TENTATIVE SYLLABUS
Summer 2008
Academic Cooperative: Ethnohistory of the Maya
ANTH 2389 – Section 17051
05/27/07 – 8/12/07
By appointment with Professor
RGC, Rm Annex 259
Instructor: Mary H. Chipley, Ph.D.
Office Hours:
1 hour before class: RGC 010
Mobile phone:
E-mail:
Webpage:
512-413-4868
drchipley@gmail.com
http://austincc.edu/mchipley
Course Description:
ACADEMIC COOPERATIVE: ETHNOHISTORY introduces the student to research methods for Ethnohistory.
The major strategies for collecting and interpreting cultural data from past and present cultures and
writing about the human experience are studied within the context of the ethnographic and archaeological
traditions.
Course Rational:
ACADEMIC COOPERATIVE: ETHNOHISTORY is designed to provide students with an understanding of field
methods, the opportunity to practice field methods and to produce an anthropological product. This course
enables students to conduct research, to apply the course towards an associate degree at Austin
Community College, and to prepare for success in upper division courses in anthropology at other
institutions.
Course Objective:
This is an introductory course in methods used to develop an anthropological understanding of the human
experience. You will learn how anthropologists employ ethnographic methods to analyze material culture
from present and past cultures using data collected on site and available through published sources by
employing traditional anthropological methods:
 examining selected ethnographies and field diaries
 investigating and practicing basic data collection methods
 studying the role of theorizing and interpreting data
 preparing the basic outlines of an anthropological report
The concept of culture, which provides the lens through which anthropologists conduct their research, will
provide the primary theoretical focus for the course. You will learn how anthropologists conduct research
and how to do it yourself.
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Course Goals:
Students who complete this course will be able to:
• identify the basic components of an ethnographic text
• select and use relevant existing research
• successfully employ field method to collect data
- observations
- mapping
- museum research
- literature review
• analyze and interpret collected data
• plan a basic anthropological text
Required Texts: take these with you to Mexico
Ethnography:
Hull, Cindy
2003 Katun: A Twenty-Year Journey with the Maya. Cengage Learning
ISBN-13: 9780534612900
ISBN-10: 0534612903
Collecting your data:
While not a text, the Moleskine jot-notes book and the observations fieldnotes book that I give you are
required and you must have in the field with you. I will review and assess your fieldnotes at least once
while in the field.
INSTRUCTIONAL METHOD:
This is a course in which students are learning anthropological research techniques. Consequently, much of
the instruction will occur through guided practice and lectures of anthropological methods in the field.
Prior to departure students will meet approximately five times with the instructor. In the field, students
will attend lectures, participate in fieldtrips and conduct monitored anthropological research Upon return
form the feel students will meet with instructor to discuss their work.
Course Policies:
• SCHOLASTIC DISHONESTY: Acts prohibited by the college for which discipline may be administered
include scholastic dishonesty, including but not limited to cheating on an exam or quiz, plagiarizing,
and unauthorized collaboration with another in preparing outside work. Academic work submitted
by students shall be the result of their thought, research, or self-expression. Academic work is
defined as, but not limited to tests, quizzes, whether taken electronically or on paper; projects,
ether individual or group; classroom presentations, and homework.
• STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: Each ACC campus offers support services for students with
documented physical or psychological disabilities. Students with disabilities must request
reasonable accommodations through the Office for Students with Disabilities on the campus where
they expect to take the majority of their classes. Students are encouraged to do this three weeks
before the start of the semester.
• ACADEMIC FREEDOM: Each student is strongly encouraged to participate in class discussions. In
each classroom situation that includes discussion and critical thinking, there are bound to be many
differing viewpoints. Students may not only disagree with each other at times, but the students
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and instructor may also find that they have disparate views on sensitive and volatile topics. It is my
hope that these differences will enhance class discussion and create an atmosphere where students
and instructor alike will be encouraged to think and learn. Therefore, be assured that your grades
will not be adversely affected by any beliefs or ideas expressed in class or in assignments. Rather,
we will all RESPECT the views of others when expressed in classroom discussions.
Additional Practices:
1.
Turn beepers and phones OFF during class. If your phone goes off, you MUST bring snack to class
the following class day.
2. Finish by the end of the semester -- no incompletes will be given.
3. Withdrawal is your responsibility. If you decide to withdraw from the course, go to Campus
Admissions and Records Office and complete the necessary paperwork. Failure to drop the course
will result in an “F” on your transcript.
4. If you fall behind in your work plan, call your professor immediately to reschedule your work.
BLACKBOARD CONTENTS:
 syllabus
 lecture notes
 assignments
 resources and links to relevant websites
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING:
• class attendance
(10% of grade)
• ethnography review
…meeting with the instructor is mandatory. If you cannot attend class, make
sure that you make arrangements for private appointments.
…answer the questions of ethnography chapters assigned:
(15% of grade)
due by date indicated
at right (within 15
minutes of class
start time?)




