Assignment: Compose a short essay (1,000 words of original text) critically evaluating Knauft’s text The Gebusi. Thinking critically does not mean writing a summary, but composing an argument, commentary, or discussion about the content.
A critical evaluation is your opportunity to address your reaction to the text. Your opinion matters! You may elevate and challenge approaches or arguments presented by the author, although critique is most effective when discussed in light of specific examples from the book and other reliable scholarly information sources.
Precise language will allow you to control the tone of your review and present a balanced argument. It is very possible to express strong agreement or disagreement without being too one-sided or harsh.
Lastly, be sure to review the book as published–not the book you had expected or preferred. It is acceptable to highlight shortcomings or failures, but it is not useful to critically review a text for being something it is not.
Questions to consider:
Who is the author? What is their main goal in writing the book and why is their story relevant?
What community is the subject of the book? How does the author treat their subject? Do they cover information in a balanced fashion? Do they claim to “speak for” the community or do they write about their own experiences learning about them?
What challenge(s) are faced by the community studied? How has this community been impacted by globalization or other forms of culture change? How do people within the community experience these challenges in their everyday lives?
What is the thesis or main argument? How does the author structure their argument and what evidence do they use to support their claims? Is their argument effective and persuasive?
Is the author’s approach anthropological? What themes, theories, topics, and issues does the author raise? What methods or techniques do they employ? Is their approach analytical, chronological, descriptive, etc.? Does this approach effectively support their main argument?
Is the author’s approach ethical? What challenges do they face in the field and how does this research impact the community of interest? How closely does the author adhere to ethical obligations outlined inside the front cover of the Welsch/Vivanco textbook?
How is the book anthropological? How does the text relate to the learning modules and anthropological themes discussed in this course?
What are the book’s strengths and weaknesses? What works and what does not work? What does the author get right? What could be improved?
For whom is the book written? What audiences would appreciate Knauft’s text? Who would find it useful? Is the author’s writing accessible and relatable? Confusing? Interesting? Entertaining? Instructive?
What does the book accomplish? Does the author fulfill their stated purpose for writing the text? How useful is their work for understanding the subfield of Cultural Anthropology?
Paper formatting: 1″ margins on all sides, Times New Roman font (12-point), double-spaced with no extra spacing before or after paragraphs, page numbers, and formatted to either APA, MLA, or Chicago Style. There is no preferred style but please be consistent and use only one format. All sources must be cited throughout the paper as in-text citations and listed alphabetically on a separate references page. No identifying information should appear in the body of your paper. A required title page should be the only place details such as your name, date, title, course, and instructor appear.
