ANTHROPOLOGY 1604
Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
Spring Semester 2005
Sec. 1 T Th noon - 1:40 p.m. 214 Cina
Sec. 2 T Th 2 p.m.-3:40 Montague 80

BOOKS:

Mirror for Humanity 4th edition, by Conrad Phillip Kottak (hereafter referred to as "Kottak")
Conformity and Conflict 11th edition by James Spradley and David W. McCurdy (hereafter = CC)

WEB SITES:

http://www.d.umn.edu/~lbelote/Anth1604/syllabus.html

www.saraguro.org

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

• To gain an understanding of human behavior around the world, exploring the diversity and similarity among all people.
• To understand one's own culture in a comparative context.
• To address the important question--Why cultures develop as they do.

Anthropology 1604 is in Liberal Education Category 6: The Social Sciences. Because it deals with cultures from around the world, Anth 1604 also meets the international perspective requirement.

 

GRADING

3 quizzes @ 100 points	=	300 points
2 exams @ 150 points	=	300 points
final exam @ 175 points	=	175 points
Acting Anthropology	=	100 points
Lecture write-up	=	100 points
Attendance	=	25 points
TOTAL POINTS	=	1000 points

 

GRADES

section 1 section 2

Quizzes and Exams: There will be a total of 4 quizzes out of which I will count the grades on the best 3. Each quiz is worth 100 points.
If you miss a quiz for whatever reason, this will be your bankrupt quiz. Quizzes will normally take about 30 minutes of class time.
There will be a total of 3 exams. The first two are worth 150 points each. The final exam is worth 175 points. ALWAYS notify me in advance if you will be missing a quiz or an exam.

Acting Anthropology (AA) : On the third day of class each student will become a member of an Acting Team. That team will have the responsibility to create and present to the class one educational skit of no more than 15 minutes and no less than 5 minutes duration on an assigned topic or related to a specific reading. Each student will be graded individually for the effort and effect of their learning demonstration. Costumes and set preparation will be credited. 100 points maximum.

Lecture write-up: Spring semester is an incredibly exciting time at UMD. There are many famous and interesting guests invited to campus. March is Women's History Month, April is Latin American Awareness Month, and a number of individual speakers and programs are also scheduled.
A list of all the lectures and programs that I know of is given below. You are required to attend one of these lectures or programs and write it up in an anthropological manner. This paper will be typed (word processed, 11 or 12 font), double-spaced, 700 to 800 words in length. It will include a description of the event's contents with your anthropological analysis of this topic. 100 points. A model paper will be provided for you on the web. It will be due one week or one week + a day from the event, during class. No late papers will be accepted.

Extra Credit: You can also attend events and write a paper about what you saw/heard for extra credit. Extra credit lectures and programs must be written up exactly like the lecture write-up requirement: summarizing the event and analyzing it anthropologically in relation to issues, topics and theories from our class. If you believe you know of an extra credit event which might merit extra credit points, you must get my approval before attending. A maximum of 2 extra credit papers can be written, for up to 25 points each. Extra credit event papers must be turned in during class time, one week (or, one week + a day) from the date of the event. If the event is on a Wednesday it is due on a Thursday, etc. This list will be regularly updated. The events which I am presently aware of that will count as lecture write-ups and extra credit opportunities for this course are:

Click here for calendar of Lecture Write-up and Extra Credit opportunities

 

Attendance points: You will be assigned a seat which you are required to sit in every class period. You will earn 1 point for each class you attend. There are a total of 30 classes.

Final grades will be on a straight 1000 point scale as follows:

934-1000 A	800-833 B-	666-699 D+
900-933 A-	766-799 C+	600-665 D
866-899 B+	734-765 C	0- 599 F
834-865 B	700-733 C-

A violation of UMD's Academic Honesty Policy (behavior which is also referred to as Scholastic Misconduct) such as cheating, plagiarizing or any other "act which violates the rights of another student in academic work or that involves misrepresentation of your own work will result in penalties up to and including an F for the course.

SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS

Individuals who have any disability, either permanent or temporary, which might affect their ability to perform in this class are encouraged to let me know at the start of the quarter. Adaptations of methods, materials, or testing may be made as required to provide for equitable participation.

COURSE EXPECTATIONS

I expect students to attend every class and to come to class prepared, having read the assignment for the day as indicated on the syllabus. I expect students to treat all members of the class with respect, which includes no private talking or whispering during class, so that all may hear the person who is speaking to the group. This extends to the end of the period. Please do not begin to "pack up" before the class period ends. You can expect the following of me: I will come to class prepared; I will stay current with my information to the best of my ability, and I will try to be stimulating and sensitive to differences among you in your learning needs. I will end on time (with TA's help!). I will be absolutely fair in assessing your performance in the class.

SNOW DAYS If a class is canceled on a day an exam is scheduled it will be given during the next regular class.

 

ANTH 1604 COURSE OUTLINE

January 2005

18 Introduction Jim Belote, guest presenter

20 The Anthropological Perspective: Read Kottak Chapter 1; CC pp. 1 - 5; Read on the web: A Very Brief Overview  at http:// www.saraguro.org

25 The Culture Concept Read Handout, "The Sacred Rac;" Kottak Chapter 3.  CC article 1 & 5   video: Anthropologists at Work  

27 Language and Communication Read Kottak Chpt. 5 CC 3, 6, & 8 video:American Tongues

February

1 Language and Culture Read CC 10 AA1 (TAs do a demonstration Acting Anth!)

3 Culture and Personality TA Kristen Venzke, guest presenter Read CC 20

8 Quiz 1; Cultural evolution; video Bushmen of the Kalahari

10 Economies and Modes of Production Read Kottak pp. 107-108; 117-131, CC 11 & 15 AA2

15 Foraging . Read Kottak pp. 108 - 111; CC 2 AA3

17 Food Production--horticulture Read Kottak pp.111 - 115; CC Chapter 12 & 13.

22 Pastoralism Read Kottak pp.116 -117. Video: The Sami Herders

24 Peasants: The Saraguro Example Read Kottak 113- 116; Read "Corn and Cattle: The Dual Economic Strategy" on www.saraguro.org and Terraces & Ridged Fields www.saraguro.org/camellones.htm CC chapters 14 & 18 Video: Andean Dreams

March

1 Peasants con't. Read CC 16 AA4 video: Ancient Futures

3 EXAM 1

8 Social organization: Identity Politics: Ethnicity Read: Kottak Chapter 4, CC 26 & 27

10 Kinship and Descent Read Kottak Chapter 8

15 video: Dadi's Family and tutorial for Quiz 2

17 Quiz 2 Gender Roles: The Case of Prostitution TA Bettina Keppers, guest presenter Read Kottak Chapter 9; CC 4, 23, 24, 25

21 - 25 SPRING BREAK

29 Political Systems Read Kottak Chapter 7; CC Articles 29 & 31. AA5

31 Conflict Resolution: the Saraguro and South Africa cases

April

5 EXAM 2

7 Religion. video: The Shakers: I Want to Be Remembered as More Than a Chair Read: Kottak Chpt. 10

12 Religion guest presentation by TA Brian Bluhm; Read CC 32, 33, 34, 35 AA6 & AA7

14 Quiz 3 on Culture change and development anthropology --covers your reading of Kottak Chapters 11, 12 & 13; and CC articles 36, 37, 38, 39. Take home test Quiz 4 distributed

19 Colonialism and the Shuar video: Trinkets and Beads AA8

21 Indigenous Human Rights and development video: Hoodia

26 Overconsumption TA Luke Borkenhagen Guest presentation Video: Affluenza. LAST DAY TO TURN IN LECTURE WRITE-UPS and Extra Credit papers . Turn these in during class time.

28 Quiz 4 on Esthetics due, in class

MAY

3 Baraka

5 Review for final

 

May 9 FINAL EXAM Sec. 1 Monday at 4 p.m. in Cina 214
May 11 FINAL EXAM Sec. 2 Wednesday at 4 p.m. in Montague 80