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ANTH 2351 90L Introduction to Cultural Anthropology Spring 2016 Syllabus INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION Instructor: Servando Z. Hinojosa Office: SBS 351 Office Hours: Tuesday: 9:00am - 10:30am, 3:00pm - 4:00pm Thursday: 9:00am - 10:30am, 2:00pm - 3:00pm These are hours in which students can consult me in my office, not hours of live consultation online. Please email instructor if other meeting times are needed. Make sure to review this syllabus and the General Help discussion forum of the course for useful information. Office Telephone: 665-7002 E-mail: [email protected] Generally I will respond to emails within one day of receiving them. If I plan to be away from my computer for more than a couple of days, I will let you know in advance. COURSE DESCRIPTION This course inquires into the nature of human culture. By focusing on select cases of anthropological study, and by drawing from the corpus of anthropological theory, the course intends to familiarize students with some of the many aspects of cultural experience. More importantly, the course encourages an ongoing interest in the systematic study of culture. This course has no prerequisites. A definition of culture: "Culture is a set of rules or standards that, when acted upon by the members of a society, produces behavior that falls within a range of variance the members consider proper and acceptable." TEXTBOOK & COURSE MATERIALS Required Text: Intersections: Readings in Sociology. “Dr. Servando Z. Hinojosa, Introduction to Cultural Anthropology, ANTH 1323, UTPA, Readings in Cultural Anthropology.” Pearson Custom Publishing, Boston, MA, 2008. ISBN-13: 9780536187178. A few copies are on Reserve at the 3rd Floor Media Desk in the UTRGV Library Copies can be purchased at the University Bookstore in the UTRGV Library Assigned YouTube videos will be listed in their respective Content Areas Page 1 University of Texas-Pan American Course Name Semester Syllabus TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS Computer Hardware To participate in this online course, you should have easy access to a computer fewer than 5 years-old with high-speed internet connection via cable modem, LAN or DSL. To ensure you are using a supported browser and have required plug-ins please refer to Supported Browsers, Plugins & Operating Systems for Blackboard Learn from Blackboard’s resource page. Student Technical Skills You are expected to be proficient with installing and using basic computer applications and have the ability to send and receive email attachments. Software Microsoft Office’s Internet Explorer (latest version) Mozilla’s Firefox (latest version; Macintosh or Windows) Adobe’s Flash Player & Reader plug-in (latest version). Apple’s QuickTime plug-in (latest version). A free download is available at Virus protection Microsoft Office Technical Assistance If you need technical assistance at any time during the course or to report a problem with Blackboard you can: Visit the Blackboard Student Help Site Submit a Blackboard Helpdesk Ticket: https://colttapps.utrgv.edu/helpme/ COLTT Help Desk Contact Information (UTRGV’s Blackboard Support) Location: Education Building Room 2.202 Phone: 956-665-5327 Monday – Thursday: 7:30AM – 7:00PM Friday: 7:30 AM – 6:00PM Be aware that the instructor cannot offer technical support. Check with the above links. COURSE ORGANIZATION & ONLINE TOOLS Course Structure: This course will be delivered entirely online through the course management system Blackboard Learn. You will use your UTRGV account to login to the course from the My UTRGV site: https://my.utrgv.edu/web/myutrgv/home and under applications click on Blackboard Learn. The course is organized into Content Areas. Each Content Area is listed by a number and its main topic and contains required PowerPoint files, video link information, and Discussion Forum assignments that you are to complete. Page 2 Course Name Semester Syllabus Note: Most materials used in conjunction with the course are subject to copyright protection. Discussion Forums: You will find the following Discussion Forums in the course Blackboard site: General Help: Post any questions or comments you may have about course mechanics or technical issues to this forum. Forums related to collaborative and discussion assignments, as described in the Learning Activities sections. Forums versus Email If you have a question about course content or mechanics, I encourage you to post it to the General Help Discussion Forums. Doing so gives students in the course a chance to help one another and allows everyone to benefit from answers to your questions. Of course, don’t hesitate to email me directly if your concern is of a personal nature. Be aware that the Discussion Forum for each Content Area will be available only during a particular set of days. After that time no posting in that particular discussion area is possible. Each Discussion Forum will be graded on a 100 point scale. My role in Discussion Forums is that of a facilitator. I will occasionally correct misconceptions and/or redirect conversations that need redirecting. I may also post comments following the completion of discussion indicating my general impressions of the comments and conclusions. General Statement on UTRGV Class Attendance. Students are expected to attend all scheduled classes and may be dropped from the course for excessive absences. UTRGV’s attendance policy excuses