Spring 2008 Anthropology 5 Cultures of the U.S.

Tuesday – Thursday 10:30-11:45am Rm. 519

Our schedule - dates, topics, readings and other assignments

Readings and assignment are due on the day they appear on the syllabus

Chapter numbers refer to your text "On Being Different", Kottak and Kozaitis 3rd Edition

"Spirit" Refers to "Tthe Spirit Catches You, You Fall Down"

Part I - The Anthropological Perspective

Week 1 What is Anthropology?

January 23 Introduction to the class,

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

Information sheets handed out and completed.

Assigned: A Reflection on the "Nacirema " ("Body Ritual among the Nacirema") (20 points). Due January 30

Week 2 What is Anthropology? – Fieldwork & Culture

January 30

Fieldwork Choosing a Cultural Guide for Cultural Insights – see your handout – Choose your guide by February 13 (40 points)

Have read: Chapter 1 (skim)

Chapter 2

Due: Reflections on “Body Ritual among the Nacirema” - 20 points

Assigned: Observation:- Superbowl – An American ritual and display. Due February 6 (30 points). See handout for details.

Week 3 The Multicultural Society

February 6 Doing Anthropology – Fieldwork

Have read: Chapter 4

Due: Observation: Superbowl – An American ritual and display (30 points).

Assigned: Observation: Observation and anaylsis – “Bumper Stickers” What do they reflect and reveal? – see handout (30 points) - due February 13

“Where I Live” Due February 20

Week 4 Social Classes

February 13

Have read: Chapter 13

Due: Choosing your Cultural Guide (40 points).

Observation “Bumper Stickers” What do they reflect and reveal? (30 points)

Week 5 Places and Spaces

February 20

Have read: Chapter 14

Due: Observation and Analysis – “Where I Live” (30 points)

Assigned: Cultural Insight – you and your guide and “gender and sexual orientation” (40 points). Due February 27

Part II - Anthropology and the Construction of Identity

Week 6 The Social Construction of Gender

February 27

Have read: Chapter 9 & handouts

Due:: Cultural Insight – You and your guide and “gender and sexual orientation” (40 points).

Assigned: Your contribution to the exam - 7 questions with answers (10 points) Due March 5.

Week 7 The Social Construction of Sexual Orientation

March 5

Have read: Chapter 10

Assigned: Take home essay exam questions (90 pts.) Due March 12

Due: Your contribution to the exam - 7 questions with answers (10 points).

Week 8 Exam #1 and The Social and Cultural Construction of Identity - Ethnicity

March 12

Quiz – Bring Scantron, pencil, paper and pen (55 points).

Due: Take home essay exam questions (60 points)
After the Quiz - Ethnicity

Have read: Chapter 5

Assigned: Cultural Insight You and your guide views on identity and ethnicity (40 points). Due March 19

Week 9 Class and the Social and Cultural Construction of Identity – Ethnicty/Race

March 19

Have read: Chapter 5

Due: Cultural Insight You and your guide views on ethnicity (40 points).

Assigned: Cultural Insight You and your guide’s experiences with race (40 points).

Due April 2

SPRING BREAK March 24-29

Week 10 Race – Rooted in Racism

April 2

Have read: Chapters 7 & 8 and short essay

Due: Cultural Insight You and your guide experiences with race (40 points).

Week 11 Discrimination and Its Roots

April 9

Have read: Chapters 11 & 12

Week 12 Religions and Interpretations of the World

April 16

Have read: Chapters 1-5 The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down

Assigned: Reading Reflection and questions, Due April 23 (40 points)

Week 13 Immigration – Causes and Effects

April 23

Have read: Chapters 6-10 The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down

Due: Reading Reflection and questions (40 points).

Week 14 Misunderstandings & Cultural Collisions

April 30

Have read: Chapters 11-15 The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down

Assigned: Your 7 questions and answers for the coming exam: Due: May 7 (10 points)

Reading Reflection and questions, Due May 7. (40 points)

Week 15 Are There Solutions?

May 7

Have read: Chapters 16-19 The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down

Due: Your 7 questions and answers for the coming exam.

Reading Reflection and questions. (40 points)

Assigned: Take Home Essay Exam (40 points) Due May 14 (2 questions).

Week 16 Exam & How Does the Rest of the World View Us?

May 14

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

Assigned: Last Cultural Insight - Views on the state of the world (40 points). Due May 21

Week 17 Whose Society Is This? Making This Society Your Own

May 21

Have read: Chapter 17 and reading

Due: Last Take Home Essay Question

Last Cultural Insight - Views on the state of the world (40 points).

Final exam Week

May 28, 6:30 pm Last Class

Discussion & Final Grades

Due: Making the world your own – in class – 25 points

Potluck?