CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY SYLLABUS Sacramento City College Anthropology 310 Cultural Anthropology Spring 2013 It is your responsibility to read and understand the information presented in this syllabus. Please - if you don't understand something, feel free to ask questions: Instructor: Nancy Garr E-mail: garrn@scc.losrios.edu Web Page: http://wserver.scc.losrios.edu/~anthro/garr/ When you email me ALWAYS put the following information on subject line: First initial, Last name, class abbreviation (CA, PA or PAL), days & start time. Example: J Smith PA TTh 8 SCC Davis Campus Phone: 530-747-5200 (message) Mailbox: Main office SCC Main Campus Phone: 916-650-2794 Mailbox: Main office Office Hours Location Days Time SCC Davis Center Tuesday 12:30 1:30 PM SCC Main Campus Or by appointment Thursday 4:00 5:00 PM Classes Days Time Location Final: Day and Time Cultural Anthropology (16327) TTh 11:00-12:20 PM SCC Davis Center Room 205 Thursday, May 16 10:15-12:15 AM. Required Text: Culture, Authors: Gezon and Kottak. The SCC College Store can be found on-line at: http://bookstore.scc.losrios.edu/home.aspx There are also copies of the text available on reserve at each campus or center. 1
Cultural Anthropology Prerequisites: Admission to this class requires ONE of the following OR 1) Completion the following classes with a grade C" or better: ENGWR 51 OR ESLW 310 and ESLR 310 2) Eligibility for (or completion of) one of the following classes: ENGWR 101 or higher OR ESLW 320 and ESLR 320 or higher Please turn in a copy of documentation of eligibility during the first week of class. (Copy will not be returned) Documentation includes ONE of the following: Assessment Placement Results (From the Assessment Center), verifying that you have tested at the appropriate course placement level. Transcript (unofficial is fine) showing that you have taken the required courses. Prerequisite Verification Form signed by a SCC counselor Come talk to me immediately if you have a problem with documentation. If you do not provide documentation, college policy states that I must drop you from the class. Sign up for imail: Every SCC student should have an imail account. Faculty (and the college) use imail to communicate with students, and I use it to pass important information to members of the class. That means, for example, that if I have to cancel a class I will make every effort to send a notice at the earliest possible time, so you can adjust your plans accordingly. If you do not have an imail account, you will not get the message. If you prefer, the imail account can be linked to another email address so you don't have to have multiple email accounts The imail site (with instructions) can be accessed at https://imail.losrios.edu/ or on the SCC Home Page Quick Link Menu. 2
Course Goals: The purpose of this course is to explore the nature of anthropology and its relationship to other sciences and the arts, as well as to examine the nature of culture. During the semester we will investigate various aspects of culture, answering a number of questions such as the following. What is culture? What does it do, how does it develop, how does it change? How and why does it vary or remain the same from society to society? How does it organize human lives and thoughts? How can we approach an understanding of cultures not our own? Web Site: Use the material made available to you on my web site!!! The internet address is http://wserver.scc.losrios.edu/~anthro/garr/culturalanthro/culturalanthropology.h tml or you can just Google "Nancy Garr" to find the link. On the web site you will find this syllabus, the course schedule and a link for each chapter (which in turn links to a lecture outline, vocabulary, study guide, handouts, and other pages as appropriate). BE A PROACTIVE, NOT A PASSIVE STUDENT! Get in the habit of using this material every week, and your grade will go up. Wait until the week before an exam, and you will most likely regret it! Study Skills: Take advantage of the SCC Actualize College Excellence (ACE) Program earlier, rather than later. You can find a number of useful links at the web site: http://www.scc.losrios.edu/academics/learning_resources_division/learning_skill s_and_tutoring_center.htm There are a number of online sites that offer help with study skills and strategies. Here are a few addresses that might help: http://www.studygs.net/ Attendance: For students to successfully complete their college work, regular class attendance is necessary. Attendance is important to you in that the things I emphasize in lectures are often the things that show up on exams. Attendance in class makes it easier to understand and learn important terms and concepts, and familiarizes you with the language I use when addressing those topics. Lax attendance also shows your attitude toward this class and its subject matter. Students with excessive absences (defined by the district as 6% of the total hours of class time or approximately 3 class periods) may be dropped from the class. For these reasons, attendance will be taken at the beginning of every class period. Attendance is not counted as part of the grade, however. 3
