THANKSGIVING EXERCISE INSTRUCTIONS
Anthropology: Fall 2019~~~~~ DUE: Friday, December 6 2019
An assignment based on Participant Observation fieldwork techniques
For this exercise students will observe and participate in Thanksgiving day activities and then write a short ethnography or cultural study about their experience.
Possible topics to observe and write about include: (choose at least three)
1. the setting – where and what time of day that the various parts of the Thanksgiving event took place, significance of times and locations
2. social organization – # of participants, ages, gender, relationships, who interacts with whom, seating arrangements for the meal, any differentiation of acceptable or expected activities or participation based on perceived or actual status of individuals.
3. division of labor – who organizes, directs and participates in pre- food preparation, food preparation, serving, clean-up, other activities.
4. the meal – the symbolic meaning of the meal and particular food items for the diners, the broader social significance of the meal (e.g., family and national history, ethnicity) what was eaten and in what quantities and by whom (generally people, please don’t go weighing out portions here – who eats the stuffing, who eats pie, and what’s-the-likely-reason-for-this kind of description and analysis);
5. rituals – such as saying grace, cutting the turkey, making toasts, table manners, etc.
6. other activities associated with the day – such a watching a parade or football on TV, playing football or other games, eating leftovers, getting out Christmas decorations, etc. Who participates, likely reasons for these activities.
Students should be sure to begin their paper with an introduction that includes a statement of their thesis and end their paper with a conclusion that gives their assessment of the event as it relates to their thesis.
Wherever possible, students should link their discussion to relevant points made during the semester in class readings and discussion, and the information in the handout for this exercise.
The paper is worth 50 pts. It will be graded on the clarity of its thesis, its overall organization, and the insights and thoroughness of the discussion. Length is relevant only as it supports a full exploration of the thesis as outlined here.
Students should make sure that they invest the time necessary for improving the quality of their writing (revise, revise, revise….). One-half grade will be deducted for “rough” writing. The penalty clock will start at midnight on the due date. Late work will be docked 10% per day until received. Please feel free to email your assignment to me at dschwinn@shorewood.k12.wi.us. Please include “Thanksgiving fieldwork project” as your subject line.