SoP: Round Two
Massive thanks to dialogicdude for being such a huge help in my first post.
Second draft of my Statement of Purpose [applying to archaeology MA/PhD programs]. ConCrit extremely appreciated.
In 2006, I was privileged to participate in the Palmarejo Community Archaeological Project and Field School, a project that explores the responses of modern and prehispanic farming communities to the cycle of population growth and its effects on social structure; increasing demand for water, resources, and agricultural products; and the processes of urbanization and modern globalization. Palmarejo is a rural agrarian community in northwest Honduras. Modern residents of this community have much in common with their prehispanic counterparts.
Prehispanic residents lived near La Sierra, the capital and economic core of the Naco Valley region; the modern community of Palmarejo is adjacent to San Pedro Sula, the industrial center and second-largest city of Honduras. Many of the same issues concerned both prehispanic and modern farmers, particularly population growth, agricultural techniques, crop specialization and diversity, dietary diversity and malnutrition, resource management, land degradation, and food and water security and quality. The project focuses on the reconstruction of land use strategies, settlement systems, and water resource management among ancient and modern agrarian communities. This investigation is a classic, exceptional example of applied archaeology studies; it inspired me to marry my own interests and research with a keen eye for its relevance to modern society and the improvement of modern conditions.
In addition to inspiring my current aspirations, my participation in this research program added to my experience with field survey, field and lab documentation, data recording and entry, cataloguing and care of artifacts, and archaeological and historical background research. This was not my first or only example of archaeological field experience, however, having worked as a field technician, writer, editor, and researcher for Archaeological Consultants, Inc., the oldest and one of the most prominent cultural resource management firms in the state, prior to and following my participation in the PCAP Field School.
I began working in my field long before I had my degree, eager to start my career as soon as possible. I have four years experience in Cultural Resource Management as a technical writer and editor for two of the top CRM firms in the region, amounting to equal amounts of academic and career-related skills and experience.
I received my B.A. in Anthropology from the University of South Florida in 2006.During this time, I worked as a technical writer and editor for ACI. After graduation, I was hired as the chief Technical Editor for Panamerican Consultants, Inc., where I am now a consultant on all projects, having worked with Phase I, II, and III projects as well as monitoring, historic research, and viewshed impact projects, among others.
While a student, I completed an undergraduate thesis on prehistoric exchange systems. My thesis investigated the trade routes of a prehispanic community in northwest Honduras through an analysis of non-local artifacts, in order to explore the sociopolitical ties of the community to other Mesoamerican polities during the Late Classic period. As trade creates an economic base for broader sociopolitical relationships, investigation of prehistoric trade and exchange systems allows for the exploration of economic, social, and political activities. My thesis also explored the relationship that exchange and economic advantage have with the regional social and political authority of the community by examining the resources utilized, origins and social value of trade goods, and the components of the trade networks involved in the region.
To fund my research and materials for my Office of Undergraduate Research Symposium presentation and Department of Anthropology Honors Colloquium presentation, I applied for and won a $500 OUR Research Grant.
I have personal experience teaching to large gatherings, small groups, and individuals, and to people of all ages, although I do not have formal teaching experience. I have always pursued venues and interests that involve teaching in many respects.
Throughout high school and college, I have worked in many positions that involved education; in a sense, I have always been a teacher. My experience includes work as a resident counselor, providing care and support for developmentally disabled adults, which included assisting with physical therapy, teaching safety and behavior skills, and assisting with daily living activities. I’ve also worked with young children in various environments from a very young age, including assisting with a special needs education program in high school. My experience also includes fundraising and canvassing for Environment Florida and educating the public about local environmental issues through the Florida Public Interest Research Group.
One of my strongest personal interests outside of academic and career-related fields is subculture studies, and I have experience teaching seminars and hosting panels at local conventions on these subjects. The most recent experience was hosting a seminar on Steampunk, a burgeoning American and worldwide subculture that has been growing in popularity at an astronomical rate due to increased media coverage as of late. My presentation focused on the ethics, mores, and artistic expressions of community members. The presentation was extremely well received and I was invited to join prominent local craftsmen and experts for future presentations and educational seminars.