students from attending class if they are participating in officially sponsored university activities, such as athletics; for observance of religious holy days; or for military service. Students should contact the instructor in advance of the excused absence and arrange to make up missed work or examinations. Page 3 Course Name Semester Syllabus CONTENT AREAS AND SCHEDULE FOR SPRING 2016 Important: Information about readings, Discussion Forums and, when pertinent, exams will be supplied within each Content Area of Blackboard. Content Areas 1. Introduction to Peoples and Culture 19 January 2016 Assignments Assigned Readings: (PowerPoint) ANTH 2351 90L CA 1 Intro Due Discussion due 25 January Discussion: In the Discussion Forum, briefly introduce yourself, and explain what your interest is in this course Assignment: No assignment for this Content Area 2. The Anthropological Method and Sources of Data 26 January 2016 Assigned Readings: ANTH 2351 90L CA 2 Anthro Method and Data “At Home in the Field” by Altorki This and all other readings are found in your assigned text. Discussion due 31 January Discussion: Based on what you've read in Altorki, discuss whether a person can more effectively do fieldwork among people of his/her own culture or among people of a different culture. You must explain your position. 3. Language and Communication Assignment: No assignment for this Content Area Assigned Readings: ANTH 2351 90L CA 3 Language and Communication 1 February 2016 Discussion: How are different dialects of English valued (that is, respected or not respected) in the US? Why do you think this is? (Dialects of English include ones like East Texas, California, Borderland, African American, and others.) Assignment: No assignment for this Content Area Page 4 Discussion due 4 February Course Name Content Areas 4. Food Procurement, Domestication, and Exchange 5 February 2016 Semester Syllabus Assignments Assigned Readings: ANTH 2351 90L CA 4 Food Domestication Exchange “The Amish” by Hostetler View the video, “Amish: A Secret Life” on YouTube Due Discussion due 11 February Exam I may be taken either on 10 February or 11 February Discussion: Discuss some of the strengths of Amish culture, as well as some of their vulnerabilities in the modern period. Discuss, do not list. Assignment: Take ANTH 2351 90L Exam I 5. Gender and Sexuality 12 February 2016 Assigned Readings: ANTH 2351 90L CA 5 Gender Sexuality “The Gender Blur” by Blum Discussion due 19 February Discussion: Discuss what Blum says concerning when maleness/femaleness can be first detected, how it shows, and what role society plays in producing maleness/femaleness. Assignment: No assignment for this Content Area 6. Kinship, Marriage, and Descent 20 February 2016 Assigned Readings: ANTH 2351 90L CA 6 Kinship Marriage Descent “Family Planning, Amazon Style” by Hern View the videos, “Multiple Husbands” and “Brothers Share one Wife – Fraternal Polyandry” on YouTube Discussion: How has the combined effect of forced monogamy and the migration of settlers onto Shipibo lands made life more difficult for the Shipibo? Assignment: No assignment for this Content Area Page 5 Discussion due 26 February Course Name Content Areas 7. Associations, Interest Groups, and Political Life 27 February 2016 Semester Syllabus Assignments Assigned Readings: ANTH 2351 90L CA 7 Associations Interest Groups, Political Life View “The Heart Broken in Half” on YouTube View “Initiation with Ants” and “Apache Girl Initiation” on YouTube Due Discussion due 3 March Exam II may be taken either on 2 March or 3 March Discussion: What purposes do initiatory activities serve in peoples’ lives? Why are these activities important? Assignment: Take ANTH 2351 90L Exam II 8. Psychology and Culture 4 March 2016 Assigned Readings: ANTH 2351 90L CA 8 Psychology Culture View “You’re Not Crazy and You’re Not Alone” on YouTube View “Multiple Personalities – CBS News” on YouTube Discussion due 12 March Discussion: Discuss whether or not the “Self” is something single or multiple, and whether it is stable or unstable. Make your case using examples from class and videos. 9. The Arts 20 March 2016 Assignment: No assignment for this Content Area Assigned Readings: ANTH 2351 90L CA 9 The Arts “Not Just for Bikers Anymore” by DeMello View “Tattoo from National Geographic's Taboo Part 1” on YouTube (view the 4 parts) Discussion due 29 March Discussion: Why have people found it important to mark their bodies using different methods? Why is this relevant today? 10. Religion and Assignment: No assignment for this Content Area Assigned Readings: Page 6 Discussion due Course Name Semester Syllabus Content Areas Magic 30 March 2016 Assignments ANTH 2351 90L CA 10 Myth Religion and Magic “In Search of the Sacred” by Kantrowitz Due 10 April Discussion: To what extent are magical principles and practices still important in the West (like the U.S.)? Discuss why this is, without referring to “superstition.” 