Cultural Anthropology

Syllabus

1. Textbooks:
Peoples and Bailey, Humanity: An Introduction to Cultural Anthropology West/Wadsworth, 5th ed.
Supplementary articles may be on reserve in the Library or made available to you
Electronically.

2. Instructional Objectives:
I have a very strong commitment to the growth of students in my classes and am available to provide help at the student's request. Posed in the form of questions, here are some of my general educational objectives for you to read through and think about:

a. Are you willing to study, understand and apply cultural concepts? Can you as a student recognize examples of a concept? Can you think analytically? Can you take a definition from the text or classroom and apply it to our society?
b. Will you approach the subject in an active not passive style? It is your choice as a student to take responsibility for your own learning process. Will you keep and read your course syllabus? Will you as a student plan ahead and asked me for assistance if needed? Will you read the assigned chapters and spend several hours over several days studying for tests?
c. Will you write in a clear and comprehensive style that demonstrates analytical thinking? (This is one of the purposes of the brief papers I assign)
d. Will you unleash and encourage your own mental curiosity? Life is a wonderful adventure. Please take advantage of as much as you can. The more you learn the more your capacity to learn increases! And it is enjoyable!
e. Will you respect the other students and their right to learn? In all your classes, get to know some other students and consider forming study groups.

Additional instructional objectives specific to this course are to develop in the student an understanding of:

1. the full scope of the field of anthropology
2. the holistic nature of culture
3. ethnocentrism and cultural relativism
4. the full scope of human diversity
5. the components of the concept of culture
6. human subsistence patterns
7. economic exchange
8. the varieties of family life
9. non-western religions and spiritual values.

3. Course Requirements:

a. Four tests. These will be multiple choice tests. Each test will be worth a maximum of 60 points. One test score will be dropped so there will be no make-up tests.
b. Two papers or quizzes. Plan ahead! Papers submitted after the due date will not be graded. Papers must be typed. Handwritten papers will not begraded. There will be no opportunity to make up missed quizzes. You will be graded instead on the basis of one of the two papers and/or quizzes. If you miss one of these assignments, you have not lost any points. Missing another one will cause a loss of points- 20 points per paper. The second paper is your make-up paper.
c. The careful reading of this syllabus. You are responsible for reading and
abiding by the contents of this syllabus
d. Class attendance and student responsibility. Class absences effect your exposure to lecture information and class discussion. Therefore, excess absences will be noted and may result in an N/P. However, use your best judgment about coming to class when the driving is unsafe. The college may not be closed even if the weather is very severe and the driving risky. An N/P grade means that you have been dropped from the class for excess absences or falling too far behind in work. The entire class hour must be attended. Be on time. I take attendance once during class and if you are not there then, you will be marked absent. Persistent lateness, early departure from class, and generally disruptive behavior may also negatively effect your grade or result in an N/P. I expect you to show respect for other students and the instructor at all times. You do not have the right to interfere with other students learning process. If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed including changes in test dates, etc. and make up work as soon as possible. Children may not attend class unless the student discusses the situation with the instructor ahead of time.

4. Course Description:
A one semester course; three credit hours. In this course, the student will explore the diversity of contemporary human cultures. Through the use of a cross-cultural perspective, students will examine the subsistence patterns, marriage, kinship, political organization, religion and philosophy of selected non-European peoples. The course may apply evolutionary, cultural materialist, functionalist, and personality and culture perspectives. Three class hours per week.

5. Statement on Plagiarism and Cheating:
High standards of academic honesty are expected in this course. Plagiarism, the
act of using, without citation, another person's ideas, research results, or theories
i.e. any written or published material which has been granted a copyright, will be
reported to the Office of the Dean of Students and will negatively effect your
grade and possibly your status at the college. This also applies to any other act of
dishonesty in exam completion or in fulfilling course requirements.

6. Grading System:
Your grade will be based on the number of points you accumulate on the papers,
quizzes, and tests. The following outline presents the point system:

Letter Grade	Total # of points
A	186-200	Test#1_______out of 60
A-	180-185	Test #2_______out of 60
B+	174-179	Test #3_______out of 60
B	166-173	Test #4_______out of 60
B-	160-165	Paper #1______out of 20
C+	154-159	Paper #2______out of 20
C	146-153	Total ____________
C-	140-145	Minus 1 test score_______
D+	134-139	Minus 1 paper score________
D	120-133
F	less than 120	Total _________________

7. Office Hours:
My office is near the top of the central stairs in C building on the third floor- 314A. My office hours are Tues. 10:30-12, Wed. 12-1, & Thurs. 10:30-12 & Mon.9-10

8. Schedule of Tests, reading assignments, etc.:
Instructional methodology will include lecture, discussion, & media presentations. This schedule is tentative and subject to change. The college sometimes changes the academic schedule giving the faculty little or no notice. The links below are for your interest and not part of any assignment.