ASSIGNMENT #1: DUE OCTOBER 7TH

CRITICAL REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION ON

KINSHIP AND SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS: MARRIAGE
Worth 15% of your final grade, out of 100 marks (rubric below)
THE ASSIGNMENT:
Using the lecture materials and readings (chapters 6 and 7) compare, contrast, discuss, and reflect
on the notion of marriage in ALL three of the following texts:
A. Modern Brides (30 min film, to be viewed in class)
B. The Womens Kingdom (22 min YouTube video):
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbzG0n3shTM
C. The Canadian Civil Marriage Act: Bill C-38: the Civil Marriage Act
http://www.parl.gc.ca/About/Parliament/LegislativeSummaries/bills_ls.asp?
ls=c38&Parl=38&Ses=1 (summary of the Act http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c31.5/page-1.html page 1)
These examples present different notions of marriage from three cultural contexts in Mysore,
South India, among the Monsuo in S.W. China (Yunnan and Sichuan Provinces), and in Canada,
respectively. The purposes of this assignment are to expose students to cross-cultural variation; to
challenge students to be critical of ethnocentric views by applying an anthropological lens and
concepts to examine real examples; and to encourage students to think critically about the cultural
construct of marriage and social organization. This assignment also aims to develop students
critical thinking, analytical, and writing skills, as well as their ability to synthesis material.
Suggested Steps for Approaching this Assignment:
1. Complete required class readings and print lecture slides for reference
2. View films as soon as possible, and take notes from the films and web article
3. Review your notes, reflect, fill in the gaps
4. Write on outline organizing the main points you will discuss and integrate
a. specific examples and details from the films and web article
b. course concepts and terms to demonstrate your understanding of the material and
show how they apply in these three examples
5. Write your analysis of the three texts (i.e., the two films and web article), following the
guidelines below. Please note that while this is NOT a formal essay, you are expected to
write organized, well-synthesized paragraphs that provide an evidence-based analysis of
the three texts. Use clear, precise, scholarly language and ensure that you edit for
grammar and spelling mistakes. You may use I in your paper.
INSTRUCTIONS:
Compare and contrast the cultural norms and expectations of marriage and social relationships
represented in the three texts. In particular, you must address the following:
1. How is marriage and/or partner relationship defined? What form does marriage take?
2. Who decides what marriage is and who a suitable marriage partner is? Describe what a
suitable partner looks like in each of the texts.
3. How does social status relate to choosing a partner and marriage decisions?
1

Please discuss the issues above in detail, using examples from the texts (evidence) to support your
points. Because this assignment does not require you to make an argument, you should think of
your paper as a series of short-answer responses to the questions above followed by a concluding
paragraph that reflects on the cultural construct of marriage in all three texts. The following
structure is suggested.
Suggested Outline:
1-2 paragraphs Definitions and forms of marriage
Text A
Text B
Text C
1-2 paragraphs Who authorizes / decides marriage and partners; partner descriptions
Text A
Text B
Text C
1-2 paragraphs Role of social status in selection of partners
Text A
Text B
Text C
1-2 paragraphs Summary reflecting on cultural construct and variation of marriage
(include thoughts you had before and after analyzing the texts)
Each section of your paper should consist of your own analysis (comparison and contrast using
specific details from the three texts) and an integration of the course concepts. Remember, you
should NOT include an introductory paragraph with an argument or thesis statement. Instead,
focus on the differences and similarities among the three texts in terms of the questions provided.
FORMAT
Your discussion paper should be approximately 3 pages, double spaced, (no more than 4) in
Times New Roman 12 point font with 2.5 inch margins all around as a WORD document (no
other formats will be accepted). Align paragraphs to the left (not justified please!) and indent
paragraphs at the standard setting; insert page numbers at the bottom right of the page. Include a
title (NO title page) on the first line in bold, followed by your name and student identification
number.
Save your document file on your computer as your surname and the first two initials of your first
name, followed by -A1. For a student by the name of Linda McNenly, for example, the file name
would be as follows: McNenlyLi-A1.
Upload your document on Portal under the link Assignments by midnight on the due date.
Emailed assignments will NOT be accepted.
LATE ASSIGNMENTS will be penalized 5% per day, including weekends and holidays, and
will NOT be accepted after 5 days from the due date, no exceptions. The submission link will
close on October 12th, midnight; assignments not received by this date will receive a zero. (See
syllabus for more details about late assignments).

