Writing in Anthropology

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, archaeology, physical anthropology, and linguistic anthropology, though DePaul focuses primarily on the first two. As with 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 due to the discipline's nature it may also include interviews, observations, material evidence, and statistical data. Assignments will typically specify the types of evidence your professor expects you to use.

Preferred Bibliographic Style

The American Anthropological Association's Style Guide requests materials in a particular style based on Chicago style. Your professor may prefer MLA, APA, or another style, though, so you should always ask what style s/he 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 can answer any question you have about their 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.
• Writing in Anthropology (UNC). UNC's Writing Center handout on anthropology has more detailed information on writing ethnographies and material analyses, as well as additional background on anthropology as a discipline.
• Cornell Library Resources in Anthropology. This page has great resources for the researcher in anthropology.

DePaul Department of Anthropology