Essay#1: Due September 18

HIV/AIDS and the Anthropological Perspective

This semester we will consider HIV/AIDS in our community through ethnographic interviews, and the lens of medical anthropology. After reading Chapter 1 in the book THE ANTHROPOLOGY OF AIDS, and considering the goals of Medical Anthropology discussed in class (from EXPLORING MEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGY), describe how the anthropological perspective will offer a unique perspective on HIV/AIDS in our community.

Consider:

• Why "reductionism" (using only one methodology or theoretical approach) is insufficient in explaining, preventing or treating HIV?
• What is "thick description" and why is it important in anthropological research?
• The role of culture in understanding health and illness. 
• Paul Farmer's notion of "infectious inequality." (cultural capital, socioeconomics)
• The importance of Qualitative data (informants stories).

Papers should be written in expository form, minimum of seven paragraphs (introduction, conclusion and 5 body paragraphs addressing each of the bulleted items above).

Rubric 100% total 

Opening and closing paragraphs

• introduction (10 points)
• introductory paragraph with poor structure and introduction of thesis-2
• introductory paragraph with adequate structure, but weak thesis-4
• introductory paragraph with adequate structure and thesis-6
• introductory paragraph with good structure and adequate thesis-8
• introductory paragraph with good structure and clear thesis-10
• conclusion (10 points)
• concluding paragraph with poor structure and summary of evidence illustrating thesis-2
• concluding paragraph with adequate structure, but weak summary of evidence illustrating thesis-4
• concluding paragraph with adequate structure and summary of evidence illustrating thesis-6
• concluding paragraph with good structure and adequate summary of evidence illustrating thesis-8
• concluding paragraph with good structure and clear summary of evidence illustrating thesis-10

Content coverage and understanding of concepts central to anthropology:

• reductionism (10 points)
• thick description (10 points)
• role of culture (10 points)
• "infectious inequality" (10 points)
• qualitative data (10 points)

Critical thinking and synthesis (30 points)

• does not show ability to understand material or present it in their own words-6
• shows some ability to understand material but difficulty relating individual concepts to the thesis-12
• shoes ability to understand material and adequate ability to synthesize material-18
• shows understanding of concepts and their importance to the thesis-24
• shows exceptional ability to synthesize concepts and relate them to the thesis-30