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anthropological methods (05.27):
o
Forward
o
Preface
o
Ch 1, A Katun with the Yucatec Maya
Maya history and change (05.28):
o
Ch 2, The Historical Context
o
Ch 4, Village Life: Resilience and Change
Maya social structure and everyday life (05.29):
o
Ch 3, The Economy of Yaxbe
o
Ch 5, The Political Structure of Yaxbe
Maya social structure and culture change through cross-cultural contact
(05.30):
o
Ch 6, Mayan and Catholic Roots in Yaxbe
o
Ch 7, A Religion for Business and One for Sundays
3
• practice maps
…submit maps:
(5% of grade)
due by 05.30
• field map
due by 06.11
field notes
Your living space:

Your living space + surrounding land

Your neighborhood
…submit maps:
(15% of grade)
•


Uman:

Merida Zocalo:
…submit your field notes. Field notes should include:
(10% of grade)

review: 05.30 &
06.07
due by 06.11 [they will
be checked and
returned]
•
field journals
(05% of grade)
review: 05.30 &
06.07

overall organizing statements include
o
student name
o
course identification
o
culture/group to be studied
o
purpose of research
each entry should include specific information about the data collected
o
date
o
location of data collection
o
method used to obtain data

mapping: include date and location; assigned topic and relevant
data

observation: include who and what observed along with a
description that reflects the observation

museum: include name of museum, date visited, relevant exhibits,
drawings of material culture, information obtained from caption
and docents.

documents: include author, title, date, appropriate citations and
relevant notes
o
textual data
o
drawings, maps, and other graphic representations
…begin your journal as soon as you receive it. You may write about preparing for
the fieldwork as well as conducting the fieldwork.
…submit your journal notes. Journal notes should include:
due by 06.11 [they will
be checked and
returned]
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

overall organizing statement
o
student name
o
course identification
each journal entry should include
o
date
o
location of student
4
o
experiences
o
reaction to experiences
…note: your experiences and feelings are personal and private. I will note that
you have written, not what you have written.
• 1 anthropological
report outline
…this a planned report in which you share your research with others. The report
will include:
(20% of grade)
due 06.11

Title

Author

Abstract

Bullet list for Paper
o
o
o
o
• 2 public
presentations
Introduction

culture studied

purpose of research
Description of Methods – include at least

location and time

data collection strategies used
Presentation and Discussion of Data

describe data

analyze and interpret
Conclusion

final analytical and summative thoughts

suggestions for further research

plan for getting funding

a Graphic

Bibliography
…present report of planned research. The report will be scored on:
(20% of grade)
due 06.11

Organization

Clarity

Apparent feasibility for funding

Apparent acceptability for presentation at professional conference

Relevance to the topic of the conference

General contribution to Anthropology as a science

____
Grading Scale: A = 90-100; B = 80-89; C = 70-79; D = 60-69; F = 59-0
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Planned Activities in Mexico:
Activity 1: Mapping Mérida & Uman
Objective: to understand the layout an composition of the inner city by practicing observation and
mapping skills
to practice for trip to Uman
Content:
 mini-lecture on city plan made by Montejo according to the law given by Carlos V
 mapping by walking around
Activity 2: Museum of History and Anthropology
Objective: to observe the human use of space for various purposes
to preview the ancient Maya culture before visiting the sites
Content:
 Mini-lecture on
 purpose of museum visit
 general layout of museum & museum rules (cameras allowed without flash)
 looking for architectural features that convey information
 looking for examples among exhibits of ancestral use of space
Activity 3: Use of public space
Objective: to observe varying uses of a public space
Content:
 observation notes
 trip to Zocalo in morning; evening (Sunday)
Activity 4: Visit to Uman
Objective: to compare a Mayan village (Uman) to a Mexican city (Mérida)
Content:
 mapping a Maya village
 eating in a Maya café
Activity 5: Attend Concert (available event in Merida)
Objective: to appreciate music or dance indigenous to the mestizo community of Mérida
to connect between observations in Museum of Song with current artistic productions
Content:
 music
 discussion: similarities and differences observed between Museum and Performance
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THEME AND PRODUCT:
Students will work in assigned groups of two students. The team will produce a proposal for a paper to be
presented at a hypothetical anthropological conference the theme of which is: Human Use of Space:
Social Structure as revealed through architecture. Each team will decide how it plans to approach the
topic. There are many options including such ideas as: interpreting stratified familial relations through
household layouts; understanding the exercise of political power through the layout of public space;
interpreting social stratification through the analysis of public spaces. (Just for me: There will be one final
product for each group of 2?)
STUDY PLAN (schedule subject to change depending on instructional needs of class and trip contingencies):
In Texas: May 27-June 6

