Georgia Regents University
Spring 2013
Course: ANTH 2011: Cultural Anthropology
Instructor: Ann Marie Kuchinski, Ph.D.
Class Meets:
Days: MWF
Time: 9:00 am – 9:50 am
Location: E258 Allgood Hall
Credits: 3
Email: akuchinski@gru.edu
(or email through D2L)
Contact Information:
Office hours: MWF 10:00 am – 11:00 am
(and by appointment)
Office: E218B Allgood Hall
Office phone: 706-667-4441
Dept. phone: 706-737-1709
D2L: http://www.lms.gru.edu/
Course Description, Goals, and Learning Objectives:
Anthropology is the scientific and humanistic study of human beings. Anthropology includes
four subfields: cultural anthropology, biological anthropology, archaeology, and linguistics. This
course will introduce students to the subfield of cultural anthropology.
For humans, culture is the primary means by which we adapt to our environments and give
meaning to our lives. Studying culture can help us to better understand how culture shapes society
and influences our lives. Cultural anthropologists study a myriad of topics including rituals, beliefs,
communication, social organization, subsistence patterns, religion, politics, race, ethnicity, sex,
gender, economics, and globalization.
The overall goal of this course is for students to learn how anthropologists study culturally
diverse populations, what can be learned from these studies, and how these studies can be used to
benefit societies (including our own). Students will expand their worldviews, by approaching cultural
differences holistically, comparatively, and relativistically. By the end of the course students will be
able to define key theories and terms, compare and contrast methodological approaches, differentiate
between biological and cultural phenomena, participate more effectively in multicultural settings, and
integrate anthropological approaches into their personal and professional lives.
Required Textbooks:
 Nanda, Serena, & Richard L. Warms. Culture Counts: A Concise Introduction to Cultural
Anthropology, 2nd edition. (This textbook will be referred to in the syllabus as CC.)
 Podolefsky, Aaron, Peter J. Brown, & Scott M. Lacy. Applying Cultural Anthropology: An
Introductory Reader, 9th edition. (This reader will be referred to in the syllabus as ACA.)
 Chagnon, Napoleon. The Yanomamo, 6th edition. (This ethnography will be referred to in the
syllabus as Y.)
In order to learn about the myriad topics cultural anthropologists study we will use a textbook,
an ethnography, and a reader. All of the reading is important and must be done prior to coming to
class so that you can participate in class discussions in an informed manner. The textbook, Culture
Counts: A Concise Introduction to Cultural Anthropology, will provide the foundation for the course.
The ethnography, The Yanomamo, will provide a detailed account of anthropological fieldwork which
is one of the primary means by which cultural anthropologists collect data. The reader, Applying
Cultural Anthropology: An Introductory Reader, will provide examples from applied anthropology
which uses anthropological concepts and approaches to solve real-world problems. These readings
may be supplemented with additional resources posted on D2L or placed on reserve at the library.
Teaching Philosophy:
My goal is to facilitate your learning process by challenging you intellectually and supporting
you academically. In order to do this I will cover course material using a variety of methods including
texts, lecture, presentations, discussion, films, video clips, in-class activities and out-of-class projects.
Course Requirements and Expectations:
Students will be assessed on their knowledge and ability to apply the information presented in
this course as follows:
Course Grade:
Class participation
135 points (45 X 3 points)*
One-minute essays
150 points (30 X 5 points)*
Observation, Survey, or Interview
100 points
“Be the Minority” participant observation 100 points
Exam #1
150 points
Exam #2
150 points
Exam #3
150 points
Final Exam
265 points
TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS
1,200 points
*Pop quizzes may be added or substituted.
Grading Scale:
90 – 100.0 – A
80 – 89.9 – B
70 – 79.9 – C
60 – 69.9 – D
0 – 59.9 – F
1200 – 1080 points
1079 – 960 points
959 – 840 points
839 – 720 points
719 –
< points
Assignments
All assignments are expected to be turned in on the date and at the time they are due.
