Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
Spring 2008 Anthropology 3, Section 002    Tuesday/Thursday 9-10:15

Our schedule - dates, topics, readings and other assignments

 

Readings and assignment are due on the day they appear on our schedule

AE refers to your text Annual Editions 07/08

Chapter numbers refer to your text Cultural Anthropology, 3rd Edition - Robbins

 

 

Part I - The Anthropological Perspective

Week 1 What is Anthropology?  The Concept of Culture

 

January 22  Introduction to the class,

A discussion and overview of the class. Purchase books and look them over.

Information sheets handed out and completed.

January 24   What is Anthropology?

ÒSome QuestionsÓ – in-class

Begin reading:

Assigned: Reading and Reflection (AE #31) ÒBody Ritual Among the NaciremaÒ (also online and handed out), (25 points). Due January 31

 

Week 2 What is Anthropology?

 Anthropology As A Way Of Seeing Our World

 

January 29

Have Read For Class:  AE #1 ÒDoing Fieldwork Among the YanomamšÓ

                                         AE #2 ÒLessons from the FieldÓ

                                         Chapter 1 Culture and Meaning

Assignment: Fieldwork Observation – Cell phones at Chabot College – refer to handout Due: February 7

 

January 31

Have Read For Class: AE #7 One Hundred Percent American

                                       AE #31 ÒBody Ritual among the Nacirema"

Þ Due: Nacirema (Reflection) - 25 points

Extra Credit Opportunity – Superbowl (5 points) Due Tuesday Feb. 5 – see handout

 

Note: Feb. 8 - last day to drop classes for No Grade of Record (NGR) in person, Feb. 10 online

 

Week 3 Anthropology as a Way of Seeing Our World & Doing Anthropology

February 5 Doing Anthropology – Fieldwork

Have Read For Class:   Ch. 1

AE #4 Tricking and Tripping: Fieldwork on Prostitution

AE #6 Anthropology and Counterinsurgency: The Strange Story of their Curious Relationship

Þ Due: Extra Credit– Superbowl

 

February 7  Fieldwork learning from others

Þ Due: Fieldwork Observation – Cell phones at Chabot College. Hand in field notes and analysis (25pts)

Assigned:  AE #3 ÒEating Christmas in the KalahariÓ – Reflection Due Feb. 12

 

Week 4 Analyzing Societies – The Idea of Progress

 

February 12 Small Scale Societies

Have Read For Class:

Chapter 2

AE #3 ÒEating Christmas in the KalahariÓ

AE #9 ÒUnderstanding Eskimo ScienceÓ

AE #13 ÒThe Inuit ParadoxÓ

Þ Due: AE #3 ÒEating Christmas in the KalahariÓ Reflection - 25 points

Assigned: Article ÒLife Without ChiefsÓ (also posted on the website) – A reflection is due on this Feb 21

Your questions for the exam - 7 exam questions (with answers) (10 pts) Due: by Feb. 21.

 

February 14    *** No day classes ***

 

Week 5 Analyzing Societies, Modes of Production and Progress (continued)

 

February 19   & 21

Have Read For Class:  AE #14 ÒThe Ties That Bind

Þ Due February 21: Reflection ÒLife Without ChiefsÓ  - 25 points

      Your questions for the exam - 7 exam questions (with answers) (10 pts)

Assigned: Take home essay questions (Due February 26) (60 points)

 

Note: Deadline to apply for Credit/No Credit - February 22

 

Week 6 Discussion/Review for Exam and Exam

 

February 26  

Discussion and Review for quiz/exam

Þ Due: Take home essay questions (60 points)

All Assigned to Reading Groups (numbered and lettered For future readings you need to remember your group and read the article assigned to your group, at least. Feel free to read the others.

 

February 28  

Exam #1 (100 points)

Bring: a Scantron, pencil, paper and a pen. (55 points)

 

 

PART II - Who We Are and the Forces that Shape Us

 

Week 7 The Social and Cultural Construction of Reality - Language and Culture

 

March 4

Have Read For Class: Chapter 4 pp. 99-114

 AE #5 ÒFighting for Our LivesÒ

AE #10 ÒI CanÕt Even Open My MouthÓ

 

March 6 

Have Read For Class:  AE # 11 ÒShakespeare in the Bush"

 


Week 8 Ways of Viewing the World – Ideology, Magic, Religion and Witchcraft

 

March 11

Have Read For Class: Chapter 4 pp. 114-135

 AE #32 "Baseball Magic

AE #30 "The Secrets of HaitiÕs Living Dead"

March 13

Have Read For Class: AE #27 The Adaptive value of Religious Ritual

    Group A AE #25 Eyes of the Ngangas: Ethnomedicine and PowerÉ.

