Syllabus URL: http://www.little-yeti.com/ant2000/

Course Description
           
            What is anthropology? What exactly do anthropologists do? The answers to these questions are not easy ones because few disciplines approach the range of questions that anthropology is interested in. These questions include, but are in no way limited to, the evolution of modern humans and primates (biological anthropology); the diversity of languages, their origins, and spread across the planet (linguistic anthropology); documenting and understanding the variety of cultural groups throughout the world (cultural anthropology); and the experiences of past peoples as evidenced through their material remains (archaeological anthropology). The goals of this course go beyond simple introduction to include the types of questions asked by anthropologists and detail many of the actual methods and techniques employed by this dynamic discipline. This course is designed to introduce undergraduate students to general overviews of each of the four sub-disciplines within anthropology (biological, linguistic, cultural, and archaeological) in an accessible and appealing way.

Required Texts

Miller, Barbara D., and Bernard Wood
            2006    Anthropology. Boston, MA.: McGraw-Hill Higher Education.

Terms

            Grades will be determined from four tests and four one-page responses (three on movies, one on a general topic). The tests will consist of 40 questions. Students are typically expected to complete assigned readings prior to class. Make-up tests and assignments will only be granted if arranged prior to the date in this syllabus, or when accompanied by appropriate documentation (i.e. doctor’s note).

Breakdown of Grading:
            Four tests                                - 80% (40 questions per test, 1 point per question)
            Four movie response papers    - 20% (10 points per response)
           
 The grading scale is as follows:

90 – 100% A               70 – 77% C
88 – 89% B+               68 – 69% D+
80 – 87% B                 60 – 67% D
78 – 89% C+               below 60% E

Disability Accommodations

            Students requesting classroom accommodation must first register with the Dean of Students Office. The Dean of Students Office will provide documentation to the student who must then provide this documentation to the instructor when requesting accommodation.

Disclaimer

            While the tests and assignments will not change in number, their scheduling may be rearranged due to unforeseen circumstances.

Semester Calendar

Week 01
M          08-27   Class introduction – Chapter 1 (read after class)
W         08-29   Culture & Diversity – Chapter 2

Week 02
M          09-03   No Class
W         09-05   Science, Biology, & Evolution – Chapter 3

Week 03
M        09-10   Research Methods in Anthropology – Chapter 4
W        09-12   Primates – Chapter 5

Week 04
M          09-17    The Earliest Human Ancestors – Chapter 6
W          09-19    Test 01 - Study Guide

Week 05
M          09-24   Movie “Altered States ” - Writing Assignment One - Writing Guidelines - Sample Grading Rubric
W          09-26   Archaic Homo – Chapter 7

Week 06
M         10-01    Neolithic and Urban Revolutions – Chapter 9 [Writing Assignment One Due]
W         10-03    Modern Humans – Chapter 8 - Timelines

Week 07
M          10-08    Biological Diversity – Chapter 10
W          10-10    Test 02 - Study Guide

Week 08
M         10-15   Movie "Monsoon Wedding" - Writing Assignment 02 - Writing Guidelines - Sample Grading Rubric
W         10-17   Reproduction & Development – Chapter 12

Week 09
M          10-22    Illness and Healing | Kinship and Domestic Life – Chapters 13 & Chapter 14 [Writing Assignment Two Due]
W          10-24   Social Groups and Social Stratification – Chapter 15

Week 10
M          10-29   Movie "Letter to the President " - Writing Assignment 03 - Writing Guidelines - Sample Grading Rubric
W         10-31   Class Cancelled - Happy Halloween!!

Week 11
M          11-05    Economic and Political Systems – Chapters 11 & 16 [Writing Assignment Three Due]
W          11-07    Test 03 - Study Guide

Week 12
M          11-12    No Class - Veteran's Day
W          11-14    Communication – Chapter 17

Week 13
M          11-19    Movie "Golden Venture" - Writing Assignment 04 - Writing Guidelines - Sample Grading Rubric
W         11-21    No Class - Thanksgiving - Go Home!

Week 14
M           11-26   Religion & Expressive Culture – Chapters 18 & 19 [Writing Assignment Four Due]
W          11-28  No Class - Instructor at AAA Conference in Washington DC

Week 15
M          12-03   Activism and Anthropology & People on the Move – Chapters 20 & 21
W          12-05   Test 04 - Study Guide

Have a great holiday season!

If you're interested in my future courses, please email me. In the Spring I'm teaching two courses:
1) ANT 4930 - Anthropological Uses of Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
2) IDH 3931 - Advocacy/Activism in the Academy