Anthropology 206
Fall 2011 - T/Th 6:00 – 8:30
East Complex Barbershop
Instructor: Andrew J. Gallagher, Ph.D.
Course Description: Anthropology 206 is a holistic and comparative study of culture in
selected communities around the world which illustrate unity and diversity in human
culture.
Intended Learning Outcomes: Student achievement will be demonstrated though
quizzes, exams, attendance, class participation and a short research paper.
Course Objectives: Upon the completion of the course, the student will be able to
describe major aspects of cultures in countries around the world including basic concepts
and major research findings in the following areas:
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Origins of culture
Reasons for culture change
Food production
Economics
Race and social stratification
Religion and magic
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Culture and gender
Marriage and kinship
Politics
Art
Applied anthropology
Global problems
Achieving WWCC “Core Abilities”
In addition to the course objectives, this class also addresses the college’s following core
abilities:
 Communication—the ability to understand and effectively express a concept,
feeling, or experience.
 Critical Thinking—the process of examination, evaluation, and revision of
material, ideas, or data using appropriate attitudes and skills.
 Personal and Professional Responsibility—the ability to develop ethical and
quality standards while building one’s character in integrity, civility, and respect
for others.
 Diversity/Appreciation of Differences—the ability to understand the uniqueness
of self and others, and demonstrate an openness toward diverse points of view.
 Information/Technology—the ability to access, evaluate, and apply information
from a variety of sources, tools, and contexts, and to adapt to changing
technologies.
 Lifelong Learning—the ability to persist in acquiring knowledge and applying
skills, set and revise goals, and assume responsibility for one’s own learning.
Tardiness and Attendance Policy:
There is a positive correlation between class attendance and success in the course. Class
attendance is expected and will be counted. If you do not want or plan to attend class,
please see your advisor immediately and/or drop this course.
Required Textbook:
Ember, C.R., Ember, M., and Peregrine, P.N. (2011). Anthropology, 13th Ed. Boston:
Prentice Hall.
Required Reading
You should expect to devote at least one hour each weekday outside of class to keep up
with your reading assignments. Refer to the course schedule below to know your
assignments. It is your responsibility to find out any additional assignments if you miss
class. Classroom lectures and discussions may contain information that is in addition to,
and not included in, the reading. You are expected to read the assigned materials
independently. Bring questions you have about the reading to class.
Course Schedule (details on supplementary chapters [SC1-3], readings [R1-11] and
videos [V1-9] below)
Week 1: Origins of cities and states
T 9/20
Introduction; V1 – “Breaking the Maya Code”
Th 9/22
Finish “Maya Code”; Ch. 13 lecture
Week 2: Culture and culture change; Communication and language
T 9/27
Ch. 14 lecture; R1 – Miner “Nacirema”; V2 – “Guns, Germs and Steel”
Th 9/29
SC1 lecture; R2 – Tannen “Talk”; V3 – “Trail of Tears”
Week 3: Getting food; Economic systems
T 10/4
Ch. 16 lecture; R3 – Jacobsen “Cows”; V4 – “A Day in the Life”
Th 10/6
SC2 lecture; Choosing a paper topic; APA style
Week 4: Social stratification; Culture and the individual
T 10/11
Unit Test 1; Ch. 18 lecture
Th 10/13
R4 – Diamond “Race”; Ch. 19 lecture; Paper topics due
Week 5: Sex, gender and culture; Marriage and the family
T 10/18
Ch. 20 lecture; V5 – “Children of Heaven”
Th 10/20
Ch. 21 lecture; Finish “Children of Heaven”
Week 6: Marital residence and kinship; Associations and interest groups
T 10/25
Ch. 22 lecture; V6 – “Inside North Korea”
Th 10/27
Ch. 23 lecture; R5 – Arens “Football”
Week 7: Political Life; Religion and magic
T 11/1
Ch. 24 lecture; Unit Test 2
Th 11/3
SC3 lecture; V7 – “Pillars of Faith”
Week 8: Religion cont’d; The arts
T 11/8
V8 – “Frontline: Muslims”
Th 11/10
Ch. 26 lecture; R6 – Whitley “Rock Artists”; Paper draft due
Week 9: Applied anthropology; Global problems
T 11/15
Ch. 27 lecture; R7 – Ayau “Sacred Bones”; Kennewick Man
Th 11/17
Ch. 28 lecture; V9 – “The Devil Came on Horseback”
Week 10: Global problems, cont’d; Final Exam
T 11/29
R8 – Atran “Terrorism”; R9 – Sharani “Afghanistan”
Th 12/1
R10 – Bodley “Progress”; R11 – Rehyner “Assimilation”;
Final exam; Final paper due
ANTH 206 Class Readings
Supplementary Chapter 1
Lavenda, R. H. & Schultz, E. A. (2007). Core concepts in cultural anthropology (3rd
ed.). Chapter 3 – “Language,” pp. 33 – 48. Boston: McGraw Hill.
