VARIETIES OF WORLD CULTURE
Fall Semester, 2007
MWF 2:00-2:50
WH 215
Dr.Karen Dalke
Cofrin Hall B-307
Office Hours: By Appointment
DALKEK@UWGB.EDU
This class is an introduction to anthropology as an intellectual field of
study. The course will acquaint you with basic concepts and theoretical
approaches anthropologists use to examine culture. We cover a wide range of
topics, and I hope that you will find this material to be exciting and
interesting. It will also challenge many of the things that you
"learned" in high school and many assumptions that we hold about
culture--that is one of the purposes of your college education. Feel free to
question these things.
Course Texts: Cultural Anthropology (12th edition) Conrad Phillip Kottak
Course Objectives
Study the origin and development of anthropology as a distinct discipline
within the social
sciences
Identify important figures in anthropology and understand their contributions
to anthropology and the social sciences more generally
Learn important anthropological concepts
Identify major theoretical approaches in the
field and how they have evolved over time
Apply concepts of anthropology to current world events in an attempt to better
understand the world around us
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Grading and Course Requirements
The emphasis of this course will be on knowing the reading material and the ability to discuss and apply it during class. The expectation is that you will be prepared for class and can be called on at any time to participate.Your final grade for the class will be determined by your scores on three exams and ten (10 point quizzes). There will be random in-class activities, which cannot be made up, and will be added to your final grade in the class. If you are not in class on the day of the activity, you will not receive any points.
Three exam grades: 150 points (50 points each)
Best 10 Quiz Scores: 100 points
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A 230-250 |
C 170-194 |
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A/B 223-229 |
D 150-169 |
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B 205-222 |
F 0-149 |
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B/C 195-204 |
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Exams
General exam dates are shown on the syllabus. I will announce in class
and on D2L the exact date of an exam about two weeks in advance. If you are
unable to take the exam on that particular day, you need to contact me in
advance. If you do not contact me in advance and you do not take the exam on
the given date, you will receive a zero. There are no make-up exams.
Attendance
Attendance will be determined by participation in the activities discussed above. Participation in each of the activities will provide you with up to 10 additional bonus points.
Course Syllabus
The following is a list of weekly reading assignments and discussion topics for
the course. You are responsible for completing each reading assignment
before coming to class. This is important so that we can have active
involvement in classes.
What is Anthropology?
Sept 5 Chapter 1: What is Anthropology?
(Boas)
Sept 12 Chapter 2: Applying Anthropology
What is Culture?
Sept 19 Chapter 3: Culture
Nanetsi Samoyeds
Sept 26
Ethics & Methods in Anthropology
Oct 3 Chapter 6: Language and Communication
Film (Washoe)
EXAM I
Gender, Marriage, & Kinship
Oct 10 Chapter 11: Sex and Gender
Film (Hijras)
Oct
17 Chapter 10: Marriage
Film (Moso)
Oct
24 Marriage & Family Continued
Oct 31
Chapter 9: Families, Kinship, and Descent
Film (DF)
Nov 7 Chapter 12: Religion
Film (Me and the Mosque)
EXAM II
The Changing World
Nov 14 Chapter 7: Making A Living
Nov 21 Chapter 14: The Modern World System
Nov 28 Chapter 15: Colonialism and Development
Life & Debt
Dec 5 Chapter
16: Cultural Exchange & Survival
Supersize Me
Dec 14 Last day of classes, discussion,
and
conclusions
FINAL EXAM Monday, May 14th 10:30-12:30pm
I reserve the right to change the syllabus at any time and will inform
you in class and via D2L.
Expectations for Student Performance
As a college student attending a four-year liberal arts college in the
University of Wisconsin system, you have the right to expect that your
instructors will come to each class on or before the scheduled meeting time;
that she or he will have selected appropriate course materials and will have
made that material available in a timely manner; that he or she will have
prepared materials based on that day's reading assignment; and that she or he
will return your written assignments, exams, and other work by the date
specified in class (no more than two weeks after the assignments have been
turned in). If your expectations for any course are not met, you should discuss
the situation with the chair of the appropriate academic program. Similarly,
UWGB faculty has expectations for students enrolled in each of their courses.
My expectations for student performance in this class are as follows:
1. Students will attend all classes as scheduled. It is the responsibility of
the student to notify the instructor of any absences before any classes are
missed. Note that
2. Students will arrive for class on or before the scheduled meeting time. The
class period goes for a full 50-minute time period. Students will not pack up
their materials, put on their coats, and begin to leave the classroom, etc.,
until the end of the scheduled class period. In the rare circumstance when the
course material requires the instructor to run over the 50-minute class period,
students will not leave their seats, pack up their materials, etc., until the
instructor has finished the class discussion for the day.
3. Students will come to each class prepared to discuss the material assigned
for that day. This means that you should complete all reading assignments
before the scheduled class period, take the appropriate notes on the reading
material, and that you should able to contribute to a knowledgeable discussion
of the course material.
4. If you are unable to take an examination at the regularly scheduled time,
you must make arrangements prior to the scheduled class period.
5. Plagiarism and cheating will be treated as academic misconduct, under the
UWGB student code of ethics. Plagiarism and/or cheating is
an offense that may result in receiving a grade of F for the specific assignment
and/or for the course. Plagiarism and/or cheating in this or any other course
could potentially result in dismissal from the university.
6. Please silence all cell phones and pagers during class. If you need to
respond to a call, please do so outside of the classroom.