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ANTH 111- Introduction to General
Anthropology
Fall 2002 |
Douglas R. Holmes
Office S1-221 x4550
Of. Hrs. W, F 2:30-4:00 or by appt.
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*Teaching Assistants: Tendai Chitewere (sections 2 & 4), Tom
Pearson (sections 5 & 6), Nasser Malit (sections 1 & 3),
Azir Keskin (sections 8 & 10) , Marie Marley (sections 7 &
9)
Lectures: M, W, F 1:10-2:10 S1-149
T Section Meetings
Written Composition
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Course Description
Anthropology 111 is an introduction to the discipline of anthropology-the
study, description and analysis of human behavior across space and
through time. We begin with a close look at the history and organization
of the discipline as well as the various methods used by anthropologists
to study humankind. We turn to substantive discussions of genetics
and evolution and to the study of fossil remains in order to learn
about human origins. The development of culture is outlined from
early hunters and gatherers to agricultural societies and stratified
state systems. We conclude the course with a case study-an ethnography-of
a contemporary African society.
The course fulfills the "C" (Composition) and the "N"
(Social Science) General Education requirements at Binghamton University.
Course Objectives
The course seeks to impart a broad understanding of the human condition,
along with an appreciation of cultural diversity and difference.
Students will learn about the nature of culture and learned behavior.
We will examine race and criticisms of the race concept as applied
in modern societies, about gender and its ramifications, and about
other key human institutions. We learn about the role of anthropology
in the construction of socially important knowledge and the application
of anthropological knowledge to current world problems.
Format
Three lectures and one discussion section per week.
Required Texts
Haviland, William 2003 Anthropology (tenth edition) Wadsworth.
Shostak, Marjorie 2000 Nisa: The Life and Words of a !Kung Woman.
Harvard.
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Grading
A total of 600 points will be distributed as follows:
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Midterm Exam-100
Final Exam-100
Writing Assignment #1-100
Writing Assignment #2-200
Discussion section-100 (60 points for participation, and 40 points
for attendance) |
Exams
There will be two tests administered during the term: an in-class midterm
exam and a final exam during the finals week. The format of both of the
exams will be primarily multiple-choice.
Writing Assignments
There are two inter-related writing assignments-each ten pages in length-required
in this course. Both papers are based on a critical reading of a text
you will choose from a list of approved books. The texts are drawn from
three of the four subfields of anthropology and vary considerably in terms
of their difficulty. We will discuss how the grading of papers will vary
according to the difficulty of the text as well as other aspects of the
assignment in class.
The first paper will examine the varied practices of anthropological
fieldwork in the case study you have chosen. The second paper will explore
how fieldwork when blended with theory yields a distinctive anthropological
analysis.
Papers should be doubled-spaced, using 12-point font and one-inch margins.
For both assignments, you will hand in an initial, complete draft followed
by a final, rewritten version. Two copies of each paper draft must be
submitted-one for your teaching assistant, and one for review by a fellow
student. Due dates for these projects are given below.
All assignments (paper drafts and final versions) must be handed in on
time. Although the initial paper drafts are not graded, please note that
your final paper grade will be penalized for any assignment handed in
late, including drafts. For each day late (including weekends), 10 points
will be deducted from your final paper grade. In addition, if you do not
complete and submit a peer review sheet, 5 points will be deducted from
you final paper grade. Do not hand in assignments late! If you are absent
on the day a draft is handed back, please see your teaching assistant
during his/her office hours or in lecture to pick it up. You cannot work
on your revision without the reviewed draft.
Discussion Section
Participation (60 points): Active participation means coming to class
prepared to discuss the assigned readings for that week, as well as the
lecture material and/or film. This includes occasional participation in
group work as well as actively contributing your questions ideas and opinions
to class discussion.
Attendance (40 points): Attendance will be taken each week in discussion
sections. You are allowed two free absences from discussion sections.
For each additional absence, 5 points will be deducted from your 40 points
for attendance. In addition, 3 late arrivals of more than 15 minutes will
equal an absence, in which case 5 points will be deducted.
If you miss a lecture or discussion section for any reason, or if you
are late, you are still responsible for any material that you miss, and/or
for any announcements made that day. Get the notes from someone, or see
your teaching assistant during office hours.
Plagiarism and Cheating
Students are expected to abide by the rules of academic honesty. Under
no circumstances will plagiarism and/or cheating be tolerated in this
course. These offenses carry a severe penalty, ranging from a possible
"F" in the course to suspension or expulsion from this university.
If you are unsure of what constitutes plagiarism, consult a copy of the
University Rules and Expectations or your teaching assistant.
