Cultural Anthropology
SOC 2250-01
Th/F 12:30am-1:45pm
Thompson 215
INSTRUCTOR: G.L. M. WALLACE, PHD
OFFICE CH 331
PHONE: X 7456
OFFICE HOURS:
MW 12:30pm-2pm
F 12:30pm-1pm
This course is designed to introduce students to the theories, methods and
history of cultural anthropology. Drawing on ethnographic materials from all
parts of the world we will investigate how people define themselves and
others, make sense of their world, and organize their lives. We will look at
past and contemporary ways that anthropologists have thought about culture,
and use anthropological perspectives to examine the ways in which the
concept of culture is and can be currently applied to a variety of groups.
GOALS OF THE COURSE
1. Create and assess basic hypotheses about culture using anthropological
theory and research tools
2. Demonstrate familiarity with the concepts of culture, humanity, and
cultural relativity
3. Identify and define major anthropological models for human behavior,
including those in the areas of
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Kinship
Subsistence and economics
Gender and family organization
Culture change
Political organization and social control
4. Apply anthropological theories to ethnographic data in order to interpret
relations between cultural and/or natural variables impacting human society
through the preparation of appropriate hands-on projects, such as...
a.
b.
Collecting information through direct observation of human interactions
Participant observation studies
5.
Recognize and evaluate cross-cultural, international, and global outlooks
6.
Recognize ethnocentrism in themselves and others
Course Requirements
I.
Attendance- Students are expected to attend all scheduled sections.
Missing three or more class sessions will result in the loss of a letter grade
(subsequent absences will require an additional loss of grade).
II.
Assignments- (a) Ethnographic Assignments: (40% of final
grade). Students will be required to conduct up to 4 different ethnographic
research assignments. (b) Exams: There will be four multiple choice/true
false exams given over the course of the semester. Each exam will address
ideas and concepts from the course. (40% of final grade).
Please note:
III.
All submitted writing must be typed (1.5-2.0 spacing) and
contain a bibliography of works cited.
IV.
Participation- Everyone is expected to have read the course readings
before coming to lecture section. Do not come to class without being
prepared, as it will reflect negatively on your final grade. You will never be
required to know everything. You are, however, expected to be willing to
engage everything. An important part of your participation grade will
consist of your being able to make a significant contribution to the class
through your ability to add to the discussion of course materials. Students
will also be asked to produce a number (at least 5) of short (1-2pg) analyses
that will also contribute to your participation grade. NOTE: You will also
be expected to be able to speak in a detailed and authoritative manner (in
class) on the papers that you write in class (20% of Final Grade).
NOTE: IF YOU ARE STUDENT WITH A DOCUMENTED
DISABILITY, SPEAK TO ME REGARDING ANY
ACCOMODATIONS THAT CAN BE MADE.
The grade distribution for individual assignments is as follows:
A+ [ 95-100 ]
C+ [ 75-79 ]
A [ 90-95 ]
C [ 70-74 ]
B+ [ 85-89 ]
D [ 60-69 ]
B [ 80-84 ]
F [ 0-59 ]
TOTAL POINTS FOR THE COURSE: 1000
A=1000-900 POINTS
B=899-800 POINTS
C=799-700
D=699-600
F=599-0
Course Readings-IN THE BOOKSTORE:
* TITLE:Cultural Anthropology
* AUTHOR:Barbara Miller
* EDITION:6th
* COPYRIGHT YEAR:2012
* PUBLISHER:Allyn & Bacon, Incorporated
* ISBN:9780205035182
* NEW:$147.25
* USED:$110.50
* RENTAL:$71.78
Additional Readings will be made available at no
additional charge, on the course website
ADDITIONAL NOTES
1. EMAILING: EVERY EMAIL IS VIEWED AS AN AGREEMENT
TO MEET WITH ME DURING OFFICE HOURS. IF YOU HAVE
QUESTIONS, COMMENTARY OR SUGGESTIONS THAT
WARRANT AN EMAIL, YOU MUST COME AND SEE ME DURING
OFFICE HOURS. WHY IS THIS AN ISSUE? SOME STUDENTS USE
EMAIL TO AVOID CONTACT WITH THEIR INSTRUCTORS. I
WANT TO SEE YOU AND TO BE ABLE TO DISCUSS YOUR
QUESTIONS IN-PERSON AND IN-DEPTH. I FEEL SO STRONGLY
ABOUT THIS THAT I COUNT OFFICE VISITS AS EXTRA CREDITSUPPLEMENTING YOUR PARTICIPATION GRADE.
2. MAKE-UP QUIZZES: THERE WILL BE NO MAKE-UP
QUIZZES.
3. COMPUTER/CELL PHONE USAGE: IF YOU ARE USING YOUR
COMPUTER FOR ANY ACTIVITY THAT IS NOT DIRECTLY
RELATED TO COURSE WORK (IF YOU ARE SURFING THE NET OR
SENDING TEXT MESSAGES), YOU WILL FORFEIT YOUR
PARTICIPATION GRADE.
