the Sun. The roadway is known as the Avenue
of the Dead.
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Monumental Architecture
Sacred Spaces
Religion
Artifact
Excavation
Social Stratification
Political Organization

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