Supplementary Chapter 2
Lavenda, R. H. & Schultz, E. A. (2007). Core concepts in cultural anthropology (3rd
ed.). Chapter 8 – “Economic anthropology,” pp. 131-152. Boston: McGraw Hill.
Supplementary Chapter 3
Lavenda, R. H. & Schultz, E. A. (2007). Core concepts in cultural anthropology (3rd
ed.). Chapter 5 – “Religion, worldview and art,” pp. 71-90. Boston: McGraw
Hill.
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Reading 1
Miner, H. (2009). Body ritual among the Nacirema. In G. Ferraro (Ed.), Classic
readings in cultural anthropology (2nd ed.), (pp. 1-5). Florence, KY:
Wadsworth/Cengage Learning.
Reading 2
Tannen, D. (2009). Rapport-talk and report-talk. In G. Ferraro (Ed.), Classic readings in
cultural anthropology (2nd ed.), (pp. 13-17). Florence, KY: Wadsworth/Cengage
Learning.
Reading 3
Jacobsen, D. (2007). A reverence for cows. In K. A. Rafferty & D. C. Ukaegbu (Eds.),
Faces of anthropology: A reader for the 21st century, (5th ed.), (pp. 272-274).
Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
Reading 4
Diamond, J. (2007). Race without color. In K. A. Rafferty & D. C. Ukaegbu (Eds.),
Faces of anthropology: A reader for the 21st century, (5th ed.), ( pp. 13 – 18).
Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
Reading 5
Arens, W. (2007). Professional football: An American symbol and ritual. In K. A.
Rafferty & D. C. Ukaegbu (Eds.), Faces of anthropology: A reader for the 21st
century, (5th ed.), (pp. 92-97). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
Reading 6
Whitley, D. (2007). Reading the minds of rock artists. In K. A. Rafferty & D. C.
Ukaegbu (Eds.), Faces of anthropology: A reader for the 21st century, (5th ed.),
(pp. 311-314). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
Reading 7
Ayau, E. (2007). Human rights and sacred bones. In K. A. Rafferty & D. C. Ukaegbu
(Eds.), Faces of anthropology: A reader for the 21st century, (5th ed.), (pp. 333336). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
Reading 8
Atran, S. (2007). Genesis of suicide terrorism. In K. A. Rafferty & D. C. Ukaegbu
(Eds.), Faces of anthropology: A reader for the 21st century, (5th ed.), (pp. 246254). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
Reading 9
Shahrani, N. (2007). War, factionalism, and the state in Afghanistan. In K. A. Rafferty
& D. C. Ukaegbu (Eds.), Faces of anthropology: A reader for the 21st century,
(5th ed.), (pp. 227-236). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
Reading 10
Bodley, J. (2007). The price of progress. In K. A. Rafferty & D. C. Ukaegbu (Eds.),
Faces of anthropology: A reader for the 21st century, (5th ed.), (pp. 364-373).
Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
Reading 11
Reyhner, J. (2007). Cultural survival vs. forced assimilation: The renewed war on
diversity. In K. A. Rafferty & D. C. Ukaegbu (Eds.), Faces of anthropology: A
reader for the 21st century, (5th ed.), (pp. 42-46). Upper Saddle River, NJ:
Pearson.