0
1
05.16
05.27

First Assignments:

Getting started reading an ethnography: Hull’s Katun (read intro for first class).

Blackboard: get to know your resources

Introduction to course – review syllabus, assignments, and processes

Topics:

2
05.28
Topics
Anthropology Basics

What is the Concept of Culture and how does it apply to our work?

What is ethnography and how are ethnographic methods used to interpret
data?

Yaxbe as a model for the Maya – Yaxbe Fieldwork: Ch 1, A Katun with the Yucatec
Maya

Lessons from the Field – the researcher in the field: trials and tribulations

Getting started with observations, field notes, and journals

Collecting data

observations

museum collections

documents

Due: questions from Forward, Preface, Chap 1

Practice: developing fieldnote-taking skills

Discussion topics:



Maya lives yesterday and today

Ch 2, The Historical Context

Ch 4, Village Life: Resilience and Change

questions and answers
fieldnote strategies and challenges
Lecture: The Human Use of Space through Time: Social Structure as Revealed
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through human manipulation of space
2
05.29

Due: questions from Chaps 2 & 4

Lecture: Museums as data sources (the Maya through time – connect the modern
Maya to their ancestors)

Discussion topics:

Museums:

artifact safeguard

artifact restoration

identity story-teller

Practice: developing observation skills

Practice: fieldnote-taking

Discussion topics:

The Maya: Maya lives today:

Ch 3, The Economy of Yaxbe

Ch 5, The Political Structure of Yaxbe

questions and answers

social structure and spaces that convey meaning – examples observed in
readings

2
05.30

private domestic spaces

public spaces
Museums

Due: questions from Chaps 3 & 5

Lecture: making a map of your field site

Practice: mapping

Practice: improving observation skills

Discussion topics:

The Maya: Maya lives today

Ch 6, Mayan and Catholic Roots in Yaxbe

Ch 7, A Religion for Business and One for Sundays

questions and answers

Due: questions on Chaps 6 & 7

Lecture: Last instructions before we go
In Mexico: June 6-June 10
 Travel: Austin to Merida. get to know the hotel
Day 1
2
Day 2

Morning: Walking tour Zocalo and Museum of History and
Anthropology
 Themes: structured use of space (original usage; currant usage)
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
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Day 3




Day 4







Day 5


Lunch: Coffee House near the Museum
Afternoon: Working session at the Hotel
Evening: Return to Zocalo
Morning: Walk to Museum of Song or Museum of Art

 Themes: European influence, Lyrics, Connection to Caribbean
(Cuba), 20th century art styles, architecture, cross-cultural
integration
Lunch: TBA
Afternoon: Working session at the Hotel
Night: Music Performance
Morning: Uman

 Uman Zocalo Walk as a group
 "Tour" blocks surrounding the zocalo by 3 groups (each group will
take one block – theme: human use of space)
 Return to zocalo - write up notes and map "draft" - Think about the
presentation by the groups that evening
Lunch: Local Ladies Restaurant
Afternoon: Back to Merida
Afternoon: Working session ending with Presentation (and description)
of each group "Block" - Turn in Map (think about what kind of supplies
students will need?
Work Day (ALL DAY)

Late Afternoon: Project Presentation
Return to Texas
11

 Finalization

Wolcott Ch
4: Linking
 Course Evaluation
Up
– End of Semester – 4-5 on site activities; 9 lecture meetings (in Texas 8 prior and 1 post); 4 discussion
meetings (in the field); 2 formal presentation meetings
11
08.11
 In Texas/Mexico individual meetings with instructor by appointment
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