Points (equivalent to one letter grade per day) will be subtracted from assignments that are turned in
late. Assignments more than one week late will not be accepted. Include your name and the date.
“One-Minute” Essays
If you had one minute to give someone your opinion about the material you read or viewed for
any particular class what would you tell them? This should be your reaction to the material or a
reflection about the material, not merely a summary of the material. Remember the essay should
clearly demonstrate you have read ALL the material due for class that day. Critical thinking should
be evident in your writing. You should make connections between the readings (when there are
more than one) and include at least one original question you were left with after reading the
material that can be used to generate class discussion. This should NOT be a question contained
in the reading. Each essay should be approximately 250 words. Essays should be typed (12 point
font, 1 inch margins) and submitted to D2L at least 1 hour prior (8:00 am) to the beginning of the
class in which the material will be discussed. Bring two printed copies to class one to refer to and one
to hand in to me at the beginning of class. These essays will be used to record your attendance.
If you do not have an essay to turn in write your name on a blank piece of paper and turn in to me to
demonstrate you were in class (this will be done on days when no assignments are due as well).
One-minute essays for videos shown in class will be due the next class period.
"Be the Minority”
In this assignment you will be conducting participant observation. I must approve your
intended subject and location before you submit your proposal. This assignment includes four
parts: a proposal (submitted and approved prior to conducting the research) that explains
specifically what activity you will be participating in, a copy of your fieldnotes, a report of your findings,
and a reflection statement about your experiences. You will be required to discuss your experiences
in class. More details about the assignment will be discussed in class and posted on D2L.
2
You will choose one of the following three out-of-class assignments (direct observation, or
survey, or interview). I must approve your intended subject and location before you submit your
proposal. I must approve your proposal before you can conduct your research. You will present
your results in a written report and by giving an oral presentation during class. More details about the
assignment will be discussed in class and posted on D2L.
Observation
In this assignment you will be conducting direct observation. This assignment includes three
parts: an observation sheet (submitted with your proposal prior to conducting your research), a copy
of your fieldnotes, and a report of your findings from your observations.
Survey
In this assignment you will be conducting a short survey. This assignment consists of three
parts: a survey guide (submitted with your proposal prior to conducting your research), a copy of your
survey results, and a report of the findings from the survey.
Interview
In this assignment you will be conducting a short interview. The assignment includes three
parts: an interview guide (submitted with your proposal prior to conducting your research), a copy of
your fieldnotes, and a report of the findings from your interview.
Exams and Exam Policies
Absence on exam days is not permitted. Exams must be taken the day they are scheduled
unless prior arrangements have been made with me to take an alternate version of the test prior to
the scheduled exam date. If you have a conflict that precludes you from taking an exam during a
particular class period, inform me at least two weeks prior to the date so arrangements can be made
for you to take a different version of the exam prior to the scheduled exam date. Students should plan
to arrive to class on time on exam days so as not to disturb other students. No one arriving after the
first person finishes an exam will be allowed to take that exam. Verifiable emergencies for missing an
exam will be assessed by the instructor on a case-by-case basis. Missed exams that are not excused
will be recorded as a zero (0). Students are expected to follow the honor code when taking exams.
Exam questions will be in multiple formats including multiple choice, true/false, fill in the blank,
short answer, and short discussion questions. Exam questions will be derived from the readings,
videos, classroom discussions (including those on D2L), presentations, and lecture material
including that which may not be covered in any of the textbooks.
Attendance and Participation
I expect students to be actively engaged in the learning process by:
 Attending class. (Your input and interaction with the instructor and your peers is important!)
 Completing all assignments (including the readings) prior to the class for which they are due.
(Assignments are due the date they are listed on the syllabus and not the following date.)
 Participating in class discussions and activities. (This includes asking questions and
commenting on assigned readings, lecture material, films, or other relevant material.)
 Checking D2L and your GRU email on a regular basis (at least once a week, preferably once
per day). (Announcements, changes to the syllabus, articles, study guides, etc., may be posted
in these locations.)