Organizational Notes: Cell phones must be turned off. Talk to me if you have an exceptional reason to leave yours on. Use computers for note taking or other appropriate class-related activities. Do NOT surf the net, check your email, or social network during class. In order that class time is spent in a discussion/lecture format, rather than hours of you listening to me, I require that all assigned reading and out-of-classroom work be complete before the class for which it is assigned. Late work will not be accepted. Out-of-classroom work: It is expected that each week students will work a minimum of two hours outside the classroom for every hour in the classroom. You should plan, on average, to devote at least 6 hours of out-of-class work per week to this three-unit course. That time might be spent: Reading the text Working on class notes and study guides (define terms and answer study questions) Studying for quizzes or exams and completing any assignments Assignments must be: typed identified (in the upper right hand corner) by student name (first and last), course number, assignment title or number, and class day and time stapled in the left hand corner if necessary turned in the day they are due Failure to follow these instructions can result in loss of points Special Needs: If you are a student with a learning disability, a physical disability, or other special needs, please let me know as soon as possible if you need special accommodations. If you suspect you have such a condition, please come talk to me. All needs that have been verified through the disability centers on campus will be accommodated. The Disabilities Resource Center can be found on-line at: http://wserver.scc.losrios.edu/~dsps/ 4
Conduct and Rights & Responsibilities: My goal is a mutually respectful classroom setting that fosters and stimulates a dynamic learning environment. I recommend that you read (or re-read, as the case may be) the Student Handbook section on student conduct and civility and the faculty code of ethics. A wealth of information is available in the Student Guide The Student Code of Conduct and Civility discusses student rights and responsibilities The Faculty Code of Ethics and the Faculty Statement of Professional Ethics is included in the Faculty Handbook. Most situations simply require common sense and manners - Its obvious that all phones and pagers should be turned off during class, for example, or that we should all treat each other with respect. Other aspects of conduct - those with serious consequences including cheating, plagiarism, and other acts of dishonesty, are clearly spelled out in the Student Standard of Conduct Brochure in the Student Guide or the Student Code of Conduct and Civility (above). The potential consequences of such behaviors are as follows: Depending on the seriousness of the infraction, the following may occur as a result of the dishonesty: 1. Receive a failing grade on the test or paper. 2. Have a course grade lowered. 3. Receive an "F" in the course. 4. Be placed on disciplinary probation or suspension. 5. Be expelled. In any conflict related to student discipline, students shall be informed in writing of charges to be brought against them, and they shall have the right to participate in an informal investigative meeting with the Student Discipline Officer. At such informal meetings or even at more formal Discipline Appeal hearings, students may not be represented by an attorney. 5
Miscellaneous things you should know as a college student (or Ms. Manners for college students or Understanding the culture of college): Hints for communicating with your instructor Telephone: identify yourself by name (first and last), course, day and time ("This is Jane Doe I m in your Tuesday/Thursday 8 AM Physical Anthropology class."). Voice mail: If you are leaving a voice mail, speak clearly and slowly! It is helpful to give your phone number early in the message and then again at the end, giving two chances to write down the number without replaying the voice mail. Emails: On the subject line, write your first and last name, and abbreviate the class, day and time. (For example: Jane Doe PA MW 8). Please! I try to learn your name and something about you, but I usually have around 200 students in five to six classes taught on three campuses. I DO NOT have time to figure out which class you are in before I help you! When you miss a class do not ask, Did I miss anything important? (Now, really How do you expect me to answer that!) Or even I was absent last class Could you please tell me what I missed, and give me all the handouts and assignments I missed? It is your responsibility to get notes from other students As a matter of fact, when ever possible you should make arrangements ahead of time so the person can take the notes knowing they will be used