Social and Cultural Theory—Final Analysis Assignment, Autumn 2021b

 Click here for the introduction to the Round and Square series "Assignments"

On this date on Round and Square's History 

xxx

[a] Society RF

This is the last assignment for the Social and Cultural Theory course. Students have written a wide variety of papers, and engaged the study of social and cultural theory from several angles. Their task in this assignment is to explain something in detail...and to use "theory."

Social and Cultural Theory 

Anthropology 206

"Final Analysis" Assignment

Using Theory and Explaining Stuff

[b] Explaining RF

The Shorthand Version

1. Choose something that interests you.

2. Explain how it works (and explain the "world" around it).

3. Use theory. 

4. Show how it helps to understand the subject more deeply.

3,000 words, minimum. Preferably 3,000-5,000 words with extensive details of how that "world" works (think of Loïc Wacquant's Body and Soul and Howard Becker's various works.

Due by the end of the term (actual date TBA).

Please send a .pdf copy to me through email.

[c] Culture RF

Possible Format A—Two Parts

1. Choose something that interests you, and that you think might make for an interesting analysis. Over the years, topics have included scuba training, EMT training, doughnut-making, coffee shop barista activities, the inner-workings of athletic teams, swimming the 50 Freestyle, and so forth.

2. In Part One, explain "the world" around that topic in detail, using “thick description” techniques (reread Geertz's essay on "thick description" in Anthropology in Theory). Think especially of the analysis in Loïc Wacquant's Body and Soul.

3. In Part Two, add a theoretical “appendix” discussing how the reader might deepen her understanding with theoretical perspectives. 

4. Show how your analysis helps to understand the subject more deeply.

Possible Format B—Integration of Materials

1. Choose something that interests you (see "Format A" for examples).

2. Explain "the world" around that topic in detail, using “thick description” techniques and integrating theoretical perspectives as you proceed. 

3. Add a succinct conclusion that explicitly… 

4. …shows how your theoretical perspective helps to understand the subject more deeply.

Possible Format C—New Vistas

1. Masterfully blend all elements together in a striking narrative form (previously unimagined) that will be anthologized in theory readers and read by students like you for generations. What if you knew you were writing a classic?

You have examples of anthropologists "using theory" while "explaining stuff" in many of your books this term. Perhaps the most useful ones for this assignment will be Body and Soul and Howard Becker's What About Mozart...? The key to this assignment is to use theory to explain how something works. Now read that again:

The key to this assignment is to use theory 

to explain how something works.

Loïc Wacqant's Body and Soul does this extraordinarily well, and any dozen or so pages of that book can be taken as a model for what I want you to do in this assignment. As you know, you will be thinking about this assignment from the very beginning of this course, and will be refining your explanation all semester long (on multiple quizzes and throughout the final month of the course).

Summary 

1. Choose something that interests you.
2. Explain "the world" around that topic in detail.

3. Use “theory.” 

4. Explain why it—the explanation (the "ethnographic detail") and the theory—matters.

Sorry—it’s really that straightforward.

We’ll discuss strategies in class thoughout the term. This is a serious assignment, and is meant to make you reflect upon your approach to social and cultural theory. It only seems “glib” and lighthearted. I could write ten pages of detail for the assignment, but this is really all you need...without clutter.

DO NOT take this assignment lightly. 
It is, by far, the most important assignment of the entire term. 
A great job can save a big part of the term; a mediocre one can hurt your grade a great deal (as I have been saying all term long).

Hard copy due in my office (MI 206) by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 9.

Feel free to also send a .pdf file, as well,  just to be sure that there are no mixups.

[d] Pathways RF