11. Plant Use, Health, and Religion Assignment: No assignment for this Content Area Assigned Readings: ANTH 2351 90L CA 11 Plant Use Health Religion Discussion due 25 April 11 April 2016 Discussion: How does learning about plants help shape our understanding of what it means to be human? You can argue this in different ways, including in terms of plant chemistry, being part of the natural world, spirituality, etc. 12. Culture Change and Social Problems 26 April 2016 Assignment: No assignment for this Content Area Assigned Readings: ANTH 2351 90L CA 12 Culture Change “Prevalence of Female Circumcision” by Ebomoyi Discussion: According to Ebomoyi, what are the main reasons most people in her sample support female circumcision? Please keep the focus on Ebomoyi's research, not on your personal views. Then, using your own anthropologically-informed views, discuss whether the western world is in a position to tell other peoples how to live. Assignment: Take ANTH 2351 90L Exam III Page 7 Discussion due 3 May Exam III may be taken either on 3 May or 4 May Course Name Semester Syllabus UTRGV Calendar of Activities The UTRGV academic calendar can be found at http://my.utrgv.edu at the bottom of the screen, prior to login. COURSE OBJECTIVES 1) Content Area 1 Objectives: -Students will be able to identify the four major subfields of Anthropology -Students will be able to articulate what is meant by “culture” and its aspects -Students will recognize key milestones in human agency -Students will be able to express the importance of holism and cultural relativism in Anthropology 2) Content Area 2 Objectives: -Students will recognize the importance of data collection and ethnographic fieldwork -Students will be able to identify the contributions of key anthropologists -Students will recognize the centrality of values in human cultures -Students will explain the difference between oral sources of data and documentary sources of data 3) Content Area 3 Objectives: -Students will recognize the unique aspects of human language -Students will be able to articulate key aspects of multilingualism and code-switching -Students will be able to explain language competence -Students will be able to identify different ways humans communicate besides language 4) Content Area 4 Objectives: -Students will be able to explain animal and plant domestication -Students will be able to articulate the connection between changing forms of food production and disease incidence -Students will be able to recognize principles of exchange and value -Students will identify the different forms of the marriage contract 5) Content Area 5 Objectives: -Students will articulate the difference between sex and gender -Students will articulate how different human institutions affect gender experiences -Students will recognize how human cognition undergirds ideas of sexuality and gender -Students will articulate how women’s status has changed since humans moved into more settled ways of life 6) Content Area 6 Objectives: -Students will be able to articulate the importance of kinship in human cultures -Students will articulate the differences between various kinship and descent systems -Students will articulate the characteristics of different types of marriage -Students will be able to explain how different types of marriage affect fertility Page 8 Course Name Semester Syllabus 7) Content Area 7 Objectives: -Students will identify the principles behind rites of passage and rites of intensification -Students will explain the major workings of youth gangs -Students will be able to recognize the workings of mutual aid societies -Students will be able to analyze different dimensions of the capital punishment issue 8) Content Area 8 Objectives: -Students will identify how anthropologists have studied cognition and personality -Students will explain what is meant by sociocultural system maintenance -Students will identify the workings of symbols and binary oppositions in cognition -Students will articulate different issues surrounding the notion of self 9) Content Area 9 Objectives: -Students will articulate the connections between art and religion -Students will explain the distinction between western and non-western forms of music -Students will identify the relationship between dance and mythology -Students will explain the traits of different kinds of body art and modification 10) Content Area 10 Objectives: -Students will explain mythology in terms of being a social charter -Students will identify the different kinds of magic, sainthood, and cults -Students will articulate the differences between a priest and a shaman -Students will recognize the difference between animism and animatism -Students will articulate the centrality of concepts of soul and self in human culture 11) Content Area 11 Objectives: -Students will explain the functioning of the doctrine of signatures in healing -Students will explain the role played by psychotropic plants in human culture -Students will articulate different applications of ethnobotany -Students will articulate the place of plants and animals in drug discovery 12) Content Area 12 Objectives: -Students will explain how non-westerners are increasingly guiding the direction of anthropology -Students will explain why cities are an important arena of anthropological research -Students will identify key reasons for researching the cultures of US minority groups -Students will articulate the applications of anthropology in a changing world Page 9 Course Name Semester Syllabus GRADING POLICY Graded Course Activities Final grades assigned for this course will be based on the percentage of total points earned and are assigned as follows: Component Weight Exam I 20% Exam II 30% Exam III 35% Discussion Forum 15% 100% Total A = 90-100% B = 80-89% C = 70-79% D = 60-69% F = Below 60% Late Work Policy Be sure to pay close attention to deadlines—there will be no make-up assignments or exams, or late work accepted unless there is a documented family or medical emergency and instructor