I plan to pursue a career as a teacher and a PI/PA as soon as I receive my Master's degree, and when I receive my Ph.D. I will continue to focus on environmental/ecological research as a professor, dedicated to theory, methodology, research design, and the development of academic and professional skills, and will apply this to my career track. Most importantly, I will consistently make significant contributions to the discipline through continued independent research and practice during my academic career. The ((University’s)) unique ((applied anthropology approach)) will significantly aid in my academic research for an applied archaeology project focused on ecological anthropology and environmental archaeology.
My research interests are numerous, but are also focused, significant, and relevant to my previous, current, and future academic and professional goals. My primary research interests include ecological anthropology and environmental archaeology, sustainability studies, economic anthropology, and applied archaeology.
I’m interested in doing a study focused on ecological anthropology/environmental archaeology, sustainability studies, and applied archaeology. I hope to investigate prehistoric and historic agricultural methods and their connection to their respective society’s growth/collapse in comparison with modern studies on sustainability, small-scale/organic agriculture, and large-scale agricultural practices. Through an applied archaeology approach, I hope to address several significant issues: modern agricultural issues; prehistoric agriculture and its development in the archaeological record; patterns of use, development, growth, spread, exchange, and failure/success of agricultural and related practices; the effects of technological development and the move towards urbanization and/or globalization; the cycle of population increase and its effects on social structure; modern sustainable/unsustainable practices; and the application of the archaeological method and findings to current agriculture. I have a relatively broad range of regions that are of particular interest to my proposed research, including Mesoamerica, East Asia, and the Southeast and Northwest Coast culture areas of North America.
I have a very focused idea of the research I plan to pursue during my time in graduate school; however, I’m also hoping to keep this plan as flexible as possible, so as to be of the greatest benefit to the program. In addition, I have years of prior experience working and conducting research with dedication to deadlines and budgets as well as accuracy and quality control.
My research interests and goals are thus diverse and flexible, yet my dedication to pursuing an applied archaeology research project focused on ecological anthropology and environmental archaeology and is my driving force. This could be one of the most significant themes one could pursue within this discipline if I am able to develop my research under the guidance of a knowledgeable mentor, ((Dr. Awesome)) in a unique program like that at ((University)), which fosters the painstaking development of academic and professional skills and training in research, theory, and methodology necessary to support brilliant students and key theses.
Edit: I modified the formatting
Second draft of my Statement of Purpose [applying to archaeology MA/PhD programs]. ConCrit extremely appreciated.
In 2006, I was privileged to participate in the Palmarejo Community Archaeological Project and Field School, a project that explores the responses of modern and prehispanic farming communities to the cycle of population growth and its effects on social structure; increasing demand for water, resources, and agricultural products; and the processes of urbanization and modern globalization. Palmarejo is a rural agrarian community in northwest Honduras. Modern residents of this community have much in common with their prehispanic counterparts.
Prehispanic residents lived near La Sierra, the capital and economic core of the Naco Valley region; the modern community of Palmarejo is adjacent to San Pedro Sula, the industrial center and second-largest city of Honduras. Many of the same issues concerned both prehispanic and modern farmers, particularly population growth, agricultural techniques, crop specialization and diversity, dietary diversity and malnutrition, resource management, land degradation, and food and water security and quality. The project focuses on the reconstruction of land use strategies, settlement systems, and water resource management among ancient and modern agrarian communities. This investigation is a classic, exceptional example of applied archaeology studies; it inspired me to marry my own interests and research with a keen eye for its relevance to modern society and the improvement of modern conditions.
In addition to inspiring my current aspirations, my participation in this research program added to my experience with field survey, field and lab documentation, data recording and entry, cataloguing and care of artifacts, and archaeological and historical background research. This was not my first or only example of archaeological field experience, however, having worked as a field technician, writer, editor, and researcher for Archaeological Consultants, Inc., the oldest and one of the most prominent cultural resource management firms in the state, prior to and following my participation in the PCAP Field School.
I began working in my field long before I had my degree, eager to start my career as soon as possible. I have four years experience in Cultural Resource Management as a technical writer and editor for two of the top CRM firms in the region, amounting to equal amounts of academic and career-related skills and experience.
I received my B.A. in Anthropology from the University of South Florida in 2006.During this time, I worked as a technical writer and editor for ACI. After graduation, I was hired as the chief Technical Editor for Panamerican Consultants, Inc., where I am now a consultant on all projects, having worked with Phase I, II, and III projects as well as monitoring, historic research, and viewshed impact projects, among others.
