Term Paper
FORMAT:
Introduction – Body – Conclusion – Works Cited
3,000-word minimum (10 – 12 pages, double spaced)
Title page
12 point Times New Roman font
One-inch margins
Double spaced
In-text citations as well as a separate Works Cited/References/Bibliography page
Please use Chicago. You can find out how to implement citation styles here: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/resources.htmlLinks to an external site.
PROMPT:
The avenues in which we understand cultures from the past can be convoluted. Through doing intense research, we can see how history, archaeology, and oral histories only provide a smaller part of a larger story. For this term paper, you will choose a culture from the past to further investigate. Research online and using our college library to find out the ways in which this particular culture has been documented, paying particular attention to the DISCUSSION QUESTIONS below. Any culture chosen will need to have had some sort of archaeological intervention. You are free to choose any of the cultures we have gone over in class or find one of your own!
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Introduce this past culture. Who were they? From what time period? How did they fit into the global timeline? How far did their boundaries reach?
In what ways have their history been documented (historical documents, archaeological resources, oral histories, etc). Do these research avenues complement or contrast each other? How?
What particular archaeological methods were used in the archaeological analysis of this site? Specific dating techniques? Survey? Excavation? GPR? Faunal analysis? How many archaeological sites are you discussing in your term paper to get a better understanding of this culture?
What cultural extrapolations can we make based on the archaeological resources found? Provide concrete reasons.
What are some pseudoscientific theories surrounding this particular culture? How mainstream/underground is the theor(ies)? In other words, is there a large following? What are some of the things that make these theories attractive? What are some of the ways these theories are a detriment to the understanding of the past culture? To human ingenuity?
Are there any present-day descendent communities associated with this past culture? What are their views of their ancestors? What are their views of archaeological research (for or against)?
You must search out at least 5 scholarly sources to inform your analysis paper. The video short and textbook can also be used, but they will not count toward this minimum. Visit the Simplify Your Research! Video Series page to learn how to search for and choose the best scholarly sources.
You may use 3-4 pictures in your paper to further convey your point, just remember to cite them on your reference page. Keep in mind not to use pictures that are large–a good size would be around 1/3 of the page.
**Please note that you may not write about what the above 2 examples covered.
This submission will account for 70 points of your total paper grade (130).
This essay must be turned in here by the due date and must have a turnitin score of less than 24%. If your paper has a score of 24% or higher and/or if it is late, it will receive an automatic zero. NO EXCEPTIONS!
Attatched below are example papers as well as the paper propoasl. Include the three sources that are in the proposal and add 3 more, to have atleast 6 total sources.
Below is a sample outline:
Sample outline
While your term paper will certainly be much longer than 5 paragraphs, the format might look something like this:
I. Introduction (preferable to write out the intro in its entirety for the outline)
II. First Section: Introduce the past culture
A. First Point: Who were they?
First Sub-Point of First Point: Time period
Second Sub-Point of First Point: Geographic boundaries
B. Second Point: Documentation of culture
First Sub-Point of Second Point: Historical sources (ie written accounts), Oral histories
Second Sub-Point of Second Point: Archaeological sources (types of “stuff”, where it was found, etc.)
III. Second Section: The Archaeology of your past culture
A. First Point: Archaeological methods
First Sub-Point of First Point: Introduce the archaeological site(s) you researched related to this past culture. Make sure to include where the site(s) is/are, where it/they fit into the global timeline, and why it is relevant to your topic
Second Sub-Point of First Point: Discuss the specific methods used (e.g. Specific dating techniques [radiocarbon, dendrochronology, seriation], pedestrian survey, excavation, GPR, faunal analysis, etc.)
B. Second Point: Cultural Extrapolations
First Sub-Point of Second Point: Based on the archaeological evidence found in your research, what do the leading experts say about this past culture?
Second Sub-Point of Second Point: How do you interpret the archaeological evidence? In other words, what do you think the collection of “stuff” represents.
IV. Third Section: Pseudoarchaeology
A. First Point: Leading pseudo-theories
First Sub-Point of First Point: Introduce the leading pseudo-theories associated with your past culture and discuss their following / believers
Second Sub-Point of First Point: Who and where are these theories marketed to? (e.g. cable TV, YouTube, TikTok; young adults, children, boomers, socioeconomic considerations, religious affiliations, etc.)
B. Second Point: The impact of these theories
First Sub-Point of Second Point: What makes these theories attractive? How have the proponents of this theory gained followers?
Second Sub-Point of Second Point: Specifically explain how these theories are a detriment to the understanding of the past culture using examples.
IV. Fourth Section: Modern descendants
A. First Point: Present-day communities
First Sub-Point of First Point: Introduce any modern day communities associated with your past culture. If there are none, who are likely descended from the past culture based off of geographic proximity and cultural context?
Second Sub-Point of First Point: What is the socioeconomic status of the majority of the people in this community. What is their general quality of life like?
B. Second Point: Descendant view of archaeology
First Sub-Point of Second Point: Is the community for or against archaeological research of the past culture? Why or why not?
Second Sub-Point of Second Point: Does the community agree with the mainstream historical and archaeological interpretation of their ancestors?
V. Conclusion (preferable to write out the conclusion in its entirety for the outline)