University policy mandates that attendance be recorded. Students are not allowed to miss
more than 5 class sessions per semester or they may be withdrawn from the course for excessive
absences. Excused absences include verifiable emergencies (such as a death in the family) as
3
determined by the instructor. All other absences will be considered unexcused. If you have a
legitimate reason that precludes you from attending a particular class, please inform the instructor at
least 1 week prior to the class you will miss.
Behavior in the Classroom
Classroom etiquette
Students should arrive on time, stay for the entirety of the class, and not disturb the learning
processes of other students. Cell phones and other electronic devices that make noise should be
turned off (not to vibrate) and not viewed during class. If you have extraordinary circumstances that
require your phone to be on (such as being on call for work) please let me know at the beginning of
the semester. (These calls will be taken in the hallway.) Laptop use is prohibited (except under
special circumstances) in order to facilitate discussion and face-to-face interaction. Students violating
these policies will have points taken away from their class participation score or be marked as absent.
Recording
The use of recording devices (e.g. audio, video) is prohibited in the classroom. If you think you
qualify for an exemption due to a disability please inform the instructor during the first week of class.
Discussions
Classroom discussions are to be open and amicable. The classroom will be a safe space to
discuss the myriad topics of interest to cultural anthropologists. Students will agree to ground rules for
classroom discussions at the beginning of the semester and treat one another with respect. Violators
of the rules will be reminded of the rules as necessary. Violations may result in the loss of classroom
participation points. As per the Student Handbook it is the right and responsibility of the instructor to
manage classroom discussions in keeping with the ideal of intellectual diversity.
Academic Honesty
Your work in this class should be your own. This includes all the work assigned for this course
whether completed in or out of class. Academic honesty includes no cheating on exams and no
plagiarism on any assignments. Plagiarism includes failure to cite (acknowledge) direct quotes and/or
paraphrasing of another’s ideas. The only exception to the need to cite another’s work is when the
information can be considered common knowledge. Students are allowed (and encouraged) to
discuss course material outside of class. However, the direct use of any other student’s ideas must
be acknowledged (cited). Course materials may be cited in-text without a works cited page. Sources
outside of course materials must be cited in-text and listed in a works cited section. A style manual,
such as APA, should be followed. See the student handbook for a full description of student rights,
responsibilities, and policies on academic honesty (http://gru.edu/students/conduct/index.php). When
in doubt ask me.
Student Needs:
Testing & Disability Services: If you think you may need disability-related classroom accommodations
please set up an appointment to meet with me the first week of class to discuss. In addition, contact
Testing and Disability Services at 706-737-1469, or tds@gru.edu, or http://www.gru.edu/admin/tds/.
Other Campus Resources:
Writing Center: http://www.gru.edu/colleges/pamplin/writingcenter/, or 706-737-1402.
Information Technology Services: http://www.gru.edu/its/, or 706-721-4000.
Counseling Center: http://www.gru.edu/admin/counseling/, or 706-737-1471 or counseling@gru.edu.
4
Tentative Class Schedule and Reading Assignments:
Please note assignments may be shifted as necessary to accommodate the flow of the course.
You will be notified in advance of any such changes. You should expect to spend several hours
outside of class reading course materials or completing out-of-class assignments for every hour you
spend in class. Read assignments in the order in which they are listed. Feel free to conduct me via
email if you have questions about an assignment or about the material. I strongly encourage each of
you to visit with me during office hours (or by appointment) at least once during the first half of the
semester to discuss your fieldwork, ask questions, relay concerns, or discuss course materials.
 CC = Culture Counts: A Concise Introduction to Cultural Anthropology, 2nd edition.
 ACA = Applying Cultural Anthropology: An Introductory Reader, 9th edition.
 Y = The Yanomamo, 6th edition.
 D2L = Desire to Learn course website.
UNIT
DATE
1.
January 6
CLASS
BEGINS
2.
January 8
LAST DAY TO
DROP
(WITHOUT
ACADEMIC
PENALTY)
3.
