Anthropology paper topic?

Question

I have a paper due at the end of the semester and I'm having trouble thinking of a topic. The paper has to be 12-14 pages long so I need a topic thats pretty general and over all something I can write about. This paper is for an Anthropology writing class but I can write about anything that has to do with the social sciences..

Answer 1

Acutally if you stay on a general topic you may have trouble reaching 12-14 pages.  You are more likely to find plenty of background info, and have a lot of opportunity to think, and write about a more narrow topic that you really find interesting.  Start looking through you text and find something that interests you.  Or think about why you really took this class - what caught your eye - see if you can develop that idea and you should be able to write quite a bit and actually be interested in your topic.

Good Luck

Answer 2

Pick a delusion to discuss.

1) Don't rely on external powers. You must do it for yourself.

2) Don't explain things on the basis of external judgment. This saps your determination.

3) Understand that the universe does not operate in a binary fashion just because your planet has a day-night cycle.

4) Understand that all of life is inexorably interconnected and don't be fooled by the visual input that creates the false impression of separateness.

5) Get rid of those who seek to ensnare you in guilt and unhappiness. They are serving their own purposes, not your life.

6) Understand that all of life, including the tiniest particle of dust, is continually changing. Do not get attached to circumstances.

7) Do not complain if you don't always find the going easy. Enjoy what there is to enjoy, and suffer what there is to suffer and never forget that your beliefs determine your environment.

Answer 3

How about a comparative assessment of Anthropological findings of Africa vs. Europe?  Africa is by far the most prolific of anthropological findings, and is well established as the early home of man, but everybody knows more about the Neandertal (european)  than Homo-Erectus, Homo-Habilis, and Homo-Ergaster. (all african)  It's an easy topic to expand, and an easy topic to merge with political ethnocentrism to create a big paper.

Answer 4

12-14 pages is a pretty short paper.  I'd try to stick to a more narrow topic, otherwise you run the risk of ending up with something superficial.  

It's difficult to say what topic you could do.  I love Arctic archaeology and mythology, or Iroquois history.  I might also do a paper on comparative archaeological theory - processualism, postprocessualism, and the like.  Or I might try for a paper on forensic anthropology and the study of osteology, or maybe a paper on flintknapping.  They're just topics that interest me.  

That's the great thing about anthropology.  You can basically write about anything and put it into an anthropological context.  I know this won't sound too helpful, but try to think of what you're interested in and what books or papers would be easy for you to use.