Spring 2008
106d Ettinger Bldg.
Office: (484) 664-3437
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Class Time: |
T/Th: 11:00 - 12:15 (Ettinger 108)T/Th: 1:30 - 2:45 (Ettinger 108) |
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Office Hours: |
T/Th: 3:15 - 4:00 p.m.
Wed: 5:00 - 6:00
p.m. |
Required Textbooks:
1. Napoleon Chagnon, Yamomamo (Fifth Edition), Holt, Rinehart & Winston.
2. Marvin Harris, Cows, Pigs, Wars, and Witches. Vintage Press.
3. Richard Lee, The Dobe Ju/'hoansi (Third Edition). Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
Internet Sources:
Course Description:
Anthropology is most simply defined as the study of humankind. The term, anthropology, derives from the Greek word anthropos meaning "man". There are three sub-fields of anthropology: biological anthropology, cultural anthropology and archaeology. Cultural anthropology is that sub-field within anthropology that examines the variety of human societies and cultures throughout different times and places. Among other things, anthropologists are interested in how various peoples have interacted with their environments, how they have provided for their material needs, how they have organized themselves into social groups, the different types of families that have existed, the various gender roles that different peoples have adopted, the different forms of government that have evolved, and how different people have viewed the world around them and their place in it.
However, as a science of human behavior, cultural anthropology attempts to explain, not just describe, the diversity of societies that exist today and that have existed in the past. In other words, anthropologists want to understand the processes that have created the immense variety of human lifestyles over the past two million years. This course will introduce the student to some of the concepts, principles and methods used by cultural anthropologists in their study of human social systems, as well as to many of the issues that have been raised as a result of anthropological research. The general goal of the course is to acquaint the student with the unique perspective that cultural anthropology offers towards an understanding of the human condition. More specifically, the course will present students with a systemic, scientific understanding of human social behavior, diversity and evolution. By reading and discussing studies about specific groups of people with lifestyles quite different from that of urban and suburban United States, it is hoped that the student will come to appreciate and understand the causes of human social and cultural diversity and the rational basis of alternate social behaviors. At the same time, the course will adopt an evolutionary approach and emphasizes the importance of taking a longitudinal view of contemporary issues rather than approaching them from rather limited short term social of political perspectives.
But cultural anthropology is not just about "primitive" peoples living exotic lifestyles in far away places. Studying the lifestyles of other peoples should provide the student with a new understanding of the behavior, organization and values that prevail in our own society. As a science of human behavior, cultural anthropology has as much to say about the workings of American society as it does about the Dobe Ju/'hoansi, the Yanomamo, the Inuit and the many other peoples traditionally studied by anthropologists. An important objective of the course, then, will be to apply anthropology as a tool for examining issues and topics in contemporary American society.
Teaching Methods:
A variety of teaching techniques will be used throughout the course,
including lectures, class discussions, small-group discussions, films, and
out-of-class assignments. In addition, reading assignments will be given
in the form of handouts distributed in class, Internet sites, email
messages and both articles and videos placed on reserve in the Trexler
Library. These different sources of information and methods of teaching
are used to complement and reinforce each other in order to increase the
depth and the scope of the student's understanding of the material
included within the course. All such material will be considered required
reading and will potentially be included on examinations.
Examinations:
The following procedures will be used to arrive at a student's final grade
in this course:
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1. Two Exams |
50% |
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2. Final Exam (comprehensive) |
25% |
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3. Course Essay |
25% |
Written Assignments:
1. Each student will write a 6-page (1,500-1,800 word) essay that provides a systematic anthropological explanation of the material presented in class. The purpose of this essay is to determine how well the student understands the material discussed throughout the course and is able to apply the concepts and principles presented in class to that material. This paper will be treated as a research paper (meaning that it must be detailed and referenced) in which the sources used will be the course readings and class presentations. The essay is due on Thursday, April 24th.
