ANTH 1102B
INTRODUCTORY ANTHROPOLOGY
Course Syllabus – Spring 2014
INSTRUCTOR:
John C. Huffman
EMAIL:
jhuffman927@gmail.com
HOURS:
Appointment Only
CLASS HOURS:
MW 8:30PM-9:45PM
TEXT:
Ember, Ember, and Peregrine, Anthropology (13th ed.)
Note: Articles may also be assigned throughout the semester.
DESCRIPTION: Anthropology is a holistic approach to human behavior, culture and society. It
is related to sociology, psychology, biology, and history, often overlapping these fields and some
others. Anthropology is composed of cultural anthropology, linguistics, archaeology, and
physical anthropology. These cover a range of topics related to human life (e.g. its social forms,
evolution, history and forms of communication). This course provides an overview of the four
fields of anthropology and the applied use of these studies.
Students will learn the following:
 the four interrelated subfields of anthropology.
 to have a broader perspective of how complex and diverse humans are over time.
 to question and understand the world through the lens of culture.
 to recognize self as a global citizen.
TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE:
This syllabus is an approximate outline of our class activities for the semester.
Jan. 6
Classes Begin
Jan. 8
Introduction: What is Anthropology?
Ch.1
Jan. 13
Semester Project: REEL or REAL? An analysis of Indiana Jones: Raiders of
the Lost Ark.
Jan. 15
Research Methods in Anthropology
Ch.3
Jan 20
NO CLASSES: MLK HOLIDAY
Jan.22, 27
Genetics and Evolution
Ch.4
1
Jan. 29
Human variation and Adaptation
Ch 5
Feb. 11
Test 1, Chapters 1-5.
Feb. 3,5
The Living Primates
Ch.6
Feb. 10,12
Primate Evolution: From Early Primates to Hominoids
Ch.7
Feb.17, 19
The First Hominids
Ch. 8
Feb. 2
Semester Project Research Night
Feb. 26
Test 2, Review.
Mar. 3
Test 2
Mar. 5
Culture
Ch.2
Mar. 10
The Origins of culture and the Emergence of Homo sapiens
Ch.9
Mar. 12, 17
The Emergence of Homo sapiens
Ch. 10
Mar. 19
The Upper Paleolithic World
Ch. 11
Mar. 24
Origins of Food Production and Settled Life/Getting Food
Ch. 12 and 16
Mar. 26
Origins of Cities and States
Ch 13
Mar. 31
Test 3, Review.
Apr. 2
Culture and Culture Change
Ch 14
2
Apr. 7-11
NO CLASSES: SPRING BREAK
Apr. 14
Test 3, Review.
Apr. 16
Test, 3. Communication
Ch.15
Apr. 21
Marriage and the family/Marital residence and Kinship
Ch. 21 and 22
Apr. 28
SEMESTER PROJECTS DUE. Sex, Gender, and Culture
Ch. 14
Apr. 29
Religion and Magic
Ch. 25
May 1
Applied, Practicing, and Medical Anthropology
Ch. 27
FINAL:
April 30th from 8:30-10:30PM
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Semester grades are based on four tests, semester project, and in-class assignments (TBA).
Readings should be completed weekly. Here is a brief summary of the assignments, but more
details will be given out closer to the due dates. Assignments (TBA) are due at the beginning of
class in 12 pt. Times (New Roman) font, double-spaced with one-inch margins.
Tests: Each test may include multiple choice, matching, short answer, and true or false
questions. Tests are not cumulative. Tests will contain 50 questions and you will be given a
regular class period to complete the test.
Disabilities note: If you have a disability that may require assistance or accommodations, or
if you have questions related to any accommodations for testing, note takers, readers, etc. please
speak with me and also contact the Testing and Disability Center (737-1469 or
www.aug.edu/testing_and_disability_services/) for additional information about services
available at ASU.
Grading Scale
Exam 1
Exam 2
Exam 3
Exam 4
4 Assignments
Participation
10 pts. (10%)
10 pts. (10%)
10 pts. (10%)
10 pts. (10%)
40 pts. (40%)
20 pts. (20%)
100-90
89-80
79-70
69-60
59-<
3
A
B
C
D
F
100 pts. (100%)
CLASS POLICIES:
Attendance: Students who come in after class begins may be counted absent for the day. It is up
to the student to contact me if they will be late or at the end of class to ensure they were not
marked absent. Students who have more than 4 absences will automatically fail the course.
If you choose to withdraw from the course then it is your responsibility to take care of the
paperwork or you will have an F on your transcript. If you miss class because of sports or
military obligations then inform your course instructor, me.
Participation: Participation assumes active learning by paying attention, presenting relevant
comments/questions to class, and not distracting other students from learning (as opposed to
texting). Therefore, please respect your fellow classmates by NOT contributing to distracting
classroom behavior (e.g., talking when someone else is talking, eating, reading the newspaper,
being tardy or leaving early, leaving your cell phone ringer on). Cell phones, PDAs and other
such electronic devices are not allowed to be used at all during the exams.
Please note that all forms of dishonesty including cheating and plagiarism are not tolerated in
this course. All work that is turned in should be your own work. Instances of academic
misconduct will be dealt with in accordance with the procedures outlined in the Student
Handbook which may include failing the assignment, the course, or even expulsion from GRU.
 A successful discussion requires your critical thinking about issues raised in class and
readings as well as your articulation about your positions, which requires your regular
participation. No idea is too simple or silly to communicate. Do not be afraid to ask
questions or take a stand or articulate confusion.
 It is not my job to summarize the reading for you. You need to do the assigned readings
before class and think about them on your own. During class time we will connect the
readings to broader anthropological issues. I am depending on you to interact with me
and with one another in class during these discussions.
 There is no topic off limits in class, and you do not have to agree with everyone.
However, we must learn how to listen and respect people’s rights to their own opinion as
well as their right to express those opinions. We will be discussing sensitive or charged
issues in class, so please practice cultural relativity as much as possible.
4