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Optional Reading
Lavenda, R. H. & Schultz, E. A. (2007). Core concepts in cultural anthropology (3rd
ed.). Appendix –“Reading ethnography,” pp. 231-239. Boston: McGraw Hill.
Classroom Videos
V1: “Breaking the Maya Code”
V2: “Guns, Germs, and Steel”
V3: “Trail of Tears” - A Native American Documentary Collection
V4: “A Day in the Life of a Village in Africa”
V5: “Children of Heaven” - Mohammad Amir Naji, et al.
V6: “National Geographic - Inside North Korea”
V7: “Pillars of Faith: Religions of the World”
V8: “Frontline – Muslims”
V9: “The Devil Came On Horseback” - Brian Steidle, et al.
Notes:
There will be a take home exam for textbook chapters worth 20 points each. There are
also take home exams for the supplementary chapters worth 20 points. Exercises for the
short readings are worth 10 points each. The take home exams are due after the chapter
is discussed at the beginning of the following class session. There will be three in-class
unit tests worth 40 points each. There will also be a cumulative final and a paper worth
100 points each. Please refer to the grading policies described below for more
information. There will be a 10% reduction in points for every class that take home exam
is late, up to one week. There are no make-up exams for the unit tests or the final.
There are no classes the week of November 21st for Thanksgiving break.
Grading Policies
16 chapter exams
11 reading exercises
9 video exercises
2 unit tests
1 paper draft
1 paper
1 final exam
Attendance
Participation
Total Points
20 points each
10 points each
20 points each
40 points each
20 points
80 points
100 points
30 points
30 points
320
110
180
80
20
80
100
30
30
950
Grading Levels by Points and Percentages
A-
694
665
73.0- 76.9%
70.0- 72.9%
C
C-
B+
637
67.0- 69.9%
D+
D
F
> 884
93.0-100%
A
855
90.0-92.9%
827
87.0- 89.9%
789
83.0- 86.9%
B
570
60.0- 66.9%
760
80.0- 82.9%
B-
< 570
Below 60%
732
77.0- 79.9%
C+
Paper
A short research paper is required in this course. Due to the fact that WSP students are
not allowed access to the internet, you will be aided in doing research by your professor
and the staff of the library at the main campus of WWCC. The paper is worth 100 points,
with 20 for the draft copy and 80 points for the final copy. Note the due dates for the
topic, first draft, and final copy of the paper in the course schedule. Papers may be
written by hand or typed and printed in the resource room of the East Complex education
department.
Plagiarism/Cheating
Walla Walla Community College does not tolerate plagiarism, cheating, or any other
form of academic dishonesty. Any student who cheats or plagiarizes the work of others is
subject to disciplinary action as defined by the Student Code of Conduct.
1. Plagiarism occurs when one uses someone else’s work and passes it off as one’s own;
in other words, it is defined as the unacknowledged use of somebody else’s words or
ideas.
2. Plagiarism occurs when, without acknowledgement, one buys, borrows, or otherwise
uses another person’s written material or other information for the purpose of fulfilling or
partially fulfilling any assignment or task required as part of the students’ program of
instruction at the college. Any student who plagiarizes shall be subject to disciplinary
action.
3. Any student who aids or abets the accomplishment of such activity as defined in
subsection 1 above shall also be subject to disciplinary action.
4. An instructor may take reasonable action against any student who is deemed to have
been guilty of plagiarism or cheating. The course of action might include but not be
limited to:
(a) student receives warning and lowered grade;
(b) student receives failing grade for the course;
(c) student is dropped from course;
(d) student is recommended for suspension or dismissal from the College;
(e) case is referred to civil action.
Refer to the Student Code of Conduct for the complete policy and procedures, available
to all students through the Vice President of Student Services and Student Activities
office.
Walla Walla Community College Catalog 2008-2010
The instructor reserves the right to make changes to the syllabus and assessments as
needed.