January 10
TOPICS
Introduction to the course
Syllabus
Student information sheet
Ground rules
Learning About You,
Learning About Me
Culture and
Race ≠ Biology
COURSE MATERIAL COVERED
DUE
Student
Information
Sheet.
Name tent.
ACA – 8: Body Ritual Among the
Turn in oneNacirema (Pages 64-67).
minute
After reading (Pages 64-67) write essays, D2L
one paragraph* describing your
and in class.*
reaction to the Nacirema. Send
*Note: These
your paragraph to me via D2L and two
print out two copies to bring to
paragraphs
class. Now continue reading.
and your
comments on
CC – Chapter 1: What is
the readings
Anthropology and Why Should I
from Y (one
Care? (Pages 1-21).
paragraph)
Write a second paragraph*
will count as
describing how you now view the
your oneNacirema. Send it to me via D2L
minute essay
and print out two copies to bring
for this class.
to class.
Submit to
D2L as
Y – The Longest Day: The First
instructed
One (page 11), How Did They
and bring two
Accept You? (Pages 11-13), and
copies to
Life in the Jungle: Oatmeal,
class one for
Peanut Butter, and Bugs (Pages
you to refer
13-20).
to and one to
turn in.
D2L - Diamond, Jared (1994)
Turn in oneRace Without Color.
minute
essay, D2L
D2L - AAA Statement on Race.
and in class.
CC - Chapter 2: Culture Counts
(Pages 23–45).
5
4.
Fieldwork (Part I)
January 13
ATTENDANCE Discussion and questions
VERIFICATION about fieldwork proposal
and assignments
(surveys, interviews,
direct observation, and
participant observation).
Begin to think about
what your fieldwork will
be.
5.
January 15
Fieldwork (Part II)
Discussion and questions
about fieldwork proposal
and assignments
(surveys, interviews,
direct observation, and
participant observation).
6.
January 17
7.
8.
January 20
January 22
Fieldwork (Part III)
Discussion and questions
about fieldwork.
Fieldwork approval...
HOLIDAY - NO CLASS.
Film: Do You Speak
American?
9.
January 24
Communication (Part I)
Discuss film.
10.
January 27
Communication (Part II)
In-class exercise.
11.
January 29
Discussion.
Review for Exam #1.
12.
January 31
Exam #1
CC – Chapter 3: Doing Cultural
Anthropology (Pages 47-71).
Turn in oneminute
essay, D2L
and in class.
Note: for
next class
the oneminute
essay will be
a fieldwork
comparison
assignment.
Y – Foreword (Pages vii–viii),
Turn in
Author’s Preface to the Sixth
fieldwork
Edition (Pages xi–xii),
comparison
Acknowledgments (Pages xiii-xiv), assignment,
Prologue (Pages 1–4), Chapter 1 D2L and in
(Pages 5-10).
class.
Tell me what
ACA – 3: Maxwell's Demons:
you plan to
Disenchantment in the Field
do for
(Pages 16–26).
fieldwork.
Y – Collecting Yanomamo
Turn in oneGenealogies and Reproductive
minute
Histories (Pages 20–44).
essay, D2L
and in class.
HOLIDAY - NO CLASS.
Communication, dialects
Turn in
fieldwork
proposal
D2L and in
class.
CC – Chapter 4: Communication
Turn in
(Pages 73–97).
BOTH oneminute
essays, D2L
and in class.
one for the
film and one
for today's
reading.
ACA – 15: Talk in the Intimate
Turn in oneRelationship: His and Hers
minute
(Pages 114-121).
essay, D2L
and in class.
Discussion.
Discussion.
Review for Exam #1.
Review for
Exam #1.
Exam #1
Exam #1
6
13.
February 3
Making a Living
Results: Exam #1.
CC – Chapter 5: Making a Living
(Pages 99-123).
14.
February 5
Subsistence Strategies
ACA – 12: The Worst Mistake in
the History of the Human Race
(Pages 92-95).
15.
