how detailed does SoP need to be for Anthropology/archaeology grad school

[Arch.Grad]

I understand that the SoP for archaeology graduate programs require research goals and topics. Does anyone know how specific this has to be? I have a general idea of what I want to study but don't have a detailed research purposal. Also, should personal/educational history be detailed, or a gloss over?

Thanks.

[TheDude]

This isn't meant to sound contrite, but a simple answer would be as good and focused as you can make it. If you can show some focus it would show readers you are going into grad school with a plan of action. If you don't have a full fledged proposal don't freak....just show as much focus as you can. How? Just target the research interest of the programs you are applying to. My SoP's will be slightly different for all the schools with a similar theme in all of the letters.

[dithius_9]

Also, remember that once accepted, you will be more than free to modify your research goals (often significantly so). By writing something a little bit sexy now you won't be painting yourself into a corner. My current research is about 6,000 miles, one language family, and 3 disciplines removed from whatever the heck I wrote in my statement.