BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE
City University of New York
Department of Social Science
&
Ethnic Studies Program
Course Title: Introduction to Anthropology
Course #: Ant 100 Section 981
Instructor: Professor Patricia D Mathews
Class hours: 3
Semester: Spring 2012
Credits: 3
Office Hours: T 1:15-2:15; W 1:00-2:00; Th 12:45-1:45PM; or, by appointment
Office: S-642; N 619
Office Phone: 212-220-1370[Ms Ana Daniels, Center for Ethnic Studies Secretary];
212-220-1221
Email address: pmathews@bmcc.cuny.edu
Course Description: Anthropology is the study of human nature, society, and history.
The course introduces students to the four fields of anthropology, with a special focus on
cultural anthropology. The course consists of lectures, films, and discussions about what
different forms of human organization, lifestyles and practices throughout the world.
This is a writing-intensive course.
Basic Skills: Eng 088, ESL 062, ACR 094
Prerequisites: None
Co-requisites: None
Student Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to…
Measurements (means of assessment for
corresponding student learning outcomes)
a) Students who take this course
a) Questions on quizzes and exams will
will develop an understanding of
require students to describe specific
human diversity and they will be
events and offer explanations of the same
able to explain patterns of
using information from assigned readings
behavior among human cultures
and material explained in class;
across time and throughout the b) Reading material, visual aids, discussion
world.
board and assignments will test regularly
b) Students will broaden their
this understanding of cultural relativity,
minds by learning how our own
respect for difference and understanding
understanding is culturallyof diversity;
based and how the cultural
perspective is embedded in our
worldview and understanding of
what is right and wrong.
c) Besides the understanding of
c) Class assignments will regularly ask
difference and diversity, this
students to identify the common traits
course enables an understanding
that all human societies and individuals
of the commonalities of all
have in addition to the apparent
humans as members of one race.
differences among them.
d) The explanation and mapping of d) Students will locate different societies
different societies and cultures
and cultural regions in different maps.
will develop an awareness of
Progress will be attained by regular
spatial differences and
exercises, quizzes and class discussion;
geographic settings that shape
and are shaped by human groups.
General Education Goals that will be
covered and assessed in this course:
Communication Skills
Measurements
Students will read, write and share their
thoughts in various contexts. Some will be
informal conversations among each other, but
most of the measurement will be held during
participation in the discussion board, and
individually in class assignments and in their
papers and presentations.
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Students will incorporate the language of
anthropology to the discussion of human
practices in cross cultural perspective. They
will apply the methods learned in this course
and will try to approach each case study
looking at each culture in their own value. This
constant exercises aims at the exercise of
tolerance and respect for cultural and human
diversity.
Required Text & Readings:
1. Kottak, Conrad Phillip.Windows on Humanity. McGraw Hill, 2010.
2. Angeloni, Elvio. Anthropology Annual Editions 11/12. McGraw Hill.
List of Books: [You need to read at least TWO chapters of ONE of these books:
Dettwyler, Katherine.1994. Dancing Skeletons. Life and Death in West Africa. Waveland
Press.
Farmer, Paul.2006. Aids and Accusation. Haiti and the Geography of Blame. University of
California Press.
Shostak, Marjorie.2000. Nisa.The Life and Words of a !Kung Woman. Harvard
University Press.
Wilkinson, Daniel.2004. Silence in the Mountain. Stories of Terror, Betrayal and Survival
in Guatemala. Duke University Press.
Evaluation & Requirements of Students:
There are Three Tests and One Final Exam. The final will be averaged to the result of test
average.
50%
Participation is measured by the quality, requested frequency, and timeliness of your
postings on the Discussion Board.
20%
Reports: based on selected chapters of one book in the recommended books list.
30%
PLEASE NOTE: There are no make-ups for tests or assignments.
College Attendance Policy:
At BMCC, the maximum number of absences is limited to one more hour than the
number of hours a class meets in one week. For example, you may be enrolled in a threehour class that meets twice a week. You are allowed 4 hours of absence (not 4 days). In
the case of excessive absences, the instructor has the option to lower the grade or assign
an F or WU grade.
In the online classes attendance is based on your timely postings on the discussion
board. Make sure you check both your BMCC email and announcements at least once a
day in case there is any relevant information on the course.
Academic Adjustments for Students with Disabilities:
Students with disabilities who require reasonable accommodations or academic
adjustments for this course must contact the Office of Services for Students with
Disabilities. BMCC is committed to providing equal access to all programs and curricula
to all students.
BMCC Policy on Plagiarism and Academic Integrity Statement:
Plagiarism is the presentation of someone else’s ideas, words or artistic, scientific, or
technical work as one’s own creation. Using the idea or work of another is permissible
only when the original author is identified. Paraphrasing and summarizing, as well as
direct quotations, require citations to the original source. Plagiarism may be intentional
or unintentional. Lack of dishonest intent does not necessarily absolve a student of
responsibility for plagiarism.
The library has guides designed to help students to appropriately identify a cited work.
