Smith College's Moodle

Final Research Project Statement

For your Thursday meeting, 9/23, you are to bring a written draft of your research proposal. I will not collect this draft - but it should contain notes, ideas, and questions. You should come prepared to discuss what topic, site, cultural area, etc. you have decided to research and write about. Our meeting time is intended to hone your ideas as you have developed them thus far; please come prepared.

The Research Statement which is due on midnight, Thursday, September 23 on Moodle, should clearly state, in one or two paragraphs (about 250 words) what you propose to research. Avoid generalizations and vague statements, be specific in what you intend to research. Focus on a specific aspect of a given site or culture area, e.g., Çatalhöyük spanned 1,100 years and so it would be important to decide what period you wanted to examine (Early, Middle or Late). Likewise, decide what aspect of life at Çatalhöyük you would you research - health and disease, diet, settlement patterns, ritual and symbolism, gender, domestic plants and/or animals, etc. The field is limitless! I suggest choosing a topic you are interested in learning more about.

I look forward to seeing you on Thursday. Please stay tuned for where our meetings will take place; I am still hoping to meet under the pagoda, with a sweater and a thermos of tea if necessary! 

Thank you,

Professor Mangan