paper mechanics

must be typed, with 12 point font and 1” margins. You may use the resources of the writing center to assist with paper mechanics. If you turn in a paper copy, please staple the essays in order with the cover sheet stapled to the front.

 

For each of the case studies, make sure you identify the time period, place, and cultural group. You should address all parts of the individual questions. Each essay should be no longer than two pages.

 

You should refer to both novels and evidentiary articles for each essay. You may also refer to videos that we watched in class. Be sure to use specific examples from the texts and also define terms, cultures, and places that you use (i.e. Paleoindian, Chaco Canyon, Coosa). You should appropriately cite any idea or evidence that you use within the text of your essays. You are only allowed to use articles and readings from class. For this reason, you DO NOT need to provide a bibliography. Feel free to refer to character names and plots in the novels to illustrate your points. You can use your written assignments from the class as a base to answering your questions, but you will have to expand these answers if you choose to use them.

 

 

Evaluation #1: _______ / 5

 

Evaluation #2: _______ / 5

 

Evaluation #3: _______ / 5

 

Evaluation #4: _______ / 5

 

Evaluation #5: _______ / 5

 

Evaluation #6: _______ / 5 (answer 4 of the 6 above)

 

Summary Essay: _____ / 5

 

TOTAL: ___________ / 25

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Case Studies

Directions: Answer FOUR of the six case study questions below AND the summary question at the end. Each essay is worth 5 points (25 points total).

 

Paleoindians and Sharman Apt Russell (2000) The Last Matriarch

Describe the kinds of relationships that exist between humans and animals in The Last Matriarch? How is the issue of extinction addressed? How does this compare to recent archaeological evidence?

 

Cahokia and Kathleen King (1983) Cricket Sings

Why is Cahokia such an important archaeological site in North America? What is the evidence for the death and burial ceremonies of the Sun King, as described in Cricket Sings? What kinds of archaeological evidence would you expect (or need) to find to support the argument of three classes of people living on and near the site, as described in Cricket Sings?

 

Chaco Canyon and W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O’Neal Gear (1996) People of the Silence

Describe the different models of political, economic, and social organization that have been suggested for Chaco Canyon. Which of these models are suggested by People of the Silence? According to the archaeological evidence, why did people leave the Great Houses at Chaco Canyon? What explanation is given for the abandonment of the area in People of the Silence?

 

Plains Dakota and Ella Cara DeLoria (1988) Waterlily

Discuss the importance of kinship and gender in the daily lives of the Dakota people, as addressed in Waterlily. How do these aspects of Dakota society get encoded in material objects? How do archaeologists investigate gender and gender roles in the archaeological record? How does the analysis of the Black Dog Burial site relate to the story in Waterlily?

 

Coosa and Charles M. Hudson (2003) Conversations with the High Priest of the Coosa

(You may include information from A Rumor of Bones in this essay as well). Why is the de Soto expedition important for discussions of the Coosa? Why did chiefdoms in the southeast decline and collapse after de Soto’s expedition arrived, and why did the moundbuilders cease making mounds? Which of the stories told by Raven in Conversations with the High Priest of Coosa do you think would best help with interpretations of material objects from Coosa archaeological sites?

 

Archaeologists at Work and Beverly Connor (1983) A Rumor of Bones

What do readers learn about archaeologists and archaeology from reading novels that portray archaeological field projects and portray archaeologists as lead characters? Do you think archaeologists should be able to “time trip,” like Lindsay does? (To complete this essay, you will need to refer to the readings from the first and last discussions).

 

 

Summary (note: everyone must answer this question)

Storytelling is an event and a theme that runs through most if not all of the novels that we read for this class. Characters in the books tell stories to each other, and the authors tell stories to the readers. How do the various authors use storytelling as a vehicle in their novels to advance the plot, teach us something about the past, and engage us in the present? Note: this essay may be longer than the two page limit, but does not need to be.