Summer 2008

COURSE MATERIALS

Omohundro, John T. 2008. Thinking Like an Anthropologist: A Practical Introduction to
            Cultural Anthropology. Boston, MA: McGraw Hill.

COURSE COMPONENTS

Portfolio: By putting together a course portfolio, a student is able to demonstrate effort, advancement, and comprehension in a course.  Portfolios also allow the instructor to mark the student’s progress toward course objectives while allowing the student to customize course requirements.  Portfolio preparation requires summarizing, applying, analyzing, and synthesizing information.  It also requires self-reflection. This particular portfolio is cumulative, that is, each section of work is compiled and the entire portfolio is turned in completed at the end of the semester. 

Table of Contents:  The table of contents is one of the final pieces of the portfolio, due when the complete portfolio is turned in.

Introduction: The introduction is the first assignment in this course.  Write about why you are taking Cultural Anthropology, and what you expect to gain from the course.  Also include whether or not you have any prior knowledge of the subject.

Ethnography: The term ethnography comes from the Greek ethnos, meaning ethnicity, and graph, writing or representation of.  Thus, ethnography is writing about other peoples.  However, ethnography, the way cultural anthropologists use it, refers to a process, “doing ethnography”, and a product, the books/articles (in this case papers) that result.  Doing ethnographic research involves participant observation, going and living in the place being studied for an extended period of time, and learning the culture from the inside out.  In doing so, anthropologists try to gain both objective and subjective understanding of the cultures they are studying.  After the fieldwork ends, anthropologists synthesize the information that has been gathered, and write the ethnography.   

Students will be asked to conduct a mini-ethnographic research project and write about the experience and the data gathered.

Since it would be difficult to travel to a remote location to study a foreign culture, given the short duration of this course, the student will study a local group as if that group were a distinct culture.  The only requirement for group selection is that the student chooses a group that he or she is not a part of (The group may differ with regard to age, gender, religious affiliation, hobbies…it does not matter, as long as the student is not a member of the particular group selected). 

The student will observe the group being studied, interview members, and participate in group activities in order to gain understanding of their way of life. 

Short Essay Questions: The portfolio  includes answers to twenty questions, which can be found at the end of the class lectures.  To receive full credit for an answer, the student must include information from both the textbook and class lecture.  Students may also draw from credible outside sources and supplemental course materials when appropriate.  Short essay questions should be a minimum of three paragraphs in length.   

Activities: The portfolio  includes five activities/research exercises, the details of which are posted on blackboard under activities.  Answers should include anthropological insights derived from course lectures and reading.    

Conclusion:  In the conclusion, you are asked to reflect on the knowledge you have acquired during the course and how that knowledge could be applied in other classes and in other areas of your life.  While writing the reflection, consider whether the goals of the course and your personal goals (as stated in the introduction) were met. 

References:  A reference page (including the reference for your reader and textbook) should be compiled throughout the semester (adding references as you go).  The reference page should be re-submitted with each section of work that is submitted.  Be sure to cite (in-text) all direct quotes, statistics, and obscure facts.  The citation style followed should be APA, MLA, Chicago, or ASA. 

Assignments will only be accepted if submitted through the digital dropbox on blackboard.

Participation:  Participation grades are calculated through postings on the discussion board forums.  To receive full credit for participation, you must post comments on at least ten forums.  You are, of course, welcome to post as many comments as you like.  When posting, it is perfectly acceptable to take an opposing viewpoint, but be sure to respect other students’ thoughts, ideas, and opinions. 

GRADE DISTRIBUTION

Table of Contents                                    5 points
            Introduction                                           20 points
            Ethnography                                         120 points  
            Short Essay Questions                        200 points
            Activities                                                 50 points
            Conclusion                                               20 points
            References                                                5 points
            Participation                                          80 points
            _____________________________________________
            Total                                                      500 points

GRADING SCALE

A = 90-100%
B = 80-89%
C = 70-79%
D = 60-69%
F = below 60%

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY

Academic Integrity: Taking the ideas or expressions of another person and presenting them as you own without appropriate acknowledgment of the author constitutes plagiarism.   Plagiarism deliberate, or not, is a form of theft and will result in failure.  The majority of plagiarism I have seen has been unintentional.  If you use someone else’s words or ideas, which I encourage you to do, be certain to use proper citation.  The best advice I can offer is when in doubt, ask. 

Assignment Submission: When assignments are submitted an exclamation point will appear in the gradebook, which will be replaced with the grade at a later time.  It is the students responsibility to go to the gradebook, every time s/he submits an assignment to ensure that the assignment was received. 

DB Rule: Assignments will not be accepted late.

HELP!

I can only assist you where you bring your concerns to my attention.  Please do not wait until you are overwhelmed to ask for my help.  There are also many resources at the college for students who are struggling, which I would be more than happy to direct you to.  This institution does not discriminate against students with disabilities.  If you need special accommodations due to a disability please contact Tina Hardy (224-0284) or Jim Prendergast (224-0350).

Course Withdrawal: Students wishing to withdraw from the course must come see me in person prior to the conclusion of my office hours on the last day for student withdrawal. 

* A final note: All course requirements are subject to change. Changes will be announced on blackboard, and it is a student's responsibility to obtain any information regarding changes. 

"We must educate people on what nobody knew yesterday and prepare people in our schools for what no one knows yet, but what some people must know tomorrow."
                                                                       
                                                                                            - Margaret Mead

ReaCH FaR
Responsibility, Caring, Honesty, Fairness, Respect