Course Description: This course attempts to define culture and to survey the variety of man’s cultures at all levels of socio-cultural development from the small-scale, technologically simple cultures to the large-scale technologically complex ones. Topics described and analyzed include the social institutions, such as kinship, marriage, family, religion, politics, language, and economics in a cross-cultural perspective.
Student Learning Outcomes:
1.
Apply the ethnographic research method and typical themes of anthropological inquiry.
2.
Define the term “culture” and explain how it impacts the lives of individuals.
3.
Compare and contrast the differing subsistence strategies, and/or attitudes towards work, that are found among varying societies.
4.
Apply the key concepts and methods of anthropology to appraise how ideals of sex and gender are shaped by cultural context.
5.
Compare, contrast and critically assess the effect of globalization and consumerism on the environment.
6.
Compare and contrast different kinship and lineage systems, and explain how each affects lifeways in various cultures.
7.
Apply the fundamentals of linguistic anthropology to explain how language is an integral part of human culture.
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Assigned readings for the course:
Guest, Kenneth J. 2014. Cultural Anthropology: A Toolkit for a Global Age. New York: Norton.
 E-Book Available for purchase at: http://store.vitalsource.com/show/9780393521504R180
David, Sasha. 2013. The Anthro Download. Xanedu Press.
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C
OURSE
P
OLICIES
:
Academic Honesty/Plagiarism Statement: All students are expected to adhere to the Los Angeles
Harbor College standards of academic honesty. These standards forbid plagiarism, unlawful copying and, or, failure to give credit to sources that you may use in the research and writing of your class work. Cheating and other forms of misconduct are covered under this statement. Failure to comply with these standards will result in a failed assignment and, or, a failed grade in this class.
In other words, plagiarism is when you copy something straight out of a book, or cut and paste from a webpage, and only change a few words here and there, without putting quotes around it, and then put it in your paper, without acknowledging that it’s someone else’s work. Another way to define plagiarism is that it occurs any time that you try to take credit for something you did not write. Any paper that does this will receive a 0 and could result in you failing the class.
Also, every paper that you turn in to me, unless otherwise noted, is an individual assignment; it is NOT group work. Therefore, if your paper is the same or similar to another student’s paper, it will be considered plagiarism and you will receive the penalties stated above.
Controversial Content Statement: This course includes discussions of a frank nature regarding particular subjects including race, religion and sexual orientation protected by the college’s academic freedom statutes that may be considered offensive and controversial to some. When such topics may arise during the course of this semester and a student wishes to be excused, please notify the instructor that you wish to be excluded from class discussion on the ground that it is personally offensive and the instructor will excuse you until such discussion has concluded.
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Cell phone policy: If your cell phone goes off during class or if I see it in your hand, I will keep it for the rest of the class period. If you leave class to answer a phone call or to make a phone call, you may not come back and you will lose your attendance/participation point for the day. Cell phones may not be on the desk, in your hand or in any way visible while class is in session—including during testing.
Disruptive behavior: Students who engage in behavior that is disruptive to the learning environment will receive a “0” for their attendance/participation score for the day and they will be asked to leave the classroom and not return until the following class meeting. (“Disruptive behavior” is defined as interacting with one’s neighbor at an inappropriate time, sleeping, using the Internet, or otherwise disturbing the learning environment.) Repeated instances of disruptive behavior may lead to a failed grade or withdrawal from the class.
Lateness, Leaving Early, or Missing Class: You must be present when attendance is called, as a minimum requirement for receiving your attendance and participation point for the class. If you know that it will be difficult for you to arrive on time for this class, you should enroll in another section.
However, on certain occasions Dr. David will grant partial credit to students who are late. It is your responsibility to see Dr. David after class so that you may explain your case and possibly receive partial credit for your attendance/participation score for that day. If you do arrive late at class, please enter through the door at the back of the room. (It is extremely disruptive when students arrive late and enter through the front door.)
If a student leaves early without the professor’s prior permission, attendance will be recalled and the attendance points for the class will be adjusted accordingly.
Absences due to illness (accompanied by a doctor’s note) and court appearances will be excused. If you do not have health insurance or you are unable to schedule an appointment with your doctor when you are sick, you can ask a pharmacist at a drug store to write a note for you and I will accept this in lieu of a doctor’s note. Absences due to illness that are unaccompanied by a medical professional’s note will not be excused. I will not accept sick notes from your family members.
I will excuse one work-related absence per semester, whether this is due to a job interview or your work schedule. I will need you to present a note from your supervisor or proof of your job interview. These notes must clearly indicate the time and date of your work obligation.
Disability Statement: Students with a verified disability who may need authorized accommodation(s) for this class are encouraged to notify the instructor and the Office of Special Services or Disabled
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Students as soon as possible, at least two weeks before any exam or quiz. All information will remain confidential.
Assignment Format and Submission: All assignments for this course must be typed in 12-point
Times New Roman font, double spaced, and formatted using the default formatting standards in
Microsoft Word. Assignments will NOT be accepted via email. If your printer is not working, print your paper at the library or at Fedex Office. I will not accept a broken printer as an excuse for your late paper. All work must be turned in at class on the day it is due, in hard copy (paper) format, and
STAPLED. NO EXCEPTIONS. If you have an excused absence, turn in your paper on the day that you return along with your excused absence note.
Due Date Policy: All exams/assignments/presentations are due on the specified day in the course syllabus. NO late exams/assignments/presentations will be accepted.