4. CHANGES TO SYLLABUS: YOUR SYLLABUS IS A GUIDE AND IS
NOT “ETCHED IN STONE”. THERE MAY BE TIMES IN WHICH IT
MAY BE NECESSARY TO ADJUST OUR SCHEDULE BASED ON A
VARIETY OF FACTORS. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE ALTERATION
WILL BE NOTED VERBALLY IN CLASS AND INCLUDED IN THE
ONLINE VERSION OF OUR SYLLABUS.
Schedule of Readings and Assignments
Week 1
Jan. 20, 21
Introductions, Review of Syllabus:
Why Are You Here?
Week 2
Jan. 27, 28
WHAT IS ANTHROPOLOGY?
ANTHROPOLOGY AND THE STUDY OF
CULTURE
Readings- Chapter 1; Of Headhunters and Soldiers:
Separating Cultural and Ethical Relativism (found on the
website)
Thursday: Lecture & Discussion- Anthropology as a
humanist philosophy /Fields of Anthropological Inquiry
Friday- Lecture & Discussion- Anthropology as a
humanist philosophy /Fields of Anthropological Inquiry
Week 3
Feb. 3, 4
THE EVOLUTION OF HUMANITY AND
CULTURE
Readings: Chapter 2
Thursday: Lecture & Discussion-Evolution and Culture
Friday: Video-TBA
Week 4
Feb. 10, 11
RESEARCHING CULTURE
Readings: Chapter 3; Geertz article
Thursday: Lecture and Discussion-Culture
Friday: EXAM #1
Week 5
Feb. 17, 18
MAKING A LIVING
Readings: Chapter 4, Sahlins article (website)
Thursday: Video-TBA
Friday: Lecture and Discussion-Making a Living
Week 6
Feb. 24, 25
CONSUMPTION AND EXCHANGE
Readings: Chapter 5
Thursday : Video-TBA
Friday: Lecture and Discussion-Consumption and Exchange
Week 7
Mar. 3, 4
REPRODUCTION AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Readings: Chapter 6
Thursday: Lecture and Discussion-Reproduction and Human
Development
Friday: Lecture and Discussion-Reproduction and Human
Development
Week 8
Mar. 10, 11
DISEASE, ILLNESS AND
HEALING
Readings: Chapter 7; Scheper-Hughes article (website)
Thursday: Lecture and Discussion-Disease, Illness and
Healing
Friday: EXAM # 2
Week 9
Mar. 17, 18
SPRING BREAK
Week 10
Mar. 24, 25
KINSHIP AND DOMESTIC LIFE/ SOCIAL GROUPS
AND SOCIAL STRATIFICATION
Readings: Chapters 8 & 9
Thursday: Video-TBA
Friday: Lecture and Discussion-Kinship/Stratification
Week 11
Mar. 31, Apr. 1
POLITICAL AND LEGAL SYSTEMS
Readings: Chapter 10
Thursday: Video-TBA
Friday: Lecture and Discussion-Political and Legal Systems
Week 12
Apr. 7, 8
COMMUNICATION
Readings: Chapter 11
Thursday: EXAM #3
Friday: Lecture and Discussion –Communication Styles
Week 13
Apr. 14, 15
RELIGION
Readings: Chapter 12, Marvin Harris article (website)
Thursday: Video-TBA
Friday: Lecture and Discussion-Religion
Week 14
Apr. 21, 22
EXPRESSIVE CULTURE/ PEOPLE ON
THE MOVE
Readings: Chapter 12, Maira (website), Nassy Brown
(website)
Thursday: Video
Friday: Lecture and Discussion-Art and Immigration
Week 15
Apr. 28, 29
PEOPLE DEFINING DEVELOPMENT
Readings: Chapter 15, Escobar (website)
Thursday: Video-TBA
Friday: Lecture and Discussion-What is Development?
Week 16
May 5, 6
PRESENTATIONS/QUIZ
Thursday: Presentations
Friday: EXAM #4
Academic Integrity Policy
Excerpted from the FSC Online Catalog (http://www.fsc.edu/catalog/Policies/)
“Every member of the College community is expected to maintain the highest standards of
academic integrity. A student shall not submit work that is falsified or is not the result of the
student's own effort. A student who is in doubt regarding standards of academic integrity in a
course or assignment should consult the faculty member responsible for that course or
assignment before submitting the work. A student's lack of understanding of the academic
integrity policy is not a valid defense to a charge of academic dishonesty.
A student's name on any written or creative exercise (e.g., examination, report, thesis, theme,
laboratory report, computer program, artistic production, etc.), or in association with an oral
presentation, declares that the work is the result of that student's own thought and study. Any
work that the student declares as his or her own shall be stated in the student's own words and
produced without the assistance of others. Students must make clear through accurate
citations when they make use of other sources. Talking during an examination, or possession
or use of unauthorized materials or equipment during an examination constitutes an
infringement of the academic integrity policy. Aiding and abetting academic dishonesty also
constitutes a violation of the academic integrity policy.
Unless permission is received in advance from the faculty member in charge of the course
involved, a student may not submit, in identical or similar form, work for one course that has
been used to fulfill any academic requirement in another course at Fitchburg State College or
any other institution. A student who perceives the possibility of overlapping assignments in
courses should consult with the appropriate faculty members before presuming that a single
effort will fulfill requirements of both courses. Students should consult course syllabi for
additional guidance on matters of academic integrity.”