This is a somewhat completed first draft of a SOP. I have several thoughts and questions that I'm hoping to garner some feedback for. (Saved for the end). The program that I'm applying for (or will be) is in the field of bio archaeology - specifically Human Osteology at one school and Paleopathology at another. Both schools are in the UK - I am in the US
Instructions: from U of Sheffield:A supporting statement A
You should supply a statement giving your reasons for applying for the course and any other information you want to supply in support of your application.
As a condition of solitude, Rainer Maria Rilke declared he wanted "to be with those who know secret things or else alone" (1906). By evaluating the changing human condition overtime it can be said with great certainty that our prehistory is full of secret things. It was a response to these secrets that propelled me to pursue a contentious venture into human variation and undertake my bachelor's essay and research project entitled, "Constructing Race: Skin Color, Self-Perception and Cognitive Influences on Racial Classification". As the title suggests, I endeavored to explore modern perceptions of race categories and the subjective influences that shape percepts into a measurable system. My premise being that since perceptions and the idea of self are formed through social interactions then the importance lies with indentifying patterns of social influences on skin-color.
Empirically grounded, my thesis provided me with the experience to identify connections to theoretical perspectives and rationalize which aspects of a sociocultural matrix (such as education, cultural background, sex, religion and external media sources, including violence and crime) perpetuated the idea of race. I was able to engage the seminal literature of several theorists inside the realm of anthropology as well as apart from it, including Marvin Harris' Referential Ambiguity in the Calculus of Brazilian Racial Identity, civil rights activist W.E.B. Dubois' The Souls of Black Folk and the conflicting theories of social anthropologist Claude Levi Straus and French philosopher Jacques Derrida. It was during the practical part of my research that I was able to successfully gauge a respondent's comfort level on several topics of race, as well as utilize observational skills and statistical methods for surveying results. This allowed me to apply analytical and quantitative forms of research as well as approach the research in a holistic manner. And while the results proved to be just as contradictory as the idea of race itself, this project afforded me the opportunity to experience real academic scholarship and research by formulating theories, building upon them, and discarding them when they proved insufficient.
My bachelor's essay was not the sum of my interests, but rather the starting point for branching into the fields of anthropology. It was through my key courses in archaeology and ecology, that I developed an affinity for examining physiological and morphological changes due to developmental conditions, diseases and nutrition. More importantly, I wanted to know how the relationship of these factors tied together with present day human variation and the effects they had on developing societies as well as past societies. With these questions in mind, I endeavored to strike a balance with my preoccupation with biological anthropology and archaeology and began an internship with a center for chimpanzee and orangutan conservation. Here, my research interests paralleled, allowing me to simultaneously study human interaction and diversity for my senior thesis, as well as the biological and comparative aspects of our ape relatives.
In pursuit of converging interests, I decided to take a year off from school before pursuing graduate studies. As a result of delaying the application process, I was able to continue volunteering at my internship center through the beginning of summer. Here, I reasoned, was a chance to summarize elements of past courses at the undergraduate level and narrow my field of interest, while still in the presence of anthropology, so that I would be able to focus on where I wanted my studies to take me. As a result, I feel the field of bio-archaeology is the culmination of my studies, carrying with it all the characteristics that I value in studying humanity.
- I have another paragraph that is in the works for under this one, specifically mentioning the university that I wish to attend and why, although I haven't worked it all out yet.
My first question would be (for honest feedback) is if this essay conveys a personal meaning for the love of archaeology and biological anthropology. I feel that I may need to insert another paragraph detailing archaeology as it did get pushed to the side.
Was the summary of my bachelor's essay understandable and helpful for understanding my personal interests?
Any type of conflicting wording - please point out as flow is extremely important to me
Also, in the UK archaeology is seen as separate from anthropology and I didn't know if I should write my essay detailing them separate from one another, as anthropology in the US includes archaeology as a subfield.
I have more archaeological experience than anything else, including courses and a field school. I also have an profound interest in Native American studies, and my field school was at a Native American reservation, but I didn't know if I should include this as my interest now lies in detailing past lives from remains.
