Anthropology 3 - Introduction to Cultural Anthropology 

Spring 2008   Tuesday/Thursday 9:00-10:15     Room 506

 

Instructor: Kip Waldo                                                          

Office: D-8 In the new Chabot trailer park – behind the theater.                    

Office Phone: 723-6980 (answering machine) Say the class (Anthro 3 day and time of your class) and your phone number, slowly

Email: kwaldo@chabotcollege.edu

              If you send an email to me, put the Anthro  in the Subject of the email, otherwise, if it is in the spam filter I may not see it. Let me know what class you are in day and time.

When you can find me in my Office: Tuesdays 8:15-8:45, 1:15-2 Wednesdays  5:30-6:15; Thursdays 8:15-8:45, 1-1:30 and by arrangement.

Class webpage: http://online.chabotcollege.edu/kwaldo   Check this for regular updates

Texts - available in the bookstore and elsewhere (There should be used copies of both books.)

Cultural Anthropology  (Third Edition)  F.E. Peacock Publishers - Richard Robbins

Annual Editions - Anthropology 07/08  Dushkin Pub., 2006

 

Other materials - For exams: 3 Scantrons (total), #2 pencils and pen and paper for essays.

                              For papers: Access to a word processor and printer

 

General Class  Guidelines - This is important to Read

This class depends on everyone's participation. You will often work in groups in class. Each person will have a study partner or be part of a study group.

 

á      Missing Classes If, for any reason you must miss more than one class or miss an exam or a class when an assignment is due, it is your responsibility to contact me ahead of time. Call your Òstudy partnerÓ if you miss a class to catch up and get information. There will not be make-ups for in-class assignments.

 

á      IMPORTANT    Exams: No showing up the class after an exam and asking to take a make-up it is your responsibility to contact me ahead of time, if an alternative arrangement needs to be made.

 

á      Late Assignments Assignments are due at the beginning of class. Assignments handed in late will be marked down a full grade for every 3 days overdue. None will be accepted more than a week late.

 

Grading: Assignments and approximate points and percentages 

á      Attendance, in-class assignments and class participation - 50 points (7%)

á      Reflections – 4 @ 25 points  each 100 points total  (15%)

á      Exams - (3@ 120 points)  - 300 points Total (44%)

á      Project - 200 points (30%)

á      Observation - 25 points 4(%)

Total Points  - 675 points

 

Final Grade - point totals


A - 675- 607        

B - 606- 540         

C  539 - 472         

D  471 - 405

F - No FÕs please

 

About the class:

  Goals:

á      to familiarize you with the discipline of cultural/social anthropology;

á      to explore some anthropological perspectives through reading, discussion and research;

á      to better understand your own culture and the society we are a part of;

á      to appreciate the cultures around us and in other parts of the world;

á      to understand the social forces at work that have brought and continue to bring the world's societies and cultures into contact;

á      to realize the different ways it is possible for us to live and the possibilities to change the world we live in.

á       

A couple other notes:

á      Assignments The work you hand in must be your work. In other words, plagiarism will not be tolerated. Plagiarism is using someone's work and claiming it as your own. This can range from copying portions from the Internet or other sources and not acknowledging who the author is,. or handing in work written by someone other than yourself and calling it your own. (See the student handbook or speak with me if this is not clear to you.)

á      Attendance Consistent tardiness or absence will result in loss of points for attendance.

á      If something is unclear - please ask me for clarification during class.

á      If something is unclear or you want to talk about something, I am available outside of class. Come to my office hours or email me to set up a time to talk.

 

 

  What is required of you:

á      active involvement in class through regular attendance, participation, reading and completion of other assignments;

á      maintaining respect for everyone in classroom discussions, this includes no activated beepers or cell phones during class;

á      completing assignments on time – word processed or typed;

á      setting up a Òstudy groupÓ or establishing a Òstudy partnerÓ (optional but recommended);

á      occasional testing of your understanding of concepts discussed or in readings;

á      and involvement in your research project - throughout much of the semester.

 

Assignments – Descriptions

 

Reflections

What are they? It is your analysis of an article you have read - usually out of the Annual Editions or sometimes a video. Usually 1 page or so wordprocessed.

They usually have three parts.

 

Part 1

á      Where do they live? And how do they go about making a living?

á       If the article is not about a particular culture or people,such as the Inuit, Nacirema etc., then go to Part  II

Part II Write a brief summary in one or two paragraphs. Assume that your reader has read the article, so donÕt retell the story or facts. Or imagine telling someone you know why he or she should read the article.

á      What are the main points of this article?

á      Why did she or he write this piece – to convey what ideas, perspectives or points of view?

 

Part III Write your response.

á      In another paragraph or two state your views or perspective regarding the article.

á      What did you think about the article and why do you conclude  this? What did you learn?

 

 

Think Papers - Often written in-class

What are they?

á       They are exactly what it sounds like - your thoughts on a particular topic.

á       You will write what you think about a certain topic, such as Human Nature, Gender or Globalization and why you think what you do.

 

Observations

á      You will be observing activities of other people and providing some analysis.

á      You must make an observation and not think back about something you observed some time ago.

á      The written observation will usually be 1 or 2 pages (no more than 2 pages).

 

You should include the following

1.     Your Field notes (handwritten)

2.     Your Observation

á      Describe the setting

á      The people involved

á      What you observed -be precise. Don't say "people were standing close". How close? Estimate. You cannot assume anything. Your reader needs to have a mental picture.

3. Your Analysis (a page or so where you reflect on what you saw and draw tentative conclusions)

á      What do you conclude and why?

 

The Project

A combination of fieldwork and research resulting in a paper and a sharing of your project with the class.

á      You will choose a topic - of your interest to you.

á      The only limitation is that you must know at least one person who is knowledgeable about this subject and is willing to talk with you about this.

á      Topics range from various music scenes, car scenes, arranged marriages, gang life, how someone came to the U.S., piercing, gaming, a particular job, tattooing - any specific human activity is a possible topic.

á      Begin thinking about a topic of interest to you.

More information to come.

 

When are reflections and other assignments due?

á      They are due on the day stated in our schedule.

á      They make up 15 per cent of your grade. So don't ignore them.

á      They are a way to keep you focused on a part of the reading.

á      Reflections must be word processed or typed.

á      They are due at the beginning of class.

á      Reflections one week late will receive a maximum of a ÒCÓ.

á      Assignments will not be accepted more than a week late.

á      If, for some reason, such as illness or family emergency, you miss some classes, donÕt disappear – contact me.