2. All written assignments MUST be typed. Handwritten materials will NOT be accepted.
3. Although the primary concern is with the quality of the ideas and analysis presented, essays and other written assignments will also be evaluated in terms of their adherence to accepted writing standards. They must be typed clearly and legibly. They must also be organized, grammatically correct and free from spelling errors. Papers must, therefore, be carefully proof read before they are submitted. A sloppy and poorly written paper will not receive as high a grade as a comparable paper which is neat and clearly written, which expresses a coherent theme, and which contains few spelling and grammatical errors. Having an idea that you cannot express clearly and concisely is little better than not having the idea at all. Developing good writing skills is, thus, very important.
Grading Policy:
1. ALL assignments and examinations must be completed or taken at the time scheduled. Late essays will only be accepted and make-up tests will only be given in the event of an emergency and will receive a 10-point reduction in grade for each day they are late, i.e., a score of 80 on a make-up test will be recorded as a 70, 60, 50, etc. (Computer problems or printer dysfunction are
NOT valid excuses for a late paper. They indicate that the student waited until the very last minute to complete an assignment.) Similarly, incomplete course grades will be reduced by 10 points when they are completed. The grade on any exam not taken or assignment not completed will be zero. Plagiarized assignments will also receive a grade of zero.2.
ALL materials assigned for reading, presented or discussed in class (including films) or distributed in class and/or by email will be potentially included in examinations.
3. Attendance will not be taken, but absence from class is NOT an acceptable excuse for a student's failure to complete an assignment or examination. It is the student's responsibility to obtain the necessary information on days that he or she misses class. In addition, a student who regularly misses class cannot expect special consideration in the event of poor grades.
4. In the final analysis, responsibility for completing all course requirements rests with the student. If the student has any doubt on any matter regarding the course, he or she should contact the instructor BEFORE the problem becomes insurmountable. One of the benefits of the small size of the Muhlenberg Campus is the potential that exist for easy faculty-student contact.
5. Plagiarism constitutes a violation of the Academic Behavior Code and will be dealt with VERY STRICTLY. The Sociology and Anthropology Department treats plagiarism cases very seriously. Depending on the nature of the plagiarism, a student could receive a failing grade for the course; be referred to the Dean's Office for judicial review; and have a "VF" (violation of Academic Behavior Code) grade entered on their transcripts. If a student is in doubt about a specific situation, it is his or her responsibility to consult the instructor or some other appropriate person (such as a librarian or writing tutor) for clarification.
Extra-Credit Option:
1. Students may also choose to complete a research paper for up to 10 extra points on the final grade for the course. (The grade received on the research paper will be added to a student's grade after all of the other calculations have been made.) The research paper should be approximately 12 pages long (3000 words) and must be written on a topic approved in advance by the instructor. The research paper will be strictly graded according to the guidelines described at the end of the syllabus. All research paper topics must be approved by
Friday, March 14th. NO UNAPPROVED PAPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED.All students working on extra-credit papers are expected to meet with the instructor to discuss the progress of their research papers. A first draft of the paper may be submitted for review no later than
Friday, April 18th, and the final draft is due on Thursday, May 1st. NO LATE PAPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED.2. Students writing research papers will need to obtain research materials that are not available in the Trexler Library in order to complete a satisfactory paper. This will necessitate either travel to other libraries in the Lehigh Valley or extensive use of Interlibrary Loan services through the Trexler Library. Students should be aware that obtaining research materials through Interlibrary Loan may take several weeks and should, therefore, start their research papers as soon as possible. Not receiving adequate sources in time to analyze your subject and write your paper will seriously affect the quality of the paper you submit and the grade your paper receives.
Additional Comment:
Students frequently approach social science classes with preconceived
ideas about the subject matter to be covered. Due to the familiar nature
of some of the topics and issues discussed, students often rely on
socially acquired concepts and explanations, many of which are
simplistic and ethnocentric.
Cultural anthropology offers specific concepts and methods of social
analysis.
Students are expected to learn the concepts and methods
presented in class and to use them within the confines of the course.
