BACKGROUND PAPER

Goal: In 5 typed pages (plus bibliography), summarize research,theory and history relevant to your research topic.

There are four parts to your paper:

1). Restatement of research problem.In a paragraph (or less), state your research topic.

2). Relevant Theory.There is nothing new under the sun, and that includes your research topic.In this part of your paper (1-2 pages), consider who has written about your topic and what perspectives they bring to it.Marxism?Cyborg anthropology?Structuralist anthropology?Psychoanalysis?Describe different approaches to your topic and defend your own perspective based on these texts.

3). Site History.Every aspect of life changes over time and, in this portion of your paper (2-3 pages), I want you to explore those changes and, in particular, how they lead up to the present configurations you are interested in researching.Looking at government interventions in women’s reproduction?How did the State begin to regulate reproduction in the 18^th and 19^th centuries (using social hygiene and eugenics) and how have these techniques translated into today’s focus on genetics (e.g., Human Genome Project)?Planning on interviewing computer scientists?What is the history of computer science in the United States?Who (demographically) becomes a computer scientist?

4). Bibliography.Include a complete bibliography of relevant sources, even when they are not cited in the body of your paper (though definitely include the ones cited in your paper).Use the format in your syllabus.