This course is compulsory for BA/BSc Social Anthropology. (The course is not available to General Course students.)

The essay may be based on any topic deemed to be amendable to anthropological analysis, and agreed by the candidate's tutor. The tutor will be concerned that there is an adequate body of relevant literature available for analysis, and that the topic as defined is not unmanageably large.

There is no formal course content. Candidates will be expected to draw widely on their reading from other anthropology courses.

A workshop with the Examinations Chair and other staff members will be held to help students conceptualise a relevant question for the essay and provide guidance on research techniques and on regulations.  Tutors advise candidates during their normal tutorial meetings on scope, topic, and relevant reading, as well as on general approaches. At the beginning of the Summer Term each candidate is allocated a mentor who will also advise, utilising specialist knowledge of the subject where possible. Students have the opportunity to submit an abstract and a three-page outline to their mentor during the summer term. Tutors and mentors are not permitted to read or comment on drafts of the essay.

Students will be assessed entirely on the basis of the essay that they submit.

The essay may not be more than 8,000 words of main text, including footnotes and appendices but excluding bibliography. In students' own interests the essay should ideally be typed, double spaced, using the reference procedures of The Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute. The essay must be handed in by the date announced by the School, normally by May 1st to the Anthropology Departmental Office.