While a student, I completed an undergraduate thesis on prehistoric exchange systems. My thesis investigated the trade routes of a prehispanic community in northwest Honduras through an analysis of non-local artifacts, in order to explore the sociopolitical ties of the community to other Mesoamerican polities during the Late Classic period. As trade creates an economic base for broader sociopolitical relationships, investigation of prehistoric trade and exchange systems allows for the exploration of economic, social, and political activities. My thesis also explored the relationship that exchange and economic advantage have with the regional social and political authority of the community by examining the resources utilized, origins and social value of trade goods, and the components of the trade networks involved in the region.
To fund my research and materials for my Office of Undergraduate Research Symposium presentation and Department of Anthropology Honors Colloquium presentation, I applied for and won a $500 OUR Research Grant.
I have personal experience teaching to large gatherings, small groups, and individuals, and to people of all ages, although I do not have formal teaching experience. I have always pursued venues and interests that involve teaching in many respects.
Throughout high school and college, I have worked in many positions that involved education; in a sense, I have always been a teacher. My experience includes work as a resident counselor, providing care and support for developmentally disabled adults, which included assisting with physical therapy, teaching safety and behavior skills, and assisting with daily living activities. I’ve also worked with young children in various environments from a very young age, including assisting with a special needs education program in high school. My experience also includes fundraising and canvassing for Environment Florida and educating the public about local environmental issues through the Florida Public Interest Research Group.
One of my strongest personal interests outside of academic and career-related fields is subculture studies, and I have experience teaching seminars and hosting panels at local conventions on these subjects. The most recent experience was hosting a seminar on Steampunk, a burgeoning American and worldwide subculture that has been growing in popularity at an astronomical rate due to increased media coverage as of late. My presentation focused on the ethics, mores, and artistic expressions of community members. The presentation was extremely well received and I was invited to join prominent local craftsmen and experts for future presentations and educational seminars.
I plan to pursue a career as a teacher and a PI/PA as soon as I receive my Master's degree, and when I receive my Ph.D. I will continue to focus on environmental/ecological research as a professor, dedicated to theory, methodology, research design, and the development of academic and professional skills, and will apply this to my career track. Most importantly, I will consistently make significant contributions to the discipline through continued independent research and practice during my academic career. The ((University’s)) unique ((applied anthropology approach)) will significantly aid in my academic research for an applied archaeology project focused on ecological anthropology and environmental archaeology.
My research interests are numerous, but are also focused, significant, and relevant to my previous, current, and future academic and professional goals. My primary research interests include ecological anthropology and environmental archaeology, sustainability studies, economic anthropology, and applied archaeology.
I’m interested in doing a study focused on ecological anthropology/environmental archaeology, sustainability studies, and applied archaeology. I hope to investigate prehistoric and historic agricultural methods and their connection to their respective society’s growth/collapse in comparison with modern studies on sustainability, small-scale/organic agriculture, and large-scale agricultural practices. Through an applied archaeology approach, I hope to address several significant issues: modern agricultural issues; prehistoric agriculture and its development in the archaeological record; patterns of use, development, growth, spread, exchange, and failure/success of agricultural and related practices; the effects of technological development and the move towards urbanization and/or globalization; the cycle of population increase and its effects on social structure; modern sustainable/unsustainable practices; and the application of the archaeological method and findings to current agriculture. I have a relatively broad range of regions that are of particular interest to my proposed research, including Mesoamerica, East Asia, and the Southeast and Northwest Coast culture areas of North America.
I have a very focused idea of the research I plan to pursue during my time in graduate school; however, I’m also hoping to keep this plan as flexible as possible, so as to be of the greatest benefit to the program. In addition, I have years of prior experience working and conducting research with dedication to deadlines and budgets as well as accuracy and quality control.
My research interests and goals are thus diverse and flexible, yet my dedication to pursuing an applied archaeology research project focused on ecological anthropology and environmental archaeology and is my driving force. This could be one of the most significant themes one could pursue within this discipline if I am able to develop my research under the guidance of a knowledgeable mentor, ((Dr. Awesome)) in a unique program like that at ((University)), which fosters the painstaking development of academic and professional skills and training in research, theory, and methodology necessary to support brilliant students and key theses.
Edit: I modified the formatting