Paper 2
Paper 2 description (1,500-2,000 words)
Paper 2 is an exercise in presenting archaeology to the public. You are to write an article in a style suitable for Archaeology magazine based on some aspect of your selected research report. For example, you may write up some of the major findings, or you may choose to focus on description and interpretation of a particular feature or group of artifacts. It may be helpful (especially for the latter topic) to read additional sources to give you more background or context. Likewise, you may want to read a number of articles in Archaeology to gain a better sense of the writing style. The article must be a solid scholarly account (i.e., based on real data with clear links to your research questions, methods, results, and interpretations). However, you may fictionalize the human interest part of the article in order to create a good story (e.g., providing imaginary details on the day you found). (Note that this is NOT what writers for a lay audience do, BUT since you are writing up someone else's work and are not able to interview the researchers for those human interest tidbits, you are allowed to make them up for the purposes of this exercise).
Remember to follow Allen's suggestions (his 10 rules) for archaeological writers.
1. Find a hook. Tell what is important about your finds first.
2. Tell a story.
3. Include yourself. Write in the voice of the author or as a participant in the research. Or, you can write as a science writer (like Mann on Amazonia) sprinkling your article with quotes from relevant researchers.
4. Write in plain English.
5. Talk to a single reader. In this case, assume the audience is an Archaeology reader (i.e., you are writing for an educated lay audience).
6. Create memorable identifiers.
7. Use only the data you need.
8. Present data visually. You may use illustrations from the report or create your own.
9. Emphasize theory and method.
10. Always think of your audience
Grading will be based on
1. Adherence to Allen's 10 guidelines.
Imagine that an editor for the magazine is trying to decide whether to publish it or not.2. Clarity, organization, and coherence.
Is there a logical flow to your ideas? Are they presented clearly and concisely?3. Spelling, grammar, and format.
Please proofread. It is also a good idea to both read your papers out loud AND to have someone else read your paper. References should be listed at the end of your paper, following the SAA Style Guide.
Sources cited
Allen, Mitch
2002 Reaching the Hidden Audience: Ten Rules for the Archaeological
Writer. In Public Benefits of Archaeology, edited by Barbara
J. Little, pp. 244-251. University Press of Florida, Gainesville. CC77.H5
P83
Mann, Charles C.
2000 Earthmovers
of the Amazon. Science 287:786-789.
Mann, Charles C.
2002 The Real Dirt on Rainforest Fertility. Science
297:920-923.