Assignments

• Map exercise. Please make (by hand) a map of the Caribbean and surrounding mainland. Label each island, except for the smallest ones. Please also indicate the languages spoken today on the islands. There are some links that might help on the links page. Bring your map to class Sept. 6th.
  
  
• In the middle part of the term you will present two case studies of archaeological or historical projects dealing with the Caribbean or related topics. These should be short presentations (10 minutes) that introduce the rest of the class to the researchers and the project. You should discuss what research questions were behind the research, what data and strategies were employed, and what their results were. It would be very good to have visual material - overheads, handouts, maps - to go with your presentation. These can also be part of the second part of this assignment -- the case study report. The course bibliography might help.
  
  
• At the time of each of your presentations you should provide everyone in the class with a case study report, which should include 1 or 2 single-spaced pages of text, a complete bibliography of the project, and other relevant material (e.g. maps). The case studies will be given between September 13th and November 22nd. (Together the case studies and reports count for 25% of the final grade).
  
  
• A short research proposal, identifying a research problem and a strategy for its investigation. The proposal will be roughly in the format required by the NSF and other funding institutions - ten pages, with some fairly specific requirements about what has to be covered. Guidelines are linked here. This proposal will be due on Friday,October 25th. [25%]



• A final project. You will discuss / present your project in class sometimes between the 9th and 30th of November, and the written (or otherwise produced; the format is flexible) version will be due Monday December 9th. There can be a lot of flexibility about this project, depending on where you are in your graduate program and what your interests are. I need to discuss this and receive a final project plan from you for your final project by October 11th. The final project plan should be a one-page summary of the project we have discussed, laying out the main ideas, data, approach, and giving an idea of the final shape the project will take. [35%]
  
  
• Constructive Participation and attendance [15%]

Provisos, stipulations, advice, threats: to do well in this class you must be in class every week, do the readings before each class period, carry out each assignment on time, and be a positive, constructive, contributing member of our group. An atmosphere of mutual respect and consideration for diverse perspectives is essential. I will take off for late or incomplete assignments, and will use the "constructive participation and attendance" part of the grade to help ensure a non-censorious environment in which people can speak without fear.