MARKING RUBRIC:
Out of
100 marks

Excellent (A)
80 100%

Good (B)
70 79 %

Average (C)
60 69%

Marginal (D)
50 59 %

Inadequate (F)
Less than 50%

All three questions

addressed very superficially;
comparison / contrast of
texts lacking or unclear,
discussion of evidence brief
or unclear; Reflection on
relationship between three
texts and concepts vague.
Makes unsupported
opinions / ethnocentrism
and/or attempts to develop a
thesis-driven argument
about marriage.
Weak analysis and
understanding of texts;
integrates some details from
texts, other details are
irrelevant. Some misuse or
misunderstanding of
anthropological concepts;
minimal discussion of texts
and concepts.
Synthesis of all three texts
with anthropological
concepts needs work /
inadequate; concluding
reflection paragraph does
not show an understanding
of cultural variation or the
construction of culture.
Structure needs work,
unorganized paragraphs;
does not use transitions and
other signposts; uses
scholarly language; many
format, spelling, or grammar
errors; not clearly written.

Does not answer all three

questions; does not compare
/ contrast texts sufficiently,
discussion of evidence is
minimal or missing.
Reflection on relationship
between three texts and
concepts vague; Makes
unsupported opinions /
ethnocentrism and/or
attempts to develop a thesisdriven argument about
marriage.
Weak analysis and/or
misunderstands texts; does
not integrate details from
texts. Misunderstands or
misuses anthropological
concepts; minimal
discussion of texts and
concepts, discussion lacks
clarity.
Does not synthesize of all
three texts with concepts
clearly; concluding
reflection paragraph does
not show an understanding
of cultural variation and
the construction of culture.

Quality of
Response to
Task (25)

All three questions addressed in

detail; excellent comparison /
contrast of texts, excellent
discussion of evidence.
Excellent reflection on
relationship between three
texts and anthropological
concepts; NO unsupported
opinions / ethnocentrism; NO
attempt to develop a thesisdriven argument about
marriage.

All three questions addressed in

detail; good comparison /
contrast of texts, good
discussion of evidence. Good
reflection on relationship
between three texts and
anthropological concepts; NO
unsupported opinions /
ethnocentrism; NO attempt to
develop a thesis-driven
argument about marriage.

All three questions addressed

but not always explained fully;
average comparison / contrast
of texts; some discussion of
evidence. Understands
relationship between three texts
and anthropological concepts;
some unsupported opinions /
ethnocentrism; NO attempt to
develop a thesis-driven
argument about marriage.

Quality of
Comprehension
of Texts and
Anthropological
Concepts (25)

Excellent analysis and

understanding of texts;
excellent integration of clear
and relevant details from texts.
Excellent understanding of
relevant anthropological
concepts; excellent discussion
of texts using relevant
anthropological concepts.
Excellent synthesis of all three
texts with relevant
anthropological concepts;
excellent concluding reflection
paragraph demonstrating
thorough understanding of
cultural variation and the
construction of culture.
Very well-structured and
logically organized paragraphs;
excellent use of transitions and
other signposts to help structure
discussion; excellent use of
scholarly language and
conventions; very few format,
spelling, or grammar errors;
eloquently written.

Good analysis and

understanding of texts; good
integration of clear and relevant
details from texts. Good
understanding of relevant
anthropological concepts; good
discussion of texts using relevant
anthropological concepts.

Average analysis and

understanding of texts;
integrates some details from
texts. Shows some
understanding of relevant
anthropological concepts;
average discussion of texts
using anthropological concepts.

Good synthesis of all three texts

with relevant anthropological
concepts; good concluding
reflection paragraph
demonstrating thorough
understanding of cultural
variation and the construction of
culture.
Good structure and logically
organized paragraphs; good use
of transitions and other signposts
to help structure discussion; uses
scholarly language and
conventions; some format,
spelling, or grammar errors; well
written.

Average synthesis of all three

texts with anthropological
concepts; concluding reflection
paragraph demonstrates some
understanding of cultural
variation and the construction
of culture.

Quality of
Synthesis of
Texts and
Anthropological
Concepts (25)

Quality of
Organization
and Writing (25)

Fairly well organized

paragraphs; some use of
transitions and other signposts
to help structure discussion;
uses scholarly language and
conventions; some format,
spelling, or grammar errors;
average writing style.

Poor structure and

unorganized paragraphs;
does not transitions and
other signposts; does not
uses scholarly language and
conventions; some format,
spelling, or grammar errors;
poorly written.