ANT 2000: Intro to Anthropology Room #RDB 1100 (Law Bldg) & 2:00 4:45 p.m. Summer B 2012 (June 25 Aug. 8) Prof. Jackal Tanelorn Office: SIPA 328 Office Hours: M & W 12:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. or by appointment Email: jackal.tanelorn@fiu.edu Phone: 305.348.2247 Course Description: In this introduction to Cultural Anthropology, we explore a variety of concepts and theories that help us to understand culture as the similarities, differences, connections and disconnections between people, places and their environment that shape societies and world communities (including our own). We also learn about the field of Anthropology, including the type of research anthropologists conduct, as well as the methods and ethics of their research. Summer Warning! The culture of a classroom is always interesting. Because this is a summer intensive course, the course load will be intense! This means that our goal is to read the entire textbook (that nice glossy magazine Culture ) within our seven weeks together. This you must do on your own, outside of class, BEFORE coming to class. Don t put it off! There will be a quiz or exam almost every day of the course, but DON T PANIC! I also want this course to be fun. We will do group projects, watch films and share our own cultural interests (music, food, etc.) If we need to, we will modify the course load to accommodate our group needs because that s one of the things cultures do they change. However, my expectation is that you will participate fully in a thoughtful and engaged manner. Course Objectives: * Provide basic understanding of key concepts in anthropology, including: culture, cultural relativism, and ethnographic research. Identify key anthropologists and their major findings. Identify and understand the four subdisciplines of anthropology. *Introduce students to the research on race, ethnicity, gender, kinship, environment, political organization, religion, and globalization in a variety of socio-cultural contexts. *Refine critical thinking skills by examining some of the cultural assumptions we consider normal when we compare our ideas and practices to other groups of people Textbooks: (available at FIU bookstore, as well as on Amazon) Gezon, Lisa and Conrad Kottak. 2011. Culture. New York: McGraw-Hill. ISBN: 978-0-07-803502-9 Course Requirements The requirements for the course are as follows. Course Participation: Lectures will cover the main topics for the next day s readings. During the lectures, students should think critically, take notes and ask questions. Class participation is required. Participation will be evaluated in three ways: Attendance, Group Work and Individual class participation. Attendance will be noted via exams and quizzes. Group Work a weekly assignment that students bring back to their group. At the end of the semester students will grade each member of their group as well as give the whole group a grade. Individual class participation is evaluated by me as the professor. Not every student engages in the same way. Some students are more talkative and other more quiet. However, an engaged student is always attentive, not texting, playing on the computer or sleeping. Please don t do it. Being present is not the same as being a body in class, and you will lose your participation points. 1
Exams and Quizzes: You will have two multiple-choice exams (midterm and final). The first exam (midterm) will cover 1/2 of the course; the final exam will be cumulative, though the majority of material will come from the second half of the class. Exams include all texts, lectures, and films. The midterm will have 70 questions worth a total of 140 plus 10 for attendance for a total of 150 (see chart below). Students will be given one hour to complete the midterm. The final will consist of 80 questions plus an essay question worth 30 points plus 10 for attendance for a total of 200. Students will have the entire period to complete the final. Quizzes will cover material from that day s assigned chapter(s) reading. Quizzes have 20 questions of 2 points each plus 10 points for attendance for a total of 50 points. Students will have ½ hour to complete each quiz. Group Work: Each week students are required to research an aspect of one of the week s lecture which will correlate to the chapter and be discussed specifically in class (See general topics below). For example, the week on kinship, students will research the rights of and repercussions for being gay and lesbian people (GLBT) in various regions throughout the world. Students will share and compare their findings with their group in class and thoughtfully discuss cultural differences and anthropology s perspective. Each group will turn in a brief write up of their ideas with the name of each group member who participated that day. Group work is worth a total of 120 points. 60 points will be based on worked turned in; 60 points will be based on students self-evaluation (30 for group as whole; 30 for each individual member). Quizzes (8 total, 50 points each) Group Work (6 total, 10 points each + 60 pts) METHOD OF ASSESSMENT 20 Questions * 2 pts = 40 pts 40 points + 10 for attendance = 50 points 6 * 10 pts by prof = 60; 40 points group self-evaluation assigned by students; 20 points peer evaluation by students Midterm 70 Questions * 2 points = 140 140 + 10 for attendance = 150 Final exam 80 Questions * 2 points = 160; plus 30 points for essay 190 + 10 for attendance = 200 200 Class Participation 13 days of class * 10 points each = 130 130 Total 1000 400 120 150 Course Grades: Letter Grade Range Letter Grade Range Letter Grade Range A above 941 B- 840-800 D+ 699-660 A- 940-900 C+ 799-760 D 659-640 B+ 899-860 C 759-740 D- 639-600 B 859-840 C- 739-700 F < 600 Group Evaluation Grading: Peer Evaluation Grading Letter Grade Range Letter Grade Range A 40 31 A 20 16 B 30 21 B 15 11 C 20 11 C 10 6 D 10-1 D 5 1 F 0 F 0 2