February 7
Economics
Y – Chapter 2: Hunting,
Gathering, and Gardening (Pages
60–83) and The Great Protein
Debate: Yanomamo Data and
Anthropological Theory (Pages
94-100).
CC – Chapter 6: Economics
(Pages 125-150).
ACA – 26: Conflict and
Confluence in Advertising
Meetings (Pages 206 –217).
CC – Chapter 7: Marriage,
Family, and Kinship (Pages 151–
177).
16.
February 10
Marriage, Family, and
Kinship (Part I)
17.
February 12
Marriage, Family, and
Kinship (Part II)
Y – Chapter 4: Social
Organization and Demography.
(Pages 123–144 ONLY).
Start thinking about
what you are going to
do for your “Be the
Minority” assignment.
ACA – 4: When Brothers Share a
Wife (Pages 27–31).
Turn in oneminute
essay, D2L
and in class.
Turn in oneminute
essay, D2L
and in class.
Turn in oneminute
essay, D2L
and in class.
Turn in oneminute
essay, D2L
and in class.
Turn in oneminute
essay, D2L
and in class.
ACA – 5: How Many Fathers Are
Best for a Child? (Pages 32-35).
18.
February 14
ACA – 18: Gay Marriage and
Anthropology (Pages 140-142).
Sex and Gender (Part I)
CC – Chapter 8: Sex and Gender
Sign up for presentation (Pages 179-202).
slots.
19.
February 17
Sex and Gender (Part II)
Decide what your Be
the Minority”
assignment is going to
be.
Turn in oneminute
essay, D2L
and in class
for Feb14
and Feb 17*.
ACA – 19: “Strange County This”: Fieldwork
An Introduction to North American assignment
Gender Diversity (Pages 143-150) DUE.
ACA – 17: Do Muslim Women
(Survey OR
Really Need Saving?:
interview OR.
Anthropological Reflections on
direct
Cultural Relativism and Its Others observation)
(Pages 133-139).
7
20.
February 19
21.
February 21
Presentations
“Be the Minority”
fieldwork idea DUE.
Presentations
22.
February 24
Review for Exam #2.
Review for Exam #2.
23.
February 26
Exam #2
Exam #2
24.
February 28
Film: The Feast
25.
26.
Discussion: The Feast
March 3
MIDTERM
Results Exam #2.
(LAST DAY TO
WITHDRAW
WITHOUT
PENALTY
GRADE)
Politics (Part I)
March 5
27.
March 7
Politics (Part II)
Y – Chapter 5: Political Alliances,
Trading, and Feasting (Pages
163-188).
28.
March 10
Politics (Part III)
For extra credit watch the
movie Crash and write a
one-page report due 3/19.
See D2L for details.
ACA – 28: The Kpelle Moot
(Pages 229-236).
29.
March 12
30.
March 14
Oral
presentations
of fieldwork.
Oral
presentations
of fieldwork.
Exam #2
“Be the
Minority”
proposal
due.
Turn in oneminute
essay, D2L
and in class
for the movie
The Feast.
CC – Chapter 9: Political
Organization (Pages 203-227).
ACA – 30: Army enlists
Anthropology in War Zones
(Pages 240-242).
CC – Chapter 10: Stratification:
Class, Race, Ethnicity, and Caste
(Pages 229-253).
Stratification (Part I)
For extra credit watch the
movie Crash and write a
one-page report due 3/19.
See D2L for details.
ACA - 25: Just Another Job?: The
Commodification of Domestic
Be the minority due 3/21. Labor (Pages 200-205).
Stratification (Part II)
D2L - White Privilege: Unpacking
For extra credit watch the the Invisible Knapsack.
movie Crash and write a
D2L – University of Michigan Law
one-page report due 3/19. School’s Affirmative Action Policy
See D2L for details.
2003.
D2L – University of Michigan Law
Be the minority due 3/21. School’s Affirmative Action Policy
2013.
Turn in oneminute
essay, D2L
and in class.
