Rhode Island College and
Barrington High School
The Early Enrollment Program
Syllabus: Anthro 150
Instructor: C. Gagliardo
Spring Semester 2012
Course Description:
This anthropology course focuses on the study of culture---what it
is; how it operates; and how and why cultures around the world have similarities and
differences in their customs, behaviors, beliefs, forms of organization, and artifacts. In this
class we will strive toward a broader knowledge and understanding of cultural diversity, a
more global perspective on human behavior, and a greater sensitivity toward the beliefs and
customs of other people. Approached thematically, this course is an anthropological study
of such areas as communication and language, the basis of different economies and political
systems, social stratification, sex and gender, kinship, religion and magic, and the arts
through the focus cultural areas of the tribal societies of Africa, the Middle East, Japan,
India, and China.
Topics & Reading
Weeks 1 & 2: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
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What is Anthropology?
Fields of Anthropology
What is Culture?
Ethnocentrism & Cultural Relativism
Basics of Archaeology
Readings: Chapters 1 & 2 Ember & Ember
“A Line in the Grass”
Weeks 3-4 : Significant Contributors to the Field of Anthropology
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Franz Boas
Ruth Benedict
Theory & Evidence in Cultural Anthropology
Readings: Chapter 3 Ember & Ember
Folktales of the Cochiti, collected by Ruth Benedict
The Guest by Albert Camus
Sample Readings of Anthropologists
Week 5-6: Significant Contributors to the Field of Anthropology Continued…
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Margaret Mead
Claude Levi-Strauss
Napoleon Chagnon
Readings: Articles & interviews of Claude Levi-Straus
Doing Fieldwork among the Yanomamo & Video
Taking Sides: Was Margaret Mead’s Fieldwork on Samoan Adolescents Flawed?
Did Chagnon & Others Harm the Yanomami?
Week 7-8: Aspects of Evolution
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The Living Primates
The First Hominids
Readings: The First Humans
Are We So Different?
Videos: Archaeology Techniques
Gorillas in the Mist
Week 9& 10: Communication & Language
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What is communication?
Origins of language
Linguistics as an occupation
Connections between language & culture
Dialects
Folklore & Folktales
Focus Cultural Areas: South American tribal societies
African tribal societies (Masai, Ashanti, Zulu, Mbuti, !Kung)
Readings: Chapter 4 Ember & Ember
Selected readings on societies
Video: Secrets of the Wild Child
Body Perfect
Week 11: Making a Living
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Food Collection & Production
Distribution of Goods & Services
Adaptation of Tribal Societies
Readings: Chapters 5 & 6 Ember & Ember
Selected Readings
Week 12-13: Social Stratification
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Social equality variations
Egalitarian societies
Rank societies
Class system
Caste system
Slavery---Old World vs. New World
Focus Cultural Areas: India (Brief Physical Environment, Selected History, Family &
Class)
Readings: Chapter 7 Ember & Ember
Arranging a Marriage in India by Serena Nanda
A Pariah’s Life by Viramma
Girabala by Mahasweta Devi
Video: Born into Brothels
Week 14-15: Sex & Gender
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Gender roles
Female roles in leadership & warfare around the world
Personality differences
Sexuality
Focus Cultural Area: Japan (Brief Physical Environment, Selected History, Daily Life
and Values)
Readings : Chapter 8 Ember & Ember
Kimono by Liza Dalby
Japanese Marriage
Taking Sides: Do Sexually Egalitarian Societies Really Exist?
Should anthropologists interfere with Cultural Practices?
Week 16-17: Marital Relationships & Kinship
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Define marriage
Why is marriage universal?
Restrictions on marriage---to whom, how many
Family construction
Kinship
Focus Cultural Area: Middle East (Brief Physical Environment, Selected History,
Family & Class Structure)
Readings: Chapter 9& 10 Ember & Ember
A Look Behind the Veil by Elizabeth & Robert Fernea
The Prisoner’s Dilemma by Steven Chapman
When Brothers Share a Wife
Week 18-19: Religion & Magic
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Universality of religion
Similarities & differences in belief structure
Supernatural forces & beings
Life after death
Magic---sorcery, witchcraft, etc.
Types of Practitioners
Focus Cultural Areas: Belief Systems of the World
Readings: Chapter 14 Ember & Ember
The Secrets of Haiti’s Living Dead by Gino Del Guercio
Looking for a Rain God by Bessie Head
Videos: After Death, Witchcraft
Week 20: The Arts
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Body decoration and adornment
Music
Writings
Variation in the Arts
Viewing art of other cultures
Readings: Chapter 15 Ember & Ember (Additional Supplemental Readings
Text
Cultural Anthropology (Ember & Ember) In addition to text many supplemental readings used.
Assignments
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All assignments are due at the beginning of the period.
Formal assignments (essays, papers) must be typed. This does not include
homework.
All assignments should be completed as neatly as possible.
If you are absent the day of a test, you will take the test the day you return to
school. Please see me for clarification.
If you are absent the day a project is due you will still present it to the class the day
you return to school. You may always hand in a project early, but never late.
For all assignments please use the following heading:
NAME
DATE
PERIOD
ASSIGNMENT NAME
Major Projects
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Debates-There will be 2 debates on relevant cultural topics held during the semester.
One debate will take place during the introductory unit while the second
will be held during the Sex & Gender unit. Debate groups will consist of
approximately 3-4 people.
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Research Presentations-Students will be asked to do 1 research presentation for
this course. One will be done in the Communication &
Language Unit.
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Socratic Seminar-Students will be asked to participate in a Socratic seminar. One
will be done during the Religion and Magic unit.
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Weekly Anthro Abstracts-Students will be asked to summarize an Academic
Journal Article related to the field of Anthropology
on a weekly basis. See instructor for guidelines.
Grading
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Quarterly assessments will occur on a variety of assignments including writing,
discussion responses, public speaking, group work, outside reading, tests, quizzes,
presentations, and participation. Your grade will be calculated as follows: Projects
35%, Tests 30%, Quizzes 20%, Homework, 10%, Class Assignments, 5%.
 Late assignments will be deducted 10 pts for every day late.
 The majority of this class is discussion based. It is required that you actively engage
in class discussion. Many of the topics we will discuss are of a mature nature. It is
important to remember that this course is for educational purposes and in order to
acquire new knowledge about various cultures we must remain open-minded &
respectful.
 Please see me if you have questions and/or concerns about your grade (Do not see
me for this during class time).
Rules
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Be on time for class! Be in your seat and ready to work when the bell rings.
Be prepared for class! Bring your materials to class everyday.
Be respectful! Show respect for everyone and everything.
No cell phones, etc. in class!
The teacher dismisses the class not the bell.
Cheating is a very serious matter. Both parties involved will get a "0", and the Main
Office will be notified. A letter will also be sent home to your parents and/or
guardians.
 Plagiarism from another student's work is cheating. Copying from a textbook, the
Internet, or another source that is not your own without citations is cheating. You
will receive a "0" and no make-ups will be given.