Create-a-Culture Assignment Instructions

Objective:
In this course, we have discussed numerous aspects of culture that anthropologists study. As we have seen, these aspects of culture are related, and anthropologists often study multiple cultural elements simultaneously to gain a true holistic perspective. In this assignment, you will apply what you have learned about the aspects of culture (and their relationships to one another) to create your own hypothetical culture.

Directions:
Your paper should be between five and six pages, double-spaced (around 1000 – 1250 words total). You must use either Arial or Times New Roman font in size 12. Your margins should be 1 inch on all sides. If you have questions about how to set these settings, please ask your instructor.

The Paper is due via Moodle to me by 11:55 PM on May 2, 2016. It is worth 10% of your course grade. You will submit your paper, to Moodle, prior to or by the stated deadline. The attachment should be one of the following formats: .doc, .docx, .pdf or .pages No other file types will be accepted. Papers submitted after the deadline will be penalized according to the policy outlined in the course syllabus.

For this assignment, you will create your own culture. You will design the culture’s history, environment, subsistence approach, political system, and other aspects of social life.

The aim of the project is to enable you to think creatively while demonstrating your knowledge of anthropological concepts. Your culture may live on the moon or in a protected bubble in the deep sea. However, it must “make sense.” For example, if your culture practices foraging, the people probably can’t live in a large city (unless you provide a mechanism that allows for this possibility).

You must incorporate at least 20 of the anthropological terms that we have learned this semester in your essay. See the last page for a list of acceptable terms for your assignment. Be sure to clearly demonstrate that you know what the term means. Also, be sure to underline your terms.

Correct example (full credit): The pastoralists on Creatania engage in unicorn herding as a way of life. One aspect of their social system is patrilineal decent, which means that only males inherit unicorns from their parents. Unicorns are important to marriage arrangements because they are used for bridewealth. The groom and his family present them as gifts to the bride and her family before or during marriage. • By describing that the people herd unicorns, the author demonstrates an understanding of pastoralism. • By describing specifically that males inherit unicorns, the author demonstrates an understanding of patrilineal descent. • By describing that unicorns are given to the bride’s family by the groom’s family, the author demonstrates an understanding of pastoralism.

Incorrect example (partial credit): The pastoralists of Creatania practice patrilineal descent. Patrilineal descent is tracing the kinship and passing of wealth and status through the male line.

• Although this example uses the term and defines it, the term is not used in a culturally contextualized example that shows full understanding.

Incorrect example (no credit): The pastoralists of Creatania practice patrilineal descent and bridewealth. • Although this sentence uses the terms correctly, it does not demonstrate an understanding of the terms.

Grading:
You will be graded based on your use of anthropological terms, your understanding of the relationship between cultural elements, and the overall mechanics of your paper.

• Anthropological Terms (80 possible points): o You will receive 4 points for each term that is used correctly (with a clear demonstration that you know what the term means). o You may earn up to 80 points total in this category. o 2 points will be subtracted from your score for each term that you use incorrectly. Be sure to only use terms that you understand, AND be sure to demonstrate your understanding. o NOTE: If you use the same term multiple times, it will only count once. • Relationship between Cultural Elements (10 possible points): o You will earn up to 10 possible points for a culture that “makes sense” and has cultural elements that are consistent with one another. o If you have cultural elements that are out of sync or contradictory, you will lose points. • Mechanics (10 possible points): o You will earn up to 10 possible points for overall readability and correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation. o You will lose points if your paper is difficult to read or if it has grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. Be sure to proofread your work and take advantage of the Online Writing Center if you desire. The Online Writing Center is accessible via the Distance Education Tab in your MyCOM Portal.

Grading Feedback:
Due to the large amount of papers I will receive, I will not give it the full editorial treatment unless you request that I do so. Note the level of feedback you would like:

High: grammar, structure, comments + grade
Medium: summary of comments at end of paper + grade
None: just a grade

Acceptable Anthropological Terms for Use in Your Paper

|Acculturation |Ethnology |Participant observation |
|Affinal kin |Ethnomusicology |Pastoralism |
|Agriculture |Etic |Patrilineal descent |
|Anthropology |Exchange |Performance art |
|Band |Exogamy |Political ritual |
|Barter |Extended family |Politics |
|Bilateral descent |Family of orientation |Polyandry |
|Bridewealth |Family of procreation |Polygamy |
|Centralized system |Fictive kin |Polygyny |
|Chiefdom |Fieldwork |Power |
|Class |Focused worldview |Race |
|Colonialism |Foraging |Reciprocity |
|Commemorative ritual |Gender |Redistribution |
|Commodity |General worldview |Religion |
|Comparative |Gift |Religious ritual |
|Consanguineal kin |Gift exchange |Rite of passage |
|Contagious magic |Globalization |Ritual |
|Craft production |Heterogeneous culture |Science |
|Cultural anthropology |Holistic |Shamanism |
|Cultural relativism |Homogeneous culture |Social differentiation |
|Culture |Horticulture |Social inequality |
|Culture shock |Household production |Society |
|Decorative art |Identity |Sociocentric view of person |
|Diffusion |Imitative magic |State |
|Dowry |Industrialism |Subculture |
|Economy |Kinship |Subsistence |
|Egalitarian system |Leadership system |Symbol |
|Egocentric view of person |Magic |Syncretism |
|Emic |Market exchange |Tradition |
|Enculturation |Matrilineal descent |Tribe |
|Endogamy |Medium of exchange |Witchcraft |
|Ethnicity |Monogamy |Workshop production |
|Ethnocentrism |Myth |Worldview |
|Ethnography |Nuclear family | |

***If you have another term from class that you would like to use, please discuss it with the instructor no less than 2 days before the assignment is due.***