Political, Economic, & Environmental Anthropology

Anthropology 303

Spring 2007

Dr. Karen Dalke

Office Hours T, Th 12:30-1:30pm

 I reserve the right to change the syllabus at any time and will inform you in class and via D2L.

 This course focuses on the complex relations between people and their environment. Ecological anthropology looks at the ways a population impacts the environment and how these relations impact the social, economic, and political life of a culture. The topics covered in this class are particularly relevant in an era bombarded with concerns about environmental degradation.

 Course Texts:

 Haenn, Nora and Richard R. Wilk (2006) Eds. The Environment in Anthropology

Moran, Emilio F. (2006) People and Nature 

Franklin, Adrian (1999) Animals and Modern Cultures 

Course Objectives:

*       Discuss the relationship between culture and nature from an anthropological perspective.

            Explore human/environmental interactions historically and theoretically.

            Explore current relations between humans and their environment.

 Grading and Course Requirements

Your final grade for the class will be determined by your scores on two exams, one project, and five in-class activities. The in-class activities cannot be made up. If you are not in class on the day of the activity, you will receive a zero. 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.

Two exam grades: 100 points
One project grade: 100 points
In-class activities:    50 points

A 230-250

C 170-194

A/B 223-229

D 150-169

B 205-222

F      0-149

B/C 195-204

 

Exams

Approximate exam dates are shown on the syllabus. These will be take home exams, which will be completed and submitted through D2L .I will announce exact exam dates approximately two weeks in advance. There are no make-up exams.

Papers will be created in Microsoft Word, double-spaced, with one-inch margins, and edited for mistakes. Read your paper once you have written it to identify mistakes overlooked by the spelling and grammar check tools on your computer. The exam must be in the drop box by the assigned time.  Always keep a hard copy of your paper and article in case something goes wrong with D2L.

The exam will be in the general narrative format and should include an introduction, a discussion, and a conclusion. Your introduction should provide a framework for what will be discussed in the main body of your paper. A concise thesis statement tells the reader quickly what is ahead. The body of your paper will discuss a particular concept from the assigned chapter and how it applies to an article that you found in a local, national, or on-line newspaper. The conclusion of your paper will reiterate what you said you were going to discuss and emphasize important findings.


I will grade your exams based on completeness and thoughtfulness. I am interested in seeing how you integrate materials and apply concepts from class. Any summaries that are copied from some other source will receive a zero.

Attendance

Attendance will be gauged by participation in class activities. These in-class activities will make up 50 pts of your grade. These points cannot be made up. If you are not in class on the assigned day and have not contacted me for a legitimate absence, you will lose the points.


Class Projects

At the beginning of the semester we will create teams of two. Once your team is created, you will need to choose a topic related to environmental anthropology. Perhaps you are interested in a particular area of the world or a certain issue. At the end of the semester, you will present your topic of study to the class.

Reading Schedule

Jan 16 -18                   Getting Started

                                    Introduction to Class/ What is Nature? What is Culture?

                                    Haenn & Wilk: Chapter 7

Jan 23                          Film: Is God Green?

Jan 25                           Presentation Dr. Emily Frank

Jan 30                           Presentation Dr. John Mazzeo

Feb 1                            Presentation Dr. Eric Stein

Feb 6 & 8                    Library Presentation

Feb 13 & 15                Haenn & Wilk: Chapters 3 & 4

                                    Haenn & Wilk: Chapters 5 & 6

Feb 20 & 22                Humans and the State of the Earth: Past, Present, & Future

                                    Moran: Chapters 1 & 2

                                    Moran: Chapters 3 & 4

Feb 27 & Mar 1   Population

                                    Haenn & Wilk: Chapter 9

                                    Moran: Chapters 5 & 6

Mar  6 & 8                     Resources & Consumption

                                    Haenn & Wilk: Chapter 18 / Moran: Chapter 7

                                    Haenn & Wilk: Chapter 19/ Moran: Chapter 8

 Mar 10 -18                  SPRING BREAK  

Mar 20 & 22       Managing the Environment

                                    Haenn & Wilk: Chapter 28

                                    Haenn & Wilk: Chapter 30          

Mar 27 & 29                Animals & Modern Cultures

                                    Franklin: Chapters 2 & 3

                                    Wild Horse Controversy

Apr 3 & 5                    Franklin: Chapters 4 & 5

                                    Franklin: Chapters  6 & 7

Apr 10 & 12                   Presentations                               

Apr 17 & 19                   Presentations

Apr 24 & 26                   Presentations

May 10                        Final Exam  10:30 am-12:30pm

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 have 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 UW-Green Bay academic policy, as stated in the Student Handbook, allows a maximum of two missed classes each semester. There should be no unexcused absences from this or any other class. You will be expected to have read the chapter assigned and prepare an outline of the article and questions for each class. A handout to facilitate this process will be handed out in class.

2. Students will arrive for class on or before the scheduled meeting time. The class period goes for a full 70-minute time period. Students will not pack up their materials, put on their coats, 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 70-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.