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ANTHR 2 SYLLABUS (as printer-friendly PDF)

"The world in which you were born is just one model of reality. Other cultures are not failed attempts at being you: they are unique manifestations of the human spirit." -- Wade Davis

 

ANTHR2 Section 62745   TuTh 12:40-2:00PM   Room 1604
Instructor: Michelle Y. Merrill           Office: Room 429C
Office Hours: M 4:30 - 5:50pm in 429C and 9:05 - 9:15pm in 431 or 429C
Tu 5:30 - 6:30 pm in 429C Th noon - 12:15 pm and 5:30 - 6:15pm 429C
F 12:05-12:30pm in 431 or 429C & other times by appointment
Contact Info

ANTHR2 (Catalog Description): Presents a cross-cultural, comparative study of contemporary human behavior with emphasis on the effects of globalization on contemporary cultures. Topics investigated include cultural patterns, language, subsistence, economics, religion, kinship, values and norms, sex and gender, marriage, cultural change, and migration. 

Like Cabrillo College itself, this course seeks to honor the core values of “academic freedom, critical and independent thinking, and respect for all people and cultures.” This class provides opportunities to develop and practice skills in all of Cabrillo’s “Core Four” competencies:

Communication - reading, writing, listening, speaking and/or conversing

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Critical Thinking and Information Competency - analysis, computation, research, problem solving

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Global Awareness - an appreciation of scientific processes, global systems and civics, and artistic variety

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Personal Responsibility and Professional Development - self-management and self-awareness, social and physical wellness, workplace skills

By completing this course, you should have the skills and understanding to:

Class Participation and Attendance

I expect student participation in class discussions, and I encourage everyone to freely ask questions, provide feedback, and otherwise contribute to our in-class coursework.  I also expect students to attend all lectures on time, having completed required readings before coming to class.  Attendance, effort, and participation will account for a substantial portion of your grade.  More than 1 absence will result in point loss, as will excessive and recurrent tardiness.  I will hold you responsible for all course material, including course videos (most of which are not in the library, and must be viewed in class)--so get good notes from other students (NOT me) if you miss class!

This is a writing intensive class. Students are expected to work more than 2 hours outside of class for every hour in class.  Students are expected to write 4,000 – 12,000 words for the class.

Using Website and Blackboard

While this is a traditional “lecture” class, we will be using web resources and Blackboard (some call this “blended learning” or a "web enhanced" class). There are three main goals motivating this requirement: 1. to allow you to develop and practice your skills online (as a crucial aspect of professional development for most jobs requiring a college degree), 2. to provide a venue for sharing learning experiences with classmates outside of the limited time of lectures, and 3. to maximize the learning experience during lectures, by providing more time for face-to-face interaction with the instructor and your classmates. (Trust me, Blackboard does not save me a whole lot of time as an instructor – it’s definitely not for my benefit.)

I have used Blackboard, WebCT and Moodle for previous classes, but this will be the first semester where I will be using it for all assignments, and making more use of its interactive features. Please do review the student tutorials available on your “My Blackboard” page (in the bookmark list to the right). Please be patient if there are glitches – just let me know right away if you encounter problems once you are logged onto the Blackboard site.

You can access Blackboard from the Cabrillo homepage or here . I may continue to use my standard website for posting some non-interactive materials – be sure to check here also.

Common Courtesy and Common Sense

Students frequently discover that not everyone shares their personal beliefs, experiences, and convictions.  Respect for many points of view is required in this class.  Disagreements are healthy and help us to learn, but students must maintain a respectful attitude and courteous conversation at all times.  My goal as an instructor is not to convince you to hold a particular opinion on controversial issues, but to encourage you to think critically and with an open mind about the facts, evidence, ideas and theories presented in class. -- see our agreed "Ground Rules for Class Conversations"

Classroom etiquette regarding portable electronic devices is not unlike takeoff and landing on an airplane – they should be turned off and stowed away.  Cell phones and pagers should be OFF at all times (an exception may be made for caretakers who can keep their phones/pagers on vibrate for emergency situations, provided the instructor is notified ahead of time).  You should have nothing in your ears other than hearing aid devices if needed. 

You may use a recorder for lectures, as long as it is unobtrusive (though in my experience, paying attention and taking notes during lecture is more useful).  Calculators, PDAs, and laptop computers are permitted during lectures provided they aren’t making much noise.

Other behavioral norms are expected to minimize classroom disruptions and avoid disturbing your fellow students.  Arrive on time for class.  Do not begin packing your things and preparing to leave until the instructor has indicated class is actually finished.  Do not interrupt the instructor or your classmates while they are speaking, but by all means DO raise your hand when you have a question or comment.  Basically, use a little common sense, try to imagine what is likely to annoy your instructor, and then avoid doing those things if you wish to remain in class.

Special Accommodations

Many of you may need special accommodations, whether due to disabilities, language difficulties, or other conditions.  I am very willing to work with you in order to help create a more positive learning experience.  However, I do need some advance notice in order to accommodate students with special needs; if you have special needs, please inform me of your situation within the first three days of class.

Academic Honesty

Students are expected to exercise academic honesty and integrity.  All sources used must be properly documented. Cheating or plagiarism will result in point loss and disciplinary action, possibly including a failing grade for the class and/or recommendation for dismissal.  To learn about what plagiarism means and how to avoid it, please see the description at: http://www.cabrillo.edu/~sholt/MITPlagiarism.pdf or http://www.plagiarism.org/learning_center/what_is_plagiarism.html and review the links provided by the Cabrillo College Library at http://libwww.cabrillo.edu/depts/libraryinstruction.html. 

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Required Texts:

Fadiman, A. (1997).  The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures.  New York: Farrar, Strauss and Giroux.

Monaghan, J. & Just, P. (2000).  Social & Cultural Anthropology: A Very Short Introduction.  Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Thomas, E. M. (2006).  The Old Way: A Story of the First People. New York: Sarah Chrichton Books.

Additional required readings will be assigned and distributed in class or available as PDFs on the password-protected portion of the website.

Letter Grade or P/NP (students must request P/NP option in writing by October 3rd).

You will be responsible for:

• in-class and online participation and writing exercises (150 points total)
• two midterm essay assignments (50 points each, 100 points total)
• a kinship diagram or alternative project (50 points)
• a final project, including a proposal (25 points), the project itself (150 points), and a presentation (25 points)

500 total points

A brief overview of the assignments is provided below.  Further details about these assignments will be provided in class and online.

First Midterm Essay Assignment (details)

Visual Investigations of Culture: Kin Diagram or Alternative Project (details)

·      Create a kin diagram of your family  (see tutorial at http://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/anthropology/tutor/fundamentals/fund1.html) and answer questions in writing.  OR

·      Create a map of your community with drawings or photos, labeling key features according to instructions.

 Second Midterm Essay Assignment (details)

Final Project Assignment (details)    Anthro2 Library Research Page