Turn in oneminute
essay, D2L
and in class.
Turn in oneminute
essay, D2L
and in class.
Turn in oneminute
essay, D2L
and in class.
Turn in oneminute
essay, D2L
and in class.
8
31.
March 17
Stratification (Part III)
For extra credit watch the
movie Crash and write a
one-page report due 3/19.
See D2L for details.
Discussion and in-class
exercise.
D2L – Fisher verses the
University of Texas.
D2L – Florida State University
Affirmative Action not Quotas.
32.
March 19
33.
March 21
Discuss “Be the Minority”
experiences.
34.
March 24
Spirituality, Belief
Systems, and Religion
(Part I)
CC – Chapter 11: Religion (Pages
255–280).
35.
March 26
Spirituality, Belief
Systems, and Religion
(Part II)
Y – Chapter 3 Myth and Cosmos
(Pages 101-122).
36.
March 28
Discussion.
Review for Exam #3.
ACA – 11: The Adaptive Value of
Religious Ritual (Pages 85–91).
Discussion.
Review for Exam #3.
37.
March 31
Exam #3
Exam #3
38.
April 2
A World System (Part I)
CC – Chapter 12: Power,
Conquest, and a World System
(Pages 281–304).
39.
April 4
A World System (Part II)
Y – Chapter 6: Yanomamo
Warfare (Pages 189– 210).
Results Exam #3.
ACA – 34: Moral Fibers of Farmer
Cooperatives: Creating Poverty
and Wealth with Cotton in
Southern Mali (Pages 264–271).
40.
April 7
SPRING BREAK
ACA - 36: The Search for
Sustainable Markets: The
Promise and Failures of Fair
Trade (Pages 279–288).
SPRING BREAK
41.
April 9
SPRING BREAK
SPRING BREAK
42.
April 11
SPRING BREAK
SPRING BREAK
Turn in oneminute
essay, D2L
and in class.
Extra credit
for Crash
DUE.
“Be the
Minority”
assignment
DUE.
Turn in oneminute
essay, D2L
and in class.
Turn in oneminute
essay, D2L
and in class.
Discussion.
Review for
Exam #3.
Exam #3
Turn in oneminute
essay, D2L
and in class.
Turn in oneminute
essay, D2L
and in class.
9
43.
April 14
Presentation
44.
April 16
Globalization (Part I)
CC – Chapter 13: Globalization
and Change (Pages 305– 329).
45.
April 18
Globalization (Part II)
ACA – 37: Globalization from the
Ground Up (Pages 289-294).
ACA – 33: Two Rights Make a
Wrong: Indigenous Peoples
Versus Environmental Protection
Agencies (Pages 256-263).
Turn in oneminute
essay, D2L
and in class.
Turn in oneminute
essay, D2L
and in class.
ACA – 38: The Price of Progress
(Pages 295–303).
46.
April 21
Globalization (Part III)
47.
April 23
Future Directions in
Anthropology. What are
the Limits?
48.
April 25
Discussion
Revisit goals.
Reflection exercise.
49.
April 28
LAST DAY OF
CLASS
April 29
READING DAY
MAY 6
MAY 7
May 9
Complete student
evaluations.
Review for final exam.
READING DAY
50.
51.
52.
53.
FINAL EXAM
ACA - 13: The Forgotten
Population? Youth, Food
Insecurity, and Rising Global
Food Prices (Pages 96-106).
Y – Chapter 8: The Acceleration
of Change in Yanomamoland
(Pages 233– 268).
Y – Chapter 9: Reflections on the
Yanomamo - Fieldwork and
Anthropology - (Pages 269-278).
CC - Chapter 14: Anthropology
Makes a Difference (Pages 331354).
Turn in oneminute
essay, D2L
and in class.
Turn in oneminute
essay, D2L
and in class.
Updated
student
information
sheet and
course
reflection
paper.
READING DAY
TUESDAY 10-NOON
GRADES DUE BY MIDNIGHT
GRADES VIEWABLE,
GRADUATION
10