Spring 2009
Cultural Anthropology
Web Course
Soc. 154A
Instructor: Jill Wolk, MSW, LCSW
jwolk@mineralarea.ed
Office 206A
Dr. Fred Nute, Department Chairman
Course Materials
Cultural Anthropology, The Human Challenge by Haviland, Prins, Walrath and McBride,
12th ed.
Course Description
This web-based course is an introduction to the study of human culture, which aims to
demonstrate how the basic concepts and techniques developed by anthropologist help
us to understand societies of various degrees of complexity. Major goals are an
increased awareness of the diversity and flexibility of human cultures through a
comparison of marriage and family, economic, political, religious and language systems.
Course Objectives:
Examine cultural anthropology and other types of anthropology.
Evaluate the beginnings of human culture, how they communicated and survived.
Analyze economic systems, gender and family issues within an anthropological context.
Demonstrate knowledge of families and family issues in various societies.
Analyze groupings by sex, age, common interest and class and the systems that control
individuals and groups.
Examine the forms of art and the protection of Cultural Heritages.
Research whether cultures must change and why and what, if anything can impact that
change.
Examine the future of Humanity by examining ideas about One world culture, cultural
Pluralism and Guatemalan Cultural Pluralism and Ethnocentrism.
Course Content / Chapters:
1. The Essence of Anthropology
2. Characteristics of Culture
3. Ethnographic Research; history, methods and theories
4. Becoming Human; the origin and diversity of our species
5. Language and Communication
6. Social Identity, Personality and Gender
7. Patterns of Subsistence
8. Economic Systems
9. Sex and Marriage
10. Kinship and Descent
11. Grouping by Gender, Age, Common Interest and Class
12. Politics, Power and Violence
13. Spirituality, Religion and the Supernatural
14. The Arts
15. Processes of Change
16. Global Challenges
Course Requirements
Internet access and email: You must have access to a computer and the internet.
Email through the course (web ct) is required. There is an icon on the course
opening page. I will send a “testing” email during the first week of class. You are
required to reply.
.
Chapter Quizzes: 16 quizzes, corresponding with textbook chapters to be taken
per the schedule. Quizzes involve 10, multiple choice questions completed in no
longer than 15 minutes; quizzes are worth 10 points each. The lowest quiz
score will be dropped. DO NOT START THE QUIZ UNTIL YOU ARE READY
TO COMPLETE IT. IT WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO RESTART ONCE YOUR
TIME HAS EXPIRED. Call the webct help desk toll-free number if you
experience difficulty…..the sooner the better. (866-522-1472)
Short Research Project: This project may take the form of a three paged report
or a power point presentation with at least 10 slides. The report needs to use
standard font, spacing and margins. Saving the paper as “rich text format”
increased the chances that it will open for the instructor. Sources must always
be cited! The power point project must have a title page and a works cited page.
**You may select which format to use. Either must be sent as an attachment to
an email to the instructor. Students are required to select one from two topics.
Research topics correlate with chapters 9 and 13. The chapter 9 topic is related
to the photograph on page 221 of your text. In it you see a Maya family with a
female engaging in “back strap weaving”. Learn about back strap weaving and
report your findings. Do not simply cut and paste from your sources. The
deadline for the chapter 9 research project is March 17th.
The second research option correlates with chapter 13. Conduct research on the
Baha’i religion. Share not only your research findings but also your opinions. The
deadline for this project is April 7th. The research project is valued at 100 points.
Details about the format required for this project is posted on the class web page.
Be sure to follow directions and remember that information used without citation
is plagiarism.
From the publisher’s website you will find essay questions for each chapter.
During the semester you are required to complete two essay chapter tests. You
may select any chapter at any time during the semester. Rather than filling in
the instructor name and email address, please cut and paste your essay into the
body of an email message and use the course (webct) email system. In order to
earn full credit (50 points) you must answer thoroughly and in your own words.
Both are due before April 28th.
Student Evaluation:
Quizzes: 10 points each, lowest score dropped, semester value – 150 points
Essay questions / publisher’s website: 2 required, 50 points each, semester value-100
points
Research project: evaluated on content, grammar and following directions value-100 pts
Discussion board posting / email communication compliance – 25
Total course points for semester- 375
Grading Scale:
90 – 100% A
80 – 89% B
70 – 79% C
60 – 69% D
Below 60% F
Quiz Schedule (due on or before the date listed below) *note two test some weeks
Chapter Quiz 1 – January 20
Chapter Quiz 2 – January 27
Chapter Quiz 3 – February 3
Chapter Quizzes 4 and 5 – February 10
Chapter Quiz 6 – February 17
Chapter Quiz 7 – February 24
Chapter Quiz 8 – March 3
*********************************************************************** SPRING BREAK
Chapter Quiz 9 – March 17
Chapter Quizzes 10 and 11 – March 24
Chapter Quiz 12 – March 31
Chapter Quiz 13 – April 7
Chapter Quiz 14 – April 14
Chapter Quiz 15 – April 21
Chapter Quiz 16 – April 28
Course Process:
Access the course web page will be available on January 9th by going to:
www.gatewayccc.org Log in to My Web CT. Your initial user password will be
the first letter of your first name followed by your complete last name. If you are
unable to log in, call the help desk at 1-866-522-1472. Help desk hours are
Monday – Thursday, 8AM – 9PM, Friday 8AM-4PM and Saturday 9AM to 5PM
Review the textbook chapter introductory page and its three learning objectives.
Read the textbook chapter
Go to the course web page in order to access the publisher’s link and the many
learning activities. Use the “practice tests” option as a study guide for each
chapter quiz.
Take the chapter quiz according to the schedule.
Remember that chapters 9 and 13 are the units from which your one research
project is to be selected. Be mindful of that requirement and the deadline.
Also, remember that two essay tests (publisher’s webpage) are required during
the semester. When there is a chapter that you have found the most interesting,
that would be a good time to complete this requirement. You may select any
chapters, without regard to the quiz schedule. They must be completed by April
28th.
Finally, keep in touch with the instructor via email (webct). Your questions,
concerns and feedback are welcomed. Information about posting on the class
discussion board is on the course web page. Please do not send emails to my
MAC gmail account. Use the course email option. DO NOT LEAVE
TELEPHONE MESSAGES OR NOTES IN MY OFFICE OR MAILBOX.
Academic Dishonesty:
Students who engage in dishonest acts, such as plagiarism or other forms of
cheating, will be notified by the instructor that they will be receiving an F for the course.
Students who wish to appeal the decision of the instructor on a matter of dishonesty may
do so under the Procedural Policy for Disciplinary Action.
Special Needs
Mineral Area College complies with guidelines set forth in the Americans with Disabilities
Act of 1990. If you need special assistance or support due to a disability, please contact
me as soon as possible.
Attendance Policy
Although class attendance is not required for a web course, you’re “attending to” your
email and course schedule is. In addition to logging onto the course web page, checking
your email is an absolute requirement. In addition, you will be required to post on the
course discussion board. Details about this requirement can be found on the course
web page. Lack of compliance in these areas will result in being dropped from the
course.