CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY Prof. Abigail E. Adams, 832-2616
Spring 1997 VAX Username: Adamsa
Webpage: http://wwwas.ccsu.ctstateu.edu/depts/anth/faculty/adamsa/
Anthropology
140: INTRODUCTION TO ANTHROPOLOGY
Class Meetings: MWF 10 to 10:50 a.m. Place: FD 001
Office Hours: MW 2-5, 110E DiLoreto Hall
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course introduces the student to the major perspectives and methods of anthropology which guide our understanding of cross-cultural diversity and universals. We will cover the major fields of the discipline (physical, socio-cultural, archaeological and linguistic anthropology). We also focus on cultures of the Americas: Native Americans such as Amazonian peoples, the Papago of southwest North America, the Yahi of California--and ourselves. Topics include the methods and principles of anthropology; the origins of humankind; and cultures at home and abroad. We will explore different patterns of kinship, marriage, family, livelihood and power. How does the diversity of these patterns call us to question assumptions about the "nature" of humankind? About our future? About the global in the local? About power, progress--and inequality?
Course Goals:
a) an understanding of the basic principles, methods and findings of the four fields;
b) a taste of some cutting edge issues in physical and socio-cultural anthropology;
c) an understanding of the CULTURE concept(s);
d) a firm grasp of the scientific principles of human evolution; the ability to confront unscientific "evolutionist" or "racist" ideas concerning human diversity.
Class Format: As anthropologists, we answer these questions by researching the richness and variety of human experience over time and space, and the processes and institutions that connect the different peoples of the world. For this course, we rely on the material presented in the lectures, the two required texts and supplemental readings, slides, videos, and the students' experience.
About Your Professor: Growing up three miles from the Smithsonian's national museums, I found my first loves in dinosaurs and whales; the dusty bones, stones and pots in the anthropology exhibits were boring! Well, anthropology, museums and I have all changed. Anthropology has enabled me to work as a journalist in Central America, as a human rights lobbyist on Capitol Hill, and as a professor in the United States.
In graduate school, I returned to Guatemala and I continue research on relations between North and Central Americans, Mayan religion, gender, ethnicity and reconstruction from violence. Through research and teaching, I have met Mayan shamans, spirit mediums and revolutionaries, U.S. military academy students, Native Americans rebuilding their heritage.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Texts
Kottak, Conrad
1997 Anthropology: The Exploration of Human Diversity. 7th
ed. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Underhill, Ruth M.
1979 Papago Woman. Prospect Heights, Ill: Waveland Press.
Readings in the Reserve Room of Burritt Library:
Basso, selections Portraits of "the Whiteman", 3-33,45-56
Gmelch, "Lessons from the Field"
Lee, "Christmas in the Kalahari"
Selected Readings on Race
Evaluated Work and Grading
1) Course Exercises, Reading, and Attendance: 25%
Regular attendance and punctuality are important for the success of the class and the student. As much of the course material will be presented in lecture, attendance is critical. Whether or not you attend the session, you will be responsible for the material presented in class, and I will not reteach class during office hours. You are responsible for obtaining a VAX account and for informing me of your username.
You are responsible for doing the reading before each class; beware of pop quizzes... I have set the reading load at an average 50-60 pages per week. The exercises are designed to help you work through and understand course concepts before the examinations. Some exercises will be completed in class, while others (indicated on syllabus) are completed outside of lecture. The midterm overviews are also for credit! These exercises will be evaluated on a High Pass/Pass/Fail basis. Failure to hand the exercise in on time will earn a Fail; handing the exercise in on time earns a Pass; demonstrating competence with the concept earns a High Pass. Passes will not hurt your final grade; High Passes will help your final grade. I am happy to check any exercise handed in late--to confirm for the student their understanding of the concept.
2) Examinations: 75%
There will be three examinations, as indicated on the class schedule: two midterms and the final examination. Each are 25% of your grade. The examinations consist of multiple choice and true/false questions drawn from lecture, media, readings and discussion. There will be NO MAKEUP exams given, unless the professor is informed well in advance of an unavoidable reason for missing the exam. All reasons must be officially documented. The make-up will take place within one week of the missed exam, and will be more difficult.