Reading the Text
We will cover a vast amount of scholarly material in this course. The
lectures will focus on the formal textual material in the Haviland book
while the illustrative materials ("Original Studies" and "Anthropology
Applied" inserts) will be used primarily in discussion sections.
The web links are for your personal enrichment.
Extra-Credit
Extra-credit work may be available in consultation with the instructor.
Texts for Writing Assignments
Ethnographies
Gusterson, Hugh 1998 Nuclear Rites: A Weapons Laboratory at the End
of The Cold-War. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Holmes, Douglas 1990 Cultural Disenchantments: Worker Peasantries
in Northeast Italy. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Medical/Biological/Forensic Anthropological Texts
Dettwyler, Katherine 1994 Dancing With Skeletons. Waveland.
Steadman, Dawnie 2002 Case Studies in Forensic Anthropology. Prentice
Hall.
Archaeological Texts
Gumerman, George 1992 A View from Black Messa. Arizona University
Press.
Reid, Jefferson 1999 Grasshopper Pueblo. Arizona University Press.
Extra-Credit
Abu-Lughod, Lila 1986 Veiled Sentiments: Honor and Poetry in a Bedouin
Society. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Deetz, James 1977 In Small Things Forgotten. Anchor.
Diamond, Jared 1993 The Third Chimpanzee. HarperPerennial.
Hall, K. and M. Bucholtz, Eds. (1996). Gender Articulated: Language
and the Socially Constructed Self. New York, NY, Routledge.
Kondo, Dorine 1990 Crafting Selves: Power Gender, and Discourses of
Identity in a Japanese Workplace. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Webster, David 2000 Copan: The Rise and Fall of an Ancient Maya Kingdom.
Harcourt.
Schedule of Lecture Topics, Reading Assignments, Tests, and Due Dates
*Week 1 (Sept 4-6): Anthropology: An Overview
Readings: Haviland Ch. 1 & 2
Week 2 (Sept 9-13). Primate Evolution: (film: "Five Species")
Readings: Haviland Chapters 3, 4,
Week 3 (Sept.17-20). Emergence of Culture (film: "In Search
of Human Origins I")
Readings: Haviland Chapters 6, 7
Week 4 (Sept 23-27). Evolution of Genus Homo (film:"In Search
of Human Origins II")
Readings: Haviland Chapters 8, 10
Week 5 (Sept. 30-Oct. 4). Cultural Evolution (film: "In Search
of Human Origins III")
*Readings: Haviland Chapters 11, 12
*First paper due October 7th
Week 6 (Oct. 7- 11). The Nature of Culture
Readings: Haviland Chapters 13,14, 15
Week 7 (Oct. 14-18) Modes of Production and Social Organization
(film: "Questioning the Past")
Readings Haviland Chapters 17, 18
*First paper returned October 18th
Week 8 (Oct. 21-25). Political Organization & Religion (film:
"The Holy Ghost People")
Readings Haviland Chapters 23, 24
Midterm Exam Oct. 28
Week 9 (Oct. 28-Nov. 1). Fieldwork and Writing Cultures (Film:
First Contact)
Readings: Shostak Introduction. Pp.1-39 and Chapter 1, pp. 41-58.
*Final draft of First Paper is due November 4th.
Week 10 (Nov. 4-8) Environment & Culture: Daily life of Hunters
and Gatherers.
Readings: Shostack Chapter 2, pp. 59-71, Chapter 3, pp. 73-92. Haviland
Chapter 19.
*Final draft of First Paper returned November 15th.
Week 11 (Nov. 11-15) Ethnographer and Informant ( film: "Three
Worlds of Bali")
Readings: Shostak Chapter 4, pp. 95-112, Chapter 5, pp. 115-131, Chapter
6, pp. 133-149. Haviland Chapter 20.
Week 12 (Nov. 18-22). Social organization: Kinship, Family, Marriage.
(film: "All Dressed in White")
Readings: Shostak Chapter 7, pp. 151-157, Chapter 8, pp. 159-179, Chapter
9, pp.181-191. Haviland Chapter 21.
* Second Paper due November 25th.
Week 13 (Nov. 25) Ethnography as Science and Art
Readings: Shostak Chapter 10, pp. 193-211, Chapter 11, pp.213-235.
Week 14 (Dec. 2-6). Sex and Gender, Religion and Healing (film
"N!ai, the story of a !Kung Woman").
Readings: Shostak Chapter 12, pp. 237-257, Chapter 13, pp. 259-269. Haviland
Chapter 26.
Week 15 (Dec.9-13) Ethnographic Experimentation
Readings: Shostak Chapter 14, pp.273-284, Chapter 15, pp.287-305. Haviland
Chapter 27.
Final Exam Dec. 17 (2-4 pm) Lecture Hall I
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