Short Paper #1
Body Ritual Among the Nacirema
Due January 22, 2014
Answer all questions for this assignment on a separate piece of paper following the below format:
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Student’s Name
Class (Anthro 100 AA or Anthro 100 BA)
Title of Assignment
Answer in order of questions asked (e.g. 1, 2, etc)
Typed (12font, Times New Roman) , not hand-written
Paper should be a minimum of approximately 2 pages (doubled spaced) and a maximum of 3 pages
(double spaced)
Bring two copies of your paper (one copy to turn in and one for discussion)
Body Ritual Among the Nacirema
In the 1950s anthropologist Horace Miner summarized his decades of observations on a unique
society, the Nacirema. For this assignment you are to read his descriptions and conclusions in
“Body Ritual Among the Nacirema” (on the following three pages) and answer these questions
on another piece of paper.
You need to be clear in your answers and explain them thoroughly. It should take you about a
page to two pages. More is fine should you want to go into detail, though.
1) What is the main point of the article?
2) What evidence does he use to support this point? (Just give 3 or 4 facts and discuss how they
support this point)
3) Choose One (A or B)1:
A. If you have been exposed to the Nacirema in other classes or have divined the true
meaning of the article, discuss other rituals not mentioned by Miner that you have either
read, observed, or heard about. Have they changed in the years between first publication
and today? Finally, are his observations fair? Why or why not? Please be explicit in your
answer, too obscure (or clever) answers make grading difficult and I need to know if you
understood the main point on who they are and what we can learn from them.
B. If this is your first time you ever heard of or read about the Nacirema, compare their
“primitive” medical system to ours. Where would you prefer to seek treatment? Why? Be
specific and give reasons.
4) What do you think of these people? In your be sure to explain your answers. Assume I don’t
understand what you mean and you need to carefully and clearly explain it.
1
Which one you choose depends on your comprehension of the true meaning of the
article. Please be clear in your answers.
Student Reference: Grading Rubric for Short Paper #1
o Formatting
o Free of, or barely any, grammar or punctuation errors
o Stated main point of article (in own yours)
o Provides evidence the author used to support his main point
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At least 3 or 4 facts provided
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Discussion on how these facts support the main point of the article
o Answer to Question 3
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If answered Part A: 1) discussion of other rituals not described in the article; 2) clear statement
on whether or not this group of people have changed between the date of publication and today; 3)
clear statement on whether the author’s observations are fair; 4) it is clear from the student’s answers
that he/she understands the article

If answered Part B: 1) Comparison is made between the medical system of this group of people
and Western society. Student clearly addresses the primary points of the medical system and pulls
from article and Western society to make statements. 2) Clear answer to where student would prefer
to seek treatment. 3) Discussion is provided (e.g. specific examples with reasons)
o Clear statement about opinion of this group of people with a clear explanation
Body Ritual among the Nacirema
Horace Miner
American Anthropologist, New Series, Vol. 58, No. 3. (Jun., 1956), pp. 503-507.
Stable URL:
http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0002-7294%28195606%292%3A58%3A3%3C503%3ABRATN%3E2.0.CO%3B2-Y
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Tue Jan 16 02:00:09 2007