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Final Research Paper
In the Final Research Paper, you will examine your own culture
from an etic (outsider’s) perspective and another culture from
an emic (insider’s) perspective to demonstrate your
understanding of cultural relativism and examine
misconceptions and ethnocentric beliefs concerning each of
these cultures.
Your Final Research Paper will consist of two main parts. See
the
flow chart
for a quick overview of the assignment.
Focus of the Final Research Paper
In the Final Research Paper, you will demonstrate a culturally
relativistic perspective, in order to understand why different
groups of people do what they do, without expressing a positive
or negative opinion of their cultural practices.
Cultural relativism is the idea that the beliefs and practices of a
culture should be understood within the context of that
particular culture’s background, history, and current events
surrounding it. We should not ethnocentrically impose our own
beliefs and opinions, which are products of our own
enculturation.
Cultural relativism is not the same as moral relativism,
however. As Crapo (2013) notes
We need not, for instance, come to value infanticide in order to
understand the roles it may play in peoples’ lives in a society
where it is customary. What cultural relativism requires of us is
simply that we do not confuse our own feelings about such a
custom with understanding it. To do the latter, we must
investigate the meanings the custom has for those who practice
it and the functions it may fulfill in their society. (section 1.4,
“Cultural Differences: Cultural Relativism,” para. 3)
Keep the distinction between cultural relativism and moral
relativism in mind as you write your final paper. Even if you do

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not personally agree with a cultural practice, demonstrate your
understanding of the practice in its cultural context. Avoid
opinionated or judgmental language in your paper.
Introduction
Begin with an
introductory paragraph that has a thesis statement at the end
. The introduction should set up your topic, giving a preview
and summary of the analysis you will present in the body of the
paper. The thesis statement is the last sentence or two of the
introduction and states what the main point structuring your
paper will be.
Part I
Using the
Miner (1956) article
and the feedback you received from your instructor on your
“Summarize Your Sources for the Final Research Paper”
assignment in Week Three as a guide, describe
one
aspect of your own culture from an etic perspective. See
the appropriate sections in the textbook
, based on your chosen topic from Week Three, for information
on how to approach your paper from an anthropological
perspective. You can describe American culture in general, as
Miner does, or you can describe an American subculture, such
as a specific geographical group (e.g., New Yorkers), a
particular ethnicity (e.g., African Americans), or an age-related
category of Americans (e.g., millennials).
Use reputable statistics and/or scholarly research to support any
factual statements. Do not rely solely on personal experience or
opinion. Here is an example of
how to properly support your statements
.
Potential sources you can use to support your analysis are
listed below. You can also conduct your own research to find

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other sources.
United States Census Bureau (
http://www.census.gov/
)
Gallup (
http://www.gallup.com/home.aspx
)
Pew Research Center (
http://www.pewresearch.org/
)
Part II
Refer to the article you chose for Part II of the “Summarize
Your Sources for the Final Research Paper” assignment in Week
Three and describe an aspect of another culture from an emic
(insider’s) perspective. You do not have to do research beyond
reading your chosen article; however, if you do choose to
conduct additional research make sure to use reputable statistics
and/or scholarly sources to support any factual statements. Do
not rely solely upon personal experience or opinion.
Conclusion
End with a
concluding paragraph
that reinforces your thesis. Summarize and tie together your
main points for the reader. Provide a brief self-reflexive
analysis of what you learned while writing this paper.
Writing the Final Research Paper
The Final Research Paper
Must be five to six double-spaced pages in length (excluding
title page and references page, meaning it will be seven to eight
pages total), and formatted according to APA style as outlined
in the Ashford Writing Center (see the

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APA Essay Checklist for Students
).
Must include a
title page
with the following:
Title of paper
Student’s name
Course name and number
Instructor’s name
Date submitted
Must begin with an introductory paragraph that has a succinct
thesis statement.
Must have well-structured body paragraphs with clear
transitions from one topic to the next.
Incorporate in-text citations
from your scholarly sources to support your analysis
throughout the paper.
Must describe an aspect of your own culture from an etic
perspective for Part I.
Must describe an aspect of another culture from an emic
perspective for Part II.
Must demonstrate a perspective of cultural relativism
throughout, avoiding judgmental and opinionated language.
Must end with a conclusion that that reinforces the thesis and
provides a self-reflexive analysis.
Must use at least one scholarly resources in addition to the
textbook, the Miner article, and the article chosen from the list
in Part II of the Week Three assignment.
Must document all sources in APA style in the body of the
paper and on the references page as outlined in the Ashford
Writing Center.
Must include a separate
references page
that is formatted according to APA style as outlined in the
Ashford Writing Center.
In this class, you have three tutoring services available: Paper

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Review, Live Chat, and Tutor E-mail. Click on the Writing
Center (AWC) tab in the left-navigation menu to learn more
about these tutoring options and how to get help with your
writing.