The full policy can be found on BMCC’s web site, www.bmcc.cuny.edu
OUTLINE OF TOPICS
This outline includes various sites that you may visit and refer to before participating in
the discussion board and before writing your assignments.
Week One: F 8/26
Welcome – Getting Started
Week Two: W 8/31, F 9/2
Introduction. What is Anthropology?
Kottak, Chapter 1
Week Three: W 9/7, F 9/9
What is Culture?
Kottak, Chapter 2
Bohannan, Laura “Shakespeare in the Bush.” In: Angeloni pp 60-63
Week Four: W 9/14, F 9/16
Evolution, Genetics, and Human Variation
Kottak Chapter 4
http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/homs/ (fossil hominids site)
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/humans/humankind/a.html(human origins)
David Shenk. Can White Men Jump? Ethnicity, Genes, Culture and Success. From
the Genius in All of Us, Doubleday, 2010. In: Angeloni pp32-35
Week Five: W 9/21, F 9/23
Ethics and Methods
Kottak, Chapter 3
Case study: To Medicate or Not to Medicate (it will be posted as a course
document)
http://www.aaanet.org/committees/ethics/ethic.htm
http://www1.truman.edu/academics/ss/faculty/tamakoshil
http://maxweber.hunter.cuny.edu/anthro/field.html
http://www.aaanet.org/committees/ethics/ethic.htm
Week Six: W 9/28, F 9/30 NO CLASSES SCHEDULED
Week Seven: W 10/5, NO CLASSES SCHEDULED FOR F 10/7
Research Methods
Chapter 2
Chagnon, Napoleon. “Doing Fieldwork Among the Yanomamo” In: Angeloni, pp 10-21
Gmelch, George. “Lessons From the Field” In: Angeloni, pp 14-19.
Lee, Richard.“Eating Christmas in the Kalahari.” In: Angeloni, pp 22-25.
Sterk, Claire. “Tricking and Tripping: Fieldwork on Prostitution in the Era of AIDS” In:
Angeloni, 26-31.
TEST #1
Week Eight: W 10/12, F 10/14
Language and Culture
Kottak, Chapter 10
Tannen, Deborah. “Fighting For Our Lives” In: Angeloni, 32-41.
Tannen, Deborah. “ I Can’t Even Open My Mouth.” In Angeloni, 42-50 [earlier
editions].
Schildkrout, Enid. “Body Art as Visual Language.” In: Angeloni, 56-59
Week Nine: W 10/19, F 10/21
Ethnicity and Race
Kottak Chapter 17
www.pbs.org: Race, The Power of An Illusion.
TEST #2
Week Ten: W 10/26, F 10/28
Making a Living
Kottak, Chapter 11
Nelson, Richard. “Understanding Eskimo Science” In: Angeloni 63-65.
Gadsby, Patricia. “The Inuit Paradox.” In: Angeloni 81-84
Week Eleven: W 11/2, F 11/4
Families, Kinship and Marriage
Kottak, Chapter 13
Goldstein, Melvyn.“When Brothers Share a Wife.” In: Angeloni, 87-89
Scheper-Hughes, Nancy. “Mother’s Love: Death Without Weeping.” In: Angeloni, 95-99.
Nanda, Serena. “Arranging a Marriage in India.” In: Angeloni 107-111.
Kristof, Nicolas. “Who Needs Love! In Japan, Many Couples Don’t.” In: Angeloni, 112-115.
http://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/anthropology/kintitle.html
Week Twelve: W 11/9, F 11/11
Gender
Kottak Chapter 14
Ward, Martha. “A World Full of Women.” In: Angeloni, 118-126.
Williams, Walter. “The Berdache Tradition.” In: Angeloni, 127-132.
Simmons, Ann. “Where Fat is a Sign of Beauty.” In: Angeloni, 137-138.
Week Thirteen: W 11/16, F 11/18
Religion-- Belief Systems in Various Societies
Kottak, Chapter 15
Lehmann, Arthur. “Eyes of the Ngangas: Ethnomedicine and Power in Central
African Republic.” In: Angeloni, 145-152.
Del Guercio, Gino. “The Secrets of Haiti’s Living Dead.” In: Angeloni, 163-166.
Gmelch, G. “Baseball Magic.” In: Angeloni 170-175
TEST #3
Week Fourteen: W 11/23, NO SCHOOL –THANKSGIVING DAY WEEKEND
The World System and Colonialism
Kottak Chapter 16
Laura Graham, The Tractor Invasion In: Angeloni 183-186
John Bodley, The Price of Progress In: Angeloni 205-211
Diamond, Jared. “The Arrow of Disease.” In: Angeloni, 191-197.
“Malthus in Africa.” 205-212.
“The Last Americans.” 225-232.
Week Fifteen: W 11/30, F 12/2
Applying Anthropology & Global Issues Today
Kottak, Chapter 18 &19
Jim Igoe, Seeing Conservation through the Global Lens. In; Angeloni pp213-222
Tsuda, Takeyuki.” No Place to Call Home.” In: Angeloni, 192-193[earlier editions].
Week Sixteen: W 12/7, F 12/9
Conclusions
W 12/14 READING DAY
F 12/16 FINAL EXAM