ANTH 150: Religion in Culture and Society

What is the main purpose of anthropology?      

The goal of anthropology is to understand what it means to be human in all our wondrous diversity and complexity. Anthropologists aspire to approach humans holistically, seeing ourselves as products of our histories lying at the intersection of biology and culture. 

- Sapiens.org

This quarter we embark on a journey together, of understanding how religious rites and rituals have made humans into the animals they are.

Step 1. State your topic and research question

Step 2. Determine your information need: what type of sources do you anticipate needing to consult for this topic? What keywords could you use to search for this information? Make a research plan.

Step 3. Conduct background research using encyclopedias and dictionaries. This might include brushing up on different research methodologies utilized in the field of anthropology (check out the ethnography tab if you are interested in that methodology).

Step 4. Start following your research plan: pick the right source (database or other repository) to search for data, field notes, and other primary sources; pick the right source (database or other repository) to search for academic articles and books.

Step 5. Synthesize and summarize the sources you have gathered so far. 

Step 6. Repeat the cycle. Have your information needs changed? If so, retool your research plan by identifying new keywords to use in the right database or repository.

Step 7. Organize your sources! Options for that follow below.

Generate a Citation

Citation Management Tools

Citation Style Guides

Some style guides are only available as books in the library, and others are available as interactive online databases. Below are three common citation styles.