ASB 102 Making Connections–Course Content
Due:Dec 11, 2016, 11:00 PM

ASB 102 Online

Making Connections–Course Content

Anthropology strives to understand and describe the human experience, both past and present. Anthropological thought provides an emic focus (cultural relativistic) on the specific behaviors and beliefs of a culture applied against a universal etic (theoretical) backdrop for human survival. The weaving together of this information, along with cross-cultural comparisons, provides greater understanding into the universality of the human experience, the great diversity of human populations, as well as, insights into contemporary issues within our own culture. As such, anthropology is said to be a study of self-discovery.

Throughout the semester we have focused on several topics, cultural universals, and concepts, including but not limited to: media, gender, political organizations, subsistence patterns, economic systems, religion, environmental issues, social stratification, status, ideology, medical anthropology, marginalization, social control, art, language, social institutions, culture, worldview, foodways, race and ethnicity, the social construction of reality, power, ritual, material and non-material culture, technology, and globalization.

This week’s assignment has several parts that span the scope of the course content. Be sure to follow the format, directions, and provide all the required elements.

Part 1

Choose two completely different topics/cultural variables that were meaningful to you. (You can refer to the above list or from any other topics we examined this semester.)

For each topic provide a holistic reflective analysis of the topic/cultural variable. You are demonstrating your comprehensive understanding of how this topic/cultural variable fits into the cultural puzzle. Your holistic and analytical reflection needs to include, but is not limited to, the following questions:

-Why is this topic meaningful, significant, and/or interesting to you?

-What other cultural variables create/support and perpetuate this topic/cultural variable?

-What are the intended and unintended results/consequences of this topic/cultural variable?

-How does it fit into the cultural puzzle? (The cultural puzzle is how each culture integrates cultural universal to make sense of the member’s experience.)

-How has your understanding of this topic changed this semester?

Assignment Criteria for Part 1

Provide a topic sentence that frames your answer and guides the reader.

Include your answers to the above questions.

Include 5+ underlined terms from the textbook.

Provide cited evidence from the textbook and a TED Talk (be specific with the citing-use MLA format). You need a total of 2 citations per topic/cultural variable.

No thinks, feels, knows, believes -5pts

125-150 words per topic/cultural variable

Part 2

Part 2 cannot be something we have already compared this semester in class.

Now that you have analyzed these 2 very different topics/cultural variables, step back. What do they have in common? If you can’t see an overarching similarity, step back again until you see a framework that illustrates how they are connected in the cultural puzzle. This connection usually will be a concept versus a singular cultural variable. How are they different? This is how you frame your topic sentence. Begin with listing similarities and differences.

List how they are similar:

List how they are different:

The prompt: Compare and contrast the two topics/cultural variables you chose.

For example-the topic sentence: The cultural variables of religious ideology and media stabilize culture by reflecting and perpetuating cultural norms and values; however, they differ in their purpose, expression, and power to influence social change.

Do you see how this frames the answer? From reading this you know what needs to be in the text for support this position. The comparison will demonstrate how these two variables are used to stabilize the culture yet provide a platform for changing the culture.

From this topic sentence, transition with: For example, specifically state some of the common cultural norms and values that are expressed/perpetuated by religious ideology and media (be sure to specify the types of religious ideology and media you are referencing). Make your transition and then state how they are different with regard to purpose, expression, and social change.

Assignment Criteria for Part 2:

Provide a topic sentence that frames your answer and guides the reader.

Include your answers to the above questions.

Include 5+ underlined terms from the textbook.

Provide cited evidence from the textbook and TED Talk (be specific with the citing-use MLA format) You need a total of 4 citations in part 2: 2 citations from the textbook and 1 citation from 2 different TED Talks

No thinks, feels, knows, believes -5pts

150-200 words total

Required format (10 points) your submission format will look like:

Your name

ASB 102 Course Connections—Week #16

Part 1

Two topics/cultural variables: ¬¬¬¬¬¬_________________ and ___________________

First topic/cultural variable _______________

Your holistic (comprehensive/concise) analytical answer requires a strong topic sentence and the other assignment criteria. Use a paragraph format.

Second topic/cultural variable__________________

Your holistic (comprehensive/concise) analytical answer requires a strong topic sentence and the other assignment criteria. Use a paragraph format.

Part 2

List all the similarities:

List all the differences:

Prompt: Compare and contrast the two cultural phenomena you chose.

Begin with a strong topic sentence that clearly frames your answer and guides the reader. Follow with a strong topic sentence, a supporting paragraph, and other assignment criteria. Use a paragraph format.