The course requires the completion of one in depth research paper that accounts for 30% of your overall grade.  This paper is to be not less than 10 pages and not more than 15 pages in length, double-spaced, in not more than 12-point font, and not less than 10-point font.  Papers may include illustrations, graphs or pictures, but these are considered separate from the 10-page requirement that is to be text.  The paper must be in the style of archaeological research papers.  The discipline of archaeology follows the convention of the journal American Antiquity for citation of references and bibliographic style.  In addition to the course texts, at least 6 other sources must be cited.  Website citations are accepted, but  a minimum of 2 sources must be published books or journal articles.  You will be required to select a topic from the list below, research both the pseudoscience and archaeology of that topic, and conduct a critical analysis of the topic using the tools provided to you in the texts (particularly Sagan) and in the critical thinking skills described in the lectures.  Prior to the submission of the paper, you are required to submit an outline of your paper.

The Paper Outline

Prior to the submission of your research paper, you will be required to submit an outline.  The outline is to be not more than 3 pages of text, double-spaced,  that declares the topic you will discuss, and outlines the approach you will take to the analysis of your topic.  In addition, you should submit a preliminary list of sources that you will use.  The outline is a chance for us to see what you are working on, and to provide you with feedback on the approach you are taking.  IF YOU ARE NOT SELECTING ONE OF THE TOPICS LISTED BELOW, YOU SHOULD SEE YOUR TEACHING ASSISTANT FIRST TO AVOID WORKING ON AN INAPPROPRIATE TOPIC.  The outlines are not formally graded, but are required.  If no outline is submitted, a penalty of 5% (one half-grade) on the paper, will be deducted from your paper score.  More importantly, without feedback on your outline, it is less likely that you will submit an excellent research paper. 

PAPER OUTLINES ARE DUE  IN CLASS OCTOBER 3rd

The Research Paper

What we are looking for in the analysis is a clear, thoughtful, logical, and above all SCIENTIFIC analysis of the material using a critical eye to detect flaws in the fantastic arguments presented.  What does scientific inquiry say about the pseudoscientific claim?  Why do people choose to believe questionable claims about the past?  Is the case one of intentional hoax, and if so what was the motive?  Why should people have known that an assertion was questionable, or perhaps outright false?

Since you will be arguing from the point of view of the skeptical, critical, SCIENTIFIC observer, your position should be supported by logical evidence, or at least logical alternative explanation and hypothesis.  It is not enough to say that something is "clearly a hoax" or to say that "science tells us that this is untrue"..  You must demonstrate that you understand the process of scientific inquiry and reasoning, and lest you fall into the same trap as pseudoscientists, you must provide evidence to support your claim.  Otherwise, your opinion is worth no more than those making the original claim.

Some topics deal with concepts that may involve a conflict of faith for some students.  It is not the intention of this course to challenge the religious beliefs of any student in the class.  Matters of faith are, however, separate from matters of science.  The purpose of this course is to teach scientific critical thinking.  If you feel you will be unable to complete a scientific and critical analysis on a particular topic for reasons of faith, you are encouraged to avoid that subject matter.  Papers will be marked based on the objectives listed above, and a belief-based defense for an unscientific treatment of a topic will not receive special consideration in grading.

THE RESEARCH PAPER IS DUE IN CLASS OCTOBER 19th. 

ONE PAPER COPY IS REQUIRED, AS WELL AS AN ELECTRONIC COPY SENT TO:

fantasticarchaeology2007@yahoo.com

Some notes on Citations and Bibliographies

Citations

In archaeological publications, citations are imbedded in the text of the paper.  For example, in a case where you will cite a work by David Freidel, written in 1999, referring to page 124 you would write:

Freidel (1999:124) states that the Maya developed one of the most spectacular civilizations in the Americas.

or

The Maya developed one of the most spectacular civilizations in the Americas (Freidel 1999:124).

This is the case where the citation is paraphrased rather than a direct quotation.

WHENEVER YOU USE AN IDEA OR CONCEPT FROM SOMEONE ELSE, EVEN IF YOU DO NOT QUOTE IT DIRECTLY, YOU MUST GIVE A CITATION TO PROPERLY CREDIT THAT PERSON.

For a direct quotation:

Freidel (1999:124) states that "the Maya peoples of the Yucatan and Mesoamerican isthmus developed one of the Americas most spectacular civilizations."

or

"The Maya peoples of the Yucatan and Mesoamerican isthmus developed one of the Americas most spectacular civilizations" (Freidel 1999:124).

Bibliographies

The citations in the body of your essay must refer to references cited in the bibliography (References Cited) at the end of your paper.  These citations also follow the format of American Antiquity.

For a journal reference from American Antiquity volume 12, number 3, pages 123 to 140:

Freidel, David

   1999    "A Discussion of the Claims of Extraterrestrial contact with the Ancient Maya." American Antiquity 12(3):123-140.

For a book:

Schele, Linda and David Freidel

   1990    A Forest of Kings: The Untold Story of The Ancient Maya.  New York: Quill William Morrow.

For an edited volume:

Smith, John

   1999    "Maya Civilization Revisited" IN Selected Papers on Ancient Civilizations.  John Smith and John Doe eds.  pp. 225-260.  Dallas: Southern Methodist University Press.

For a website:

Smith, John

   2002    "The Maya of Planet X."  www.pseudoscience.com/planetx/maya

NOTE: REFERENCES SHOULD ALL BE SINGLE-SPACED.  THEY APPEAR HERE DOUBLE-SPACED BECAUSE OF THE WEB-PAGE SPACING IN MICROSOFT FRONT PAGE.

PLAGIARISM

Plagiarism is a serious academic offence.  All materials obtained from any sources must be appropriately cited.  Misrepresenting the work of someone else as your own will result in a 0 (zero) grade on that assignment, and could make you subject to formal academic charges as outlined in the regulations of the university.  This may include formal censure by the honor board, academic probation, or expulsion.

Electronic copies of research papers from years past are collected in a database we compile to prevent resubmission of papers written in previous years.  DO NOT MAKE THE MISTAKE OF SUBMITTING A PAPER WRITTEN BY SOMEONE ELSE. 

RESEARCH TOPICS

The following are a list of possible research topics.  These have been selected from the topics in the course, but also include topics outside the material covered in lectures.  Other topics of your own choosing are possible, but they MUST BE APPROVED BY YOUR TEACHING ASSISTANT.  This is to ensure that there is sufficient reference material available for your topic.

Ancient Extraterrestrials and UFO's

Noah's Ark

The Predictions of Nostradamus

Moundbuilders

Marfa Lights

Vikings in Precolumbian North America

Stonehenge

Atlantis and other Lost Continents

Kennewick Man- Who owns the past?

Tabloid Archaeology

Diffusion

The Shroud of Turin

The James Ossuary

Psychic Archaeology

Creationism vs. Evolutionism

The Archaeology of the Alamo

The Archaeology of "Custer's Last Stand"

YOU ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO MEET WITH A TEACHING ASSISTANT TO DISCUSS YOUR PAPER TOPIC PRIOR TO THE SUBMISSION OF THE OUTLINE, AND PAPER.  TA'S HAVE WRITTEN COUNTLESS PAPERS OF THIS KIND AND WILL BE ABLE TO ASSIST YOU.