DATE Day 1 June 25 Day 2 June 27 Day 3 July 2 SPECIAL July 4 NO CLASS Day 4 July 9 READ BY THIS DAY! Chapter 1 Chapters 2 & 12 Chapters 3 & 4 EXAM or QUIZ (2:30 3:15) Chap 1 Anthropology Chaps 2 & 12 Culture; Ethnicity & Race Chaps 3 & 4 Ethics & Methods GROUP WORK (2 2:30) Your Culture COMFORT vs DISCOMFO RT Race FILM Nature of Anthropology (30 mins) Strangers Abroad Boas & Baldwin (15 20 mins) PBS Race YouTube: Malinowski (40 mins) TOPIC/LECTURE Course Introduction/Syllabus: What is Anthropology? Distinguish Anthropology from other fields Consider the concept of race Learn about Anthropology s 4 fields Culture; Ethnicity & Race Define culture Learn how cultures change Learn how race and ethnicity are socially constructed Consider the lived experience of race & ethnicity in the United States Ethics & Methods Describe where and how anthropologists do fieldwork Discuss ethical issues related to research Examine how Anthropology can be applied Music PBS Language & Communication Discuss how language unique as a form of communication Study how languages change Think about accents, comfort and discomfort 3
Day 5 July 11 Day 6 July 16 Day 7 July 18 Day 8 July 23 Day 9 July 25 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 & 7 ASSIGNMENT Find video or DVD on women s rights, history or place in a society or culture. Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chap 5 Language & Communication Chaps 6 & 7 Economics & Politics MIDTERM (2 3:15pm) Chaps 1 5 + 12 Chaps 8 & 9 Kinship & Gender Chapter 10 Religion GLBT people rights and repercussi ons throughout the world (Women s Rights?) Religion: Death, Faith and Fashion? Culture Clips Chap 6 & 7 + Youtube Largest cities in Africa Extra Credit movie: Joe Leahy s neighbors Natl Geo: Marriage plus Youtube: Obama Biden JayZee Latino Comm. STUDENT S CHOICE Clips on Women and Gender: Performance, Expression & Expectations Ntl Geo: Faith Youtube: Hijab Tutorial Culture Clips on Chap 11 + Consuming Kids Global Citizenship Economics & Politics Learn about adaptive strategies in nonindustrialized societies & link political systems to adaptive strategies Examine different types of political systems Understand principles of exchange in different societies Understand how status relates to political systems Families, Kinship, & Marriage Learn what kinship is Understand how families and descent groups differ Examine how marriage is defined and regulated in different societies Examine comfort & discomfort around different kinship groups (GLBT, multiple wives, etc) Gender Distinguish between biological sex and gender Examine gender roles and social systems Learn about sexual orientation and sexual norms in different societies Religion Define religion, ritual, and magic Understand role of religion in society Colonialism & Globalization World system and how it originated Learn colonialism and its legacies Discuss the concept of cultural imperialism 4
Day 10 July 30 Day 11 Aug1 Day 12 Aug 6 Day 13 Aug 8 Chapters 11 & 13 Articles Chaps 11 & 13 Extra Credit Paper DUE TV & Critiquing Culture Food Shared & Compared Anthropology on Trial Culture Clip-11 Natl Geo: Taboo Food Taboos Food Talk Consuming Culture movie Critiques of Anthropology & Anthropology Today Final Study guide & Open Discussion Presentations on FOOD Regions & Cultures Compared FINAL TBA Peer Reviews Other Stuff I reserve the right to change and modify the schedule at any time, but I will try not to. Class Time: Class runs from 2:00 4:45pm. That s a long class for all of us. In order to accommodate this long schedule, class will run as follows. 2:00 3:15 Quiz plus Group Work/Lecture or Exam; 3:15 3:30 Break; 3:30 4:45 Lecture plus Film. Pet Peeves: Don t be late it s disruptive and disrespectful of me and everyone in class. Don t lie to me or cheat on exams I might not catch you, but as my mother always said, you re really only cheating yourself. Don t tell me you didn t do something because you were busy I m a graduate student and a professor, I am busy too! Make Up Exams: There will be two exams (midterm and final) plus eight quizzes. Make-up exams will be given only to those students who present a written certificate from a physician, the infirmary, or comparable legitimate reason. Make-up exams and quizzes will be given on the same day as the final. Policy on Plagiarism: As a reminder, plagiarism is cheating. Plagiarism includes not only directly copying someone else s words, but also using their ideas and insights without citing their work. The disciplinary action that will be taken in the case of plagiarism is explained in the section on Academic Misconduct in the Student Handbook. Disability: Students who desire accommodations during the academic year for a documented physical or learning disability must self-identify. The first step in receiving accommodations is for you to register with the Disability Resource Center in the Graham Center, Room 190, (305) 348-3532 (voice), (305) 348-3850 (fax), (800) 955-8771 (TDD). Upon contact, the Disability Resource Center will review your request and contact your professor or other personnel to make arrangements for appropriate modification and/or assistance. Center for Academic Success: The Center for Academic Success has kindly offered specialized workshops in Reading Enhancement through application of various reading strategies via your Anthropology materials. These workshops are designed to make you better readers as the volume of information increases throughout the semester. These sessions can be made on a walk-in basis, or by appointment. Also remember that these services are free of charge, and are created to make you better students. 10 extra credit will be offered to students who complete all five workshops. Extra Credit: There will be four other extra credit opportunities: 10 extra points will be added to both Day 1 and Day 13 attendance JUST FOR SHOWING UP! Also you have two 2-page paper options: (1) write an essay on a movie with an anthropological theme (ie: Avatar) to be agreed upon with the professor (20 points); (2) write an essay on our food assignment by comparing food from your culture with food from another culture or with a restaurant preparation of food from your culture (20 points). Course Communication: If you have problems or questions, please email me, call or come by during office hours. 5
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