Dr Harry Walker OLD 5.06B and Dr Michael Scott OLD 6.16

This course is compulsory on the BA in Social Anthropology and BSc in Social Anthropology. This course is not available as an outside option nor to General Course students.

Undergraduates taking this course need to have completed the first two year of either the BA/BSc Social Anthropology or the BA Anthropology and Law.

The essay may be based on any topic deemed to be amenable to anthropological analysis, and agreed by the student’s academic advisor. Students should ensure that there is an adequate body of relevant literature available for analysis, and that the topic as defined is not unmanageably large.

There is no formal course content. Students will be expected to draw widely on their readings from other anthropology courses.

2 hours of lectures in the MT. 2 hours of lectures in the LT. 2 hours of lectures in the ST.

Guidance on dissertation research and writing will be given in two-hour sessions in each of MT and LT.

Students have the opportunity to submit an abstract and bibliography to their academic advisor, who will advise candidates during their normal tutorial meetings on the chosen topic, the empirical and analytical scope of the essay, and on relevant readings. Students submit three-page outlines, and other writing assignments in Lent Term, and receive feedback on these during the seminar.

There is no formal course content. Students will be expected to draw widely on their readings from other anthropology courses.

Dissertation (100%, 8000 words) in the ST.

The essay is 7,000 to 8,000 words of main text, including footnotes and appendices but excluding bibliography. The essay should be typed, double spaced, and should follow the reference procedures of The Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute. The essay must be handed in to the Anthropology Departmental Office by the date announced in the Department’s Handbook, normally by May 1st.