    Group B AE #26 Ancient Teachings, Modern Lessons

    Group C AE #29 Drug Culture: Everybody Uses Something

    Group D AE #28 Shamans

Assigned: Project assignment #1 (Proposal) – Due: March 20 (15 pts)

                Reflection ÒA World Full of WomenÓ (Handout and posted on the website)

                (25 pts) due: March 20

                          

             

Week 9 Gender and Patterns of Family Relations - Kinship

March 18

Have Read For Class: Ch. 6 (pp. 169-183) - Marriage and the Family

    Everyone read: AE #21 ÒThe Berdache TraditionÓ

    Groups A & B AE #22ÒA WomanÕs Curse?Ó

    Groups C & D AE #23 ÒWhere Fat is a Mark of BeautyÓ

Assigned: Make up your 7 questions and answers for the quiz – Due April 1 (10 points)

    Take-home exam questions (handed out).  Due April 3

 

March 20 Social Organization and the Construction of Identity - Gender

Have Read For Class: AE #18 Our Babies, Ourselves

                ÒA World Full of WomenÓ

Þ Due: Reflection on AE #21 ÒA World Full of Women

                  Project #1 Proposed topic (15 pts)

 

SPRING BREAK March 24-29

 

Week 10 Patterns of Family Relations – Kinship

 

April 1

Have Read For Class: Chapter 5 (pp. 139-167)

                                       AE #16 ÒWhen Brothers Share a WifeÓ

                                       AE 17 ÒDeath Without WeepingÓ   

                                       Groups A & B AE #19 "Arranging a Marriage In IndiaÓ

                                       Groups C & D " AE #20 "Who Needs Love! In Japan,É.."

Þ Due: Your 7 questions and answers for the quiz – (10 points)

 

April 3  Discussion and Review for Exam

         Þ Due: Take home exam questions (60 points)

                        Any Changes in Project Topic           

            Assigned: Project #2 - Progress (15 points), Due April 15

 

NOTE: April 4 - deadline to Withdraw with a "W"

 

Week 11  Exam, and Projects

 

April 8

Exam #2    Same supplies needed: Scantron, pencil(s), paper, pen (55 points)

 

April 10

Project Orientation in the library (5 points)

         The focus will be the research component for the project - Make sure you attend.

 

PART III The World We Live In

Social Hierarchies and Inequalities

 

Week 12 Social Hierarchies & Institutionalization of  Violence

 

April 15 & 17 Social Hierarchy–Race, Class & Violence & Discussions about Projects

Have Read For Class:  Chapter 7 - pp. 197-218

                                    Chapter 8 pp. 231-255 (Focus on pages 237-246)

         Þ Due April 15: Project #2 – Progress Report (15 points)

Assigned: Reflection AE #33 "Why People CanÕt Feed Themselves"  (25 pts) Due April  22

 

 

Week 13 "Progress" & Globalization and the Dominance of Capital

 

April 22

Have Read For Class: AE #34 "The Arrow of Disease"

Þ Due: Reflection on AE #33 "Why People CanÕt Feed Themselves "  (25 pts)

Assigned: Your 7 questions and answers for the exam. Due May 1  (10 pts)

                    Project Update #3 – Research and Introductory Paragraph  (25 points) Due: April 29

 

April 24    "Development" and "Underdevelopment"

Have Read For Class:  Chapter 2 pp. 46-66

                AE #35 Burying the White Gods: New Perspectives on the Conquest of Mexico

                AE #36 The Price of Progress

Assigned: Take-home exam questions (handed out) Due: May 6 (60 points)

 

Week 14 Development of the "Underdevelopment"

 

April 29 & May 1 

Have Read For Class: AE #38 From Baffin Island to New Orleans

AE #39 What Native Peoples Deserve

Þ Due: April 29 Final Project Update #3 (25 points)

May 1 – Your 7 questions with answers  for the exam (10 points)

Week 15  Discussion and Exam

 

May 6  The  Shape of World We Live In & Discussion and Review

         Þ Due: Take-home exam essay questions (60 points).

 

May 8  - Exam #3

Bring: Same supplies needed: Scantron, pencil(s), paper, pen (55 points)

 


PART IV Projects and Presentations and Discussion

 

Week 16 Projects and Presentations and Discussion

 

May 13 & 15  Project presentations and discussion  and/or Globalization and Our World

       Þ Due: ALL Projects May 13

 

Week 17 Project Presentations and Discussion (All Extra Credit in by May 20)

 

May 20 & 22    Project presentations and discussion

 

Final exam Week

Our last class meeting is Tuesday, May 27  8:00 - 9:50

Project  Presentations, Discussion & Final Grades

Þ Due:  Last take-home exam question - on the project of one of your classmates (you may hand it in before this).