approval on the day of the exam or before. Viewing Grades in Blackboard Grades you receive for graded activities will be posted to the Blackboard Grade Book. Click on the My Grades link on the left navigation panel to view your grades. Your instructor will update the online grades each time a grading session has been completed— typically two days following the completion of an activity. You will see a visual indication of new grades posted on your Blackboard home page under the link to this course. Course Policies Participation Online courses require your active participation. Here are some tips for success: In discussion forums, you learn from one another by posing questions, justifying your comments, and providing multiple perspectives. When you prepare for discussions through thoughtful reflection, you contribute to your own successful learning experience as well as to the experience of your peers. Log in to the course frequently (at least several times per week for long semesters and daily for summer sessions) and check the announcements. This will keep you apprised of any course updates, progress in discussions, assignment information, and messages requiring immediate attention. Be aware of and keep up with the Course Schedule in the Syllabus. Page 10 Course Name Semester Syllabus Build Rapport If you find that you have any trouble keeping up with assignments or other aspects of the course, make sure you let your instructor know as early as possible. As you will find, building rapport and effective relationships are key to becoming an effective professional. Make sure that you are proactive in informing your instructor when difficulties arise during the semester so that we can help you find a solution. Complete Assignments All assignments (exams) for this course will be completed electronically through Blackboard Learn. Assignments and discussions must be completed and submitted by the given deadline or special permission must be requested from instructor before the due date. Extensions will not be given beyond the next assignment except under extreme circumstances. No extra-credit or incompletes will be available in this course. Communication Skills All students must have adequate writing skills to communicate content in a professional and concise manner. Students must be writing-proficient in their Discussion Forum postings, using good, unabbreviated writing style, wording, phrasing, and language conventions. Students must use non-racist and non-sexist language, and back up what they say in their Discussion Forum contributions. Time Commitment Online courses are typically just as time intensive, and may be more rigorous than traditional courses. Many students claim that online courses require more time and commitment. As you begin this course, you would be wise to schedule 10 or more hours per week for studying materials and completing assignments. Falling behind in this course is particularly problematic because the concepts we cover are cumulative. This means that not becoming proficient with information and objectives presented and assessed in a particular week can lead to falling behind in that week as well as in later weeks. Understand When You May Drop This Course According to UTRGV policy, students may drop any class without penalty earning a grade of DR until the official drop date. Following that date, students must be assigned a letter grade and can no longer drop the class. Students considering dropping the class should be aware of the “3-peat rule” and the “6-drop” rule so they can recognize how dropped classes may affect their academic success. The 6-drop rule refers to Texas law that dictates that undergraduate students may not drop more than six courses during their undergraduate career. Courses dropped at other Texas public higher education institutions will count toward the six-course drop limit. The 3-peat rule refers to additional fees charged to students who take the same class for the third time. Incompletes will not be available in this course Page 11 Course Name Semester Syllabus Inform Your Instructor of Any Accommodations Needed STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: If you have a documented disability (physical, psychological, learning, or other disability which affects your academic performance) and would like to receive academic accommodations, please inform your instructor and contact Student Accessibility Services to schedule an appointment to initiate services. It is recommended that you schedule an appointment with Student Accessibility Services before classes start. However, accommodations can be provided at any time. Brownsville Campus: Student Accessibility Services is located in Cortez Hall Room 129 and can be contacted by phone at (956) 882-7374 (Voice) or via email at [email protected]. Edinburg Campus: Student Accessibility Services is located in 108 University Center and can be contacted by phone at (956) 665-7005 (Voice), (956) 665-3840 (Fax), or via email at [email protected]. Course Evaluations Students are required to complete an ONLINE evaluation of this course, accessed through your UTRGV account (http://my.utrgv.edu); you will be contacted through email with further instructions. Online evaluations will be available April 13 – May 14, 2016. Students who complete their evaluations will have priority access to their grades. Anthropology Program Learning Objectives This course also meets Anthropology Program goals as it teaches you to use