Any helpful insight would be greatly appreciated and in the meantime I'll continue writing.
Instructions: from U of Sheffield:A supporting statement A
You should supply a statement giving your reasons for applying for the course and any other information you want to supply in support of your application.
As a condition of solitude, Rainer Maria Rilke declared he wanted "to be with those who know secret things or else alone" (1906). By evaluating the changing human condition overtime it can be said with great certainty that our prehistory is full of secret things. It was a response to these secrets that propelled me to pursue a contentious venture into human variation and undertake my bachelor's essay and research project entitled, "Constructing Race: Skin Color, Self-Perception and Cognitive Influences on Racial Classification". As the title suggests, I endeavored to explore modern perceptions of race categories and the subjective influences that shape percepts into a measurable system. My premise being that since perceptions and the idea of self are formed through social interactions then the importance lies with indentifying patterns of social influences on skin-color.
Empirically grounded, my thesis provided me with the experience to identify connections to theoretical perspectives and rationalize which aspects of a sociocultural matrix (such as education, cultural background, sex, religion and external media sources, including violence and crime) perpetuated the idea of race. I was able to engage the seminal literature of several theorists inside the realm of anthropology as well as apart from it, including Marvin Harris' Referential Ambiguity in the Calculus of Brazilian Racial Identity, civil rights activist W.E.B. Dubois' The Souls of Black Folk and the conflicting theories of social anthropologist Claude Levi Straus and French philosopher Jacques Derrida. It was during the practical part of my research that I was able to successfully gauge a respondent's comfort level on several topics of race, as well as utilize observational skills and statistical methods for surveying results. This allowed me to apply analytical and quantitative forms of research as well as approach the research in a holistic manner. And while the results proved to be just as contradictory as the idea of race itself, this project afforded me the opportunity to experience real academic scholarship and research by formulating theories, building upon them, and discarding them when they proved insufficient.
My bachelor's essay was not the sum of my interests, but rather the starting point for branching into the fields of anthropology. It was through my key courses in archaeology and ecology, that I developed an affinity for examining physiological and morphological changes due to developmental conditions, diseases and nutrition. More importantly, I wanted to know how the relationship of these factors tied together with present day human variation and the effects they had on developing societies as well as past societies. With these questions in mind, I endeavored to strike a balance with my preoccupation with biological anthropology and archaeology and began an internship with a center for chimpanzee and orangutan conservation. Here, my research interests paralleled, allowing me to simultaneously study human interaction and diversity for my senior thesis, as well as the biological and comparative aspects of our ape relatives.
In pursuit of converging interests, I decided to take a year off from school before pursuing graduate studies. As a result of delaying the application process, I was able to continue volunteering at my internship center through the beginning of summer. Here, I reasoned, was a chance to summarize elements of past courses at the undergraduate level and narrow my field of interest, while still in the presence of anthropology, so that I would be able to focus on where I wanted my studies to take me. As a result, I feel the field of bio-archaeology is the culmination of my studies, carrying with it all the characteristics that I value in studying humanity.
- I have another paragraph that is in the works for under this one, specifically mentioning the university that I wish to attend and why, although I haven't worked it all out yet.
My first question would be (for honest feedback) is if this essay conveys a personal meaning for the love of archaeology and biological anthropology. I feel that I may need to insert another paragraph detailing archaeology as it did get pushed to the side.
Was the summary of my bachelor's essay understandable and helpful for understanding my personal interests?
Any type of conflicting wording - please point out as flow is extremely important to me
Also, in the UK archaeology is seen as separate from anthropology and I didn't know if I should write my essay detailing them separate from one another, as anthropology in the US includes archaeology as a subfield.
I have more archaeological experience than anything else, including courses and a field school. I also have an profound interest in Native American studies, and my field school was at a Native American reservation, but I didn't know if I should include this as my interest now lies in detailing past lives from remains.
Any helpful insight would be greatly appreciated and in the meantime I'll continue writing.