by another person. This is why I encourage you to introduce yourselves and to exchange phone numbers or e-mail addresses at the beginning of the semester. Then AFTER you find out what you missed, you come to me if you need further explanation of the topics covered, or to ask for specific handouts and assignments ( I need the genetics handout. ). Check your enrollment in this class on the computer to make sure you are enrolled Every semester students are automatically dropped by the college for lack of payment, or other reasons, and it will simplify your life if you find out about it sooner rather than later. If you are having problems in the class - for any reason - come to see me! We are often isolated as humans, especially when it comes to dealing with problems in class No one likes to admit that they are struggling with the material, or can't understand the concepts, or have other problems that are barriers to success It seems too embarrassing to admit. But I can almost guarantee that others are having or have had similar problems And although I am not a trained expert in study skills, or learning disabilities or the multitude of other challenges that students face, I have had a lot of experience in helping students find solutions to the barriers that block their success. Come see me! 6
Grading policy: Grades will be based on three exams worth 100 points each, and ten quizzes worth 10 points each. Exams consist of a combination of question types, including matching, fill-ins, short answers and short essays. Each will be worth 100 points, but will have 5 points of extra-credit built in, so potentially a student could earn 105 points on a 100-point exam. Exams cannot be made up, except for very special, documented reasons (see below) Final Exam: The final exam is not cumulative. The final exam will be given at the date and time listed on the SCC final schedule. It is also at the bottom of the schedule for this class. Note the date! Final exams will not be given early or late except for very special documented reasons. (In other words, do not buy airplane tickets or plan to go on vacations that conflict with the final!) The quizzes are intended to encourage students to read assigned articles. Each quiz will consist of 12 multiple-choice questions, 2 of which are extra credit. Quizzes will be given at the beginning of class on the day they are scheduled. Do not be late! Quizzes cannot be made up, except for very special, documented reasons (see below). Each quiz is worth 10 points but will have 2 points of extra-credit built in, so potentially a student could earn 12 points on a 10-point quiz. One quiz is counted as extra-credit. Therefore, since there are ten quizzes, it is possible to earn 110 out of 90 points. The schedule for the quizzes is included in the Class Schedule. There will be no make-up exams or quizzes, except for very special reasons (sanctioned school activity, death in the family, serious illness, etc.). Your reason must be documented, and that documentation WILL be checked. Unless a serious, documented reason prevents it, you must contact me prior to the exam by e-mail or by calling me at 916-650-2794. If you do not follow these instructions you will not be allowed to make up the exam. If, by arrangement with me, you are going to make up a quiz, be prepared to take it the day you return from your absence. Exams will be made up by taking a cumulative exam at the end of the semester during finals week. 7
The points you earn in quizzes and exams will totaled and divided by the total points possible to determine the percent you earn in the class. Final grades will be assigned as follows: PERCENT GRADE 100-90 % A 89-80 % B 79-70 % C 69-60 % D Below 60 % F Please keep track of your points on the Point and Grade Tracking Chart. (See next page) Why is this important?? Successful students are self-motivated students. Keeping track of your own grade is part of that effort. Teachers are humans too, and they can make mistakes. Tracking your own grade is good insurance. Please read carefully! If you are having problems completing the requirements of this class PLEASE come see me. Do not wait until the end of the semester to tell me you need this class to (play baseball, transfer, graduate, fill in the blank). I am as committed as you are to your success in this class, but I cannot help you unless you help yourself. Make an appointment to talk to me before it is too late!! There are many things that lead to problems and many ways to work around or overcome those problems. 8
Cultural Anthropology Total Point and Grade Tracking Chart Exams/Quizzes Points Earned Points Possible Percent (Total Points Earned Points Possible) Exam 1 100 /100 = Exam 2 100 /100 = Exam 3 100 /100 = Total Quizzes 100 /100 = Total 400 /400 = Quiz Point Tracking Sheet Quiz Points Earned Points possible Quiz 1 10 Quiz 2 10 Quiz 3 10 Quiz 4 10 Quiz 5 10 Quiz 6 10 Quiz 7 10 Quiz 8 10 Quiz 9 10 Quiz 10 10 Total points 100 (remember 10 points are extra-credit) 9