the tools of anthropology to think and write critically about topics dealing with humankind, enables you to develop a solid base of anthropological knowledge in the area of cultural anthropology, gives you a holistic understanding of individuals and cultures that reflects the multidimensionality of human experience, shows you how to apply appropriate research methodologies to understand cultural phenomena, and demonstrates how to apply anthropological concepts and knowledge. THECB Core Student Learning Objectives ANTH 2351 also meets standards of The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for core courses within the Social and Behavioral Sciences Foundational Component Area by addressing four key core objectives concerned with (1) Critical Thinking Skills, (2) Communication Skills, (3) Empirical and Quantitative Skills, and (4) Social Responsibility. Students explore central themes of cultural anthropology such as economics, art, marriage, political organization, religion, and ethnicity; and they are exposed to diverse cultural practices within societies worldwide. Students develop critical thinking skills as they are encouraged to compare and contrast these new data, all the while incorporating what they know about their own culture; and they do this by using appropriate methodological and theoretical analyses they have learned. Students develop verbal communication skills as they articulate their ideas as part of directed in-class discussions of “hot” topics such as “race/ethnicity” or “What makes an ideal marriage partner?” Students also learn to express their ideas clearly through written work, both written assignments and shortessay examination questions that require them to synthesize diverse forms of information. Page 12 Course Name Semester Syllabus Students also learn how to properly cite their sources using the citation guidelines of the American Anthropological Association. Major cultural patterns described by anthropologists are derived from empirical studies that yielded statistically significant results. In accord with this, students are expected to master the basic empirical and quantitative skills necessary to assess and present data in varied formats. Students are also taught the basic standards of participantobservation field work. Finally, a major theme in cultural anthropology concerns how to function as a citizen of a multicultural world. Students are exposed to cultures both like and unlike their own and they are constantly comparing and contrasting ideas, behaviors, and belief systems. As a result, they develop social responsibility and come to better understand themselves, their own culture, and the place of both within our interconnected world. They also learn to identify and describe contemporary standards of human subjects research and informed consent. Sexual Harassment, Discrimination, and Violence In accordance with UT System regulations, your instructor is a “responsible employee” for reporting purposes under Title IX regulations and so must report any instance, occurring during a student’s time in college, of sexual assault, stalking, dating violence, domestic violence, or sexual harassment about which she/he becomes aware during this course through writing, discussion, or personal disclosure. More information can be found at www.utrgv.edu/equity, including confidential resources available on campus. The faculty and staff of UTRGV actively strive to provide a learning, working, and living environment that promotes personal integrity, civility, and mutual respect in an environment free from sexual misconduct and discrimination. Commit to Integrity - UTRGV Academic Honesty Policy & Procedures Scholastic Integrity: As members of a community dedicated to Honesty, Integrity and Respect, students are reminded that those who engage in scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and expulsion from the University. Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not limited to: cheating, plagiarism, and collusion; submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person; taking an examination for another person; any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student; or the attempt to commit such acts. Since scholastic dishonesty harms the individual, all students and the integrity of the University, policies on scholastic dishonesty will be strictly enforced (Board of Regents Rules and Regulations and UTRGV Academic Integrity Guidelines). All scholastic dishonesty incidents will be reported to the Dean of Students. Definitions At UTRGV, Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, collusion, the submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person, taking an examination for another person, any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student or the attempt to commit such acts. “Plagiarism is a form of cheating. At UTRGV, “plagiarism is the appropriation, buying, receiving as a gift, or obtaining by any means another's work and the unacknowledged submission or incorporation of it in one's own academic work offered for credit..” Page 13 Course Name Semester Syllabus Source: UTPA Handbook of Operating Procedures Important Note: Any form of academic dishonesty, including cheating and plagiarism, may be reported to the Dean of Students. Course policies are subject to change. It is the student’s responsibility to check Blackboard for corrections or updates to the syllabus. Any changes will be posted in Blackboard. Page 14