Hello Everyone!
Welcome to Anthropology 102- Cultural Anthropology. My name is Patrick Lathrop and I’ve
been an adjunct professor at Marist for the past five years.
Since this is a winter intersession course and we only have four weeks we will be moving along
at a fairly rapid pace. It is imperative that you keep up with the readings and forum discussions.
If you run into any problems during the course, please contact me ASAP. Also, I realize that
many of you may be traveling or working during this time. You must have a regular and reliable
internet connection to participate in this course. There are no exceptions to this rule.
During the course of this class you will have the opportunity to interact with your fellow students
through online forum discussions, and prove what you know through a weekly unit exam. You
will be expected to read approximately 100 pages / week in addition to lecture notes, articles and
brief videos. I am looking for you to understand the broad brushstrokes of culture and cultural
interactions, but will expect you to know some specific examples of culture as well. Much of
this information can be gleaned from both notes and text, but all information is fair game during
exams.
We will be using the following textbook by Kottak throughout the course:
Kottak, Conrad Phillip (2013). Cultural Anthropology- Appreciating Cultural Diversity,
15th ed. McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. New York, NY. ISBN: 9780078035005
There are also a number of online extras to help you with your studies:
http://highered.mheducation.com/sites/0078035007/student_view0/index.html
My word to the wise (all of you) is to buy your book early. The bookstore has the order in, and
usually gets it in on time for the Winter session. Unfortunately I can do nothing about the price
of the text, as all texts seem to have become expensive over the last few years. You are welcome
to buy your text online from a third party seller with the caveat that it MUST be in your hands by
the day of the first class. Exams, homework and forums are all based the fact that you have
received and read the book.
Throughout this course you will gain an understanding and appreciation of the fundamentals of
cultures, both similarities and differences that can be applied to many situations. Some cultures
will seem very familiar while others will be quite different from what you may have experienced.
Some of the greatest tools in your interpersonal arsenal are those of tolerance, mutual respect and
cultural sensitivity, the same standards by which I will expect you to interact in your discussion
forums. I hope that you will learn a great deal and keep an open mind while speaking your mind
and feeling free to ask any and all questions.
I look forward to getting to know and interact with all of you over the winter session!
Best,
Professor Lathrop