NOTE! Final Exam Schedule: Monday, May 19, 8:00 - 10:00 a.m.
3) Grading Criteria: I grade the written or diagramed homework assignments as follows:
a) The exercise is handed in on time: in class and on due date
b) The exercise demonstrates clarity of communication: correct grammar, punctuation, spelling and sentence structure. Assignment has been proofread and corrected for typos.
c) The writing is responsive to the assignment: instructions were followed, including format and length.
d) The level of thinking demonstrates: an understanding of course concepts; that facts have been distinguished from opinion; that the concepts are applied creatively or originally.
Grading Systems:
A: 100-95% D+: 69.9-67%
A-: 94.9-90% D: 66.9-63%
B+: 89.9-87% D-: 62.9-60%
B: 86.9-83% Fail: 59.9% and lower
B-: 82.9-80%
C+: 79.9-77%
C: 76.9-73%
C-: 72.9-70%
4) Incomplete Grades: I allow incomplete grades for students who have completed all work for the first half of the course, who have a legitimate and documented reason for not completing the semester's work and who speak with me before the final class.
Class Schedule: Topics and Readings
Part 1: Introduction to the Discipline, the Four Fields, and Methods
Jan 27: Introduction to Course
Jan 29: The Discipline: What is Anthropology?
Reading: Kottak, Chapter 1
Exercise: Introduction to the Four Fields in Professional Journals: due Feb 5.
Jan 31- Feb. 5: The Culture Concept
Reading: Kottak, Chapters 3, 18
Feb. 3: Movie: "Ishi"
Feb.7- 21: Research Methods
Reading: Kottak, Chapter 2
Underhill, pages vii to 27
Reserve: Gmelch, "Lessons from the Field"
Lee, "Christmas in the Kalahari"
Feb.10: Movie: "Other Peoples' Garbage"
Feb. 19: Movie: "Anthropologists at Work"
Exercise: Cultural Relativity, Reflexivity and Ethnocentrism: due Feb 21
Part 2: Language, Power and the Other
Feb. 24-28: Reading: Kottak, Chapter 19
Underhill, pages 28 to 41
Reserve: Basso, selections Portraits of "the Whiteman", 3-33,45-56
Exercise: Communicative Competence and the Other: due Feb 28
Mar. 3: Overview for Midterm
Mar 5: First Midterm
Part 3: Human Variation Over Time: Origins, Evolution and Diversity
Mar 7-14: Human Difference: Evolutionary Thought and the Darwinian Revolution
Reading: Kottak, Chapter 6
Mar 17-31: Hominid Evolution: From Lucy to Homo Sapiens
Reading: Kottak, Chapters 7 (SKIM!), 8
Mar 17 Movie: Life in the Trees
Exercise: Derived and Primitive Features: Due Mar 21
Mar 21: In-class evaluation for professor
Mar 19: Movie: "Mysteries of Mankind"
Exercise: Fossil Detective Story: Due Mar 31
Apr 2-7: The Emergence of Modern Humans and of Culture
Reading: Kottak, Chapters 9, 10
Apr 9-11: Evolution--and "Evolutionisms"--Today
Reading: Kottak, Chapter 4, 5
Reserve: Selected Readings
Exercise: Race and Progress: Due Apr 11
Apr 14: Overview for Midterm
Apr 16: Second Midterm
Part 4: Human Variation Across Space
Apr 18: Bafa Bafa in-class cultural simulation
Apr 21- 30: Making Ends Meet: Exchange and Production Across the Globe
Reading: Kottak, Chapters 11, 20, 22, 23
Apr 25: Movie: "The Kayapo"
Exercise: Case Studies in Exchange: Due Apr 28
May 2- 7: Kinship, Marriage and Kinship-based Societies
Reading: Kottak, Chapters 16, 17
Underhill, pages 41- 86
Exercise: Diagraming Kinship: Due May 7
May 9: Papago Woman!
Exercise: Developing Discussion Questions: Due May 9
May 12: Overview/evaluation
Final Exam Schedule: Monday, May 19, 8:00 - 10:00 a.m.