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S OME WORDS OF ADVICE :
Turn in Your Homework: If you do not turn in any homework this semester, you will likely fail the class or receive a D, even if you have perfect attendance.
Hearing From Dr. David: All emails that I send to you—and there may be quite a few—will only go to your LACCD email account, so make sure you have it up and running ASAP!
Something I Never Want to Hear: “This class really means a lot to me, so accept my late papers and excuse my absences.” If you want to do well in this class, turn in your papers on time and come to class. It’s that simple! I do not “negotiate” grades. Your grade is what you earned.
Start Keeping a Calendar: If you don’t have one already, use a calendar (whether it’s a desk or wall calendar, or an app on your phone) and keep all your assignment due dates marked in it. I am not going to remind you when things are due!
Financial aid students: Please be aware that you will likely not receive your aid until several weeks into the semester, but I will not accept late papers for this reason. You can borrow the book from the library (it’s on reserve there) or from someone in the class.
Students who do not receive financial aid: Please be willing to help out the students who ask to borrow your book.
Also: If the bookstore runs out of textbooks, please notify me immediately so that I can give the appropriate extensions for your paper due dates.
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A
SSIGNMENTS AND GRADING FOR THE COURSE
:
Attendance and participation: You will receive one point per class that you attend. In order to receive this point, you must come to class on time, be present when I call your name, not leave early, and
PARTICIPATE!! This is YOUR class!! (25% of final grade)
Unannounced (“Pop”) Quizzes: On certain days, Dr. David will give unannounced quizzes on the subject matter that has been covered in class that day. If you do not pass the quiz, you will receive a
0 for your attendance/participation point for that day.
Written summaries of assigned readings: The written summaries that you turn in for this class pertain to both of the assigned textbooks. You will be expected to write at least one half page of summary per assigned chapter. Due dates for these papers, and the particular chapters they will cover, are listed below. On the day that these papers are due, we will conduct “Peer Review.” This will consist of your classmates reviewing your work in terms of grammar and content. Peer review does not determine your final grade on the paper. If you suspect there is plagiarism in the paper you’re reviewing, please bring it to my attention immediately. (25% of final grade)
Midterm and Final Exams: The midterm and final exam are multiple choice tests. The midterm will cover the lectures and reading from The Anthro Download up to the day of the exam. The final exam will be cumulative, and also cover the lectures and reading from The Anthro Download. Please bring a
Scantron and a pencil on the days of the exams. (Each exam is worth 25% of final grade)
Calculation of final grades: This class will use the traditional numerical values for each letter grade. (A =
90%-100%; B = 80%-89%; C = 70%-79%; D = 60%-69%; F = 59% or lower.)
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Lecture and Reading Schedule:
Tuesday 9/2
Syllabus Review
Thursday 9/4
Introduction: What is Socio-Cultural Anthropology?
Tweet of the Week
Tuesday 9/9
The Contributions of Malinowski, Mauss, and Marx
Thursday 9/11
Early Acknowledgements of the Connection Between Mind, Body, and Society
Tweet of the Week
Tuesday 9/16
Summaries Due:
Cultural Anthropology Chapters 1 & 2
The Anthro Download Chapters 1, 2 & 3
Peer Review
Thursday 9/18
The Contributions of Mary Douglas to Socio-Cultural Anthropology
Tweet of the Week
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Tuesday 9/23
Subjectivity in Anthropology
Thursday 9/25
Studying Genocide as an Anthropologist
Tweet of the Week
Tuesday 9/30
Summaries Due:
Cultural Anthropology Chapters 3 & 4
The Anthro Download Chapters 4, 5 & 6
Peer Review
Thursday 10/2
Work Among the Baining of Papua New Guinea
Tweet of the Week
Tuesday 10/7
Sex as Metaphor in the U.S. and Papua New Guinea
Thursday 10/9
Anthropological Perspectives on Family Planning
Tweet of the Week
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Tuesday 10/14
Summaries Due:
Cultural Anthropology Chapters 6 & 7
The Anthro Download Chapters 7, 8 & 11
Peer Review
Midterm Review
Thursday 10/16
Midterm Exam
Tuesday 10/21
Spirituality and Capitalism
Thursday 10/23
Formal Vs. Informal Economies
Tweet of the Week
Tuesday 10/28
Late Capitalism and the Selling of the Self
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Thursday 10/30
Summaries Due:
Cultural Anthropology Chapters 8 & 9
The Anthro Download Chapters 9, 10 & 12
Peer Review
Tweet of the Week
Tuesday 11/4
Applying the Anthropological Methodology to the Study of Hollywood
Thursday 11/6
Today’s Flexible Workplace
Tweet of the Week
Tuesday 11/11 – No School!
Thursday 11/3
Tour Guides, Flight Attendants, and Boxers
Tweet of the Week
Tuesday 11/18
Summaries Due:
Cultural Anthropology Chapters 10 & 11
The Anthro Download Chapters 13, 14 & 15
Peer Review
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Thursday 11/20
Sex, Gender, and The Impact of Capitalism on It All
Tweet of the Week
Tuesday 11/25
Anthropological Perspectives on Male and Female Body Image in the U.S.
Thursday 11/27 – No School!
Tuesday 12/2
Anthropological Contributions to the Study of Alcoholism
Tweet of the Week
Thursday 12/4
Summaries Due:
Cultural Anthropology Chapters 12 & 13
The Anthro Download Chapters 16, 19 & 20
Peer Review
Tuesday 12/9
Final Exam Review
Thursday 12/11
Final Exam Review
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Tuesday 12/16 @ 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Final Exam
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