Writing in Anthropology

Jessica B., writing center tutor

Please keep in mind that these are only general guidelines; always defer to your professor's specifications for a given assignment. If you have any questions about the content represented here, please contact the Writing Centers so that we can address them for you.

According to DePaul's Department of Anthropology, "anthropology is the comparative study of humanity, focusing on people in all places and throughout history and prehistory." The discipline is divided into four sub-fields: cultural anthropology (also known as ethnology), archaeology, physical (biological) anthropology, and linguistic anthropology, though DePaul focuses primarily on the first two.

Cultural anthropology is the study of living people and their interactions with their environment. Points of study may include beliefs, values, ideas, technology, politics, economy, etc., through a variety of methods such as fieldwork (observation), interviews, and surveys.

Archaeology is the study of humanity's past through physical evidence of a given culture. Archaeological research methods generally require fieldwork such as excavation, surveyance, and artifact analysis.

As in most academic disciplines, anthropology papers typically require critical analysis of a topic, stating a thesis, and effectively using evidence to support the thesis. Evidence is commonly drawn from others' scholarly work, but anthropology papers may also include interviews, observations, material evidence, and statistical data. Assignments will typically specify the types of evidence a professor expects will be included.

Preferred Bibliographic Style

Anthropologists rely on an author-date citation style created by the American Anthropological Association (AAA), which is based on the Chicago Manuel of Style. The American Anthropological Association's Style Guide gives examples of how to cite a variety of sources according to anthropological prefrences and notes that if there is not a proscribed format for a source in AAA, one should follow Chicago Style guidelines.

Although AAA is the standard citation style in the anthropology field, your professor may prefer MLA, APA, or another style. Always ask what style your professor prefers.

Common Writing Assignments

Common writing assignments in anthropology include :

• Critical essays. As described in the introduction above, these assignments require critical analysis of a topic, stating a thesis and effectively using evidence to support the thesis.
  
  
• Ethnography. Typically based on first-hand experience and observations, ethnographies are like snapshots of a particular group of people in a particular time and place.
  
  
• Research papers. As in most disciplines, the research paper is usually a longer paper on one specific topic, driven by your own research of other scholarly sources. Your professor may want you to include an abstract (a brief paragraph stating the scope of your research and findings) and a bibliography. Be sure to read the assignment carefully, as professors may have specific requirements.
  
  
• Analyses using material evidence. Your professor may ask you to analyze artifacts, fossils, or pieces of material culture to answer a specific question or questions. The paper may be like a criticial essay simply drawing on material evidence rather than textual evidence, but check with the professor if you are unclear on what is expected.

See UNC's Guide to Good Writing in Anthropology for a good description of typical assignments.

Helpful Resources

• The American Anthropological Association's Style Guide details its official preferences for citations, formatting, etc., but be sure to ask your professor what s/he prefers, as it may differ from the AAA's style.
  
  
• Cornell Library Resources in Anthropology has great resources for the anthropological researcher including literature guides, dictionaries and encyclopedias, electronic journal, and atlases.

DePaul Department of Anthropology