Anthropology 304: (Section304:51, Schedule 10201)

-Anthropology 304: (Section304: 51, Schedule 10926)
Summer 2013
ANTH 304: Traditional Cultures of the World
Instructor: Professor Joseph Nevadomsky
Department of Anthropology: MH-426
E-mail: [email protected] (This is the preferred method
of contact, and all e-mails will be answered within 24 hours. (All emails to me must have the
Course Name AND Section Number in the Subject line and signed with your real name, or they
will not be read.
Office Hours: Monday 9-12. Room: MH426F or by appointment
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This course satisfies C.3.b and Z* GE categories
A description of how this coure meets the GE learning goals is posted on Titanium
Course Description
This course offers a summary of various cultural traditions in North and South America, Asia,
Southeast Asia, the South Pacific, Australia, the Middle East, and Africa. The emphasis is on those
societies anthropologists refer to as hunting and gathering, pastoralist herders, horticultural, and
agricultural societies. Using synopses from ethnographies written by anthropologists, the course
examines some of the amazingly diverse ways invented by people to successfully survive in various
environments from rain forests to deserts, from sea level island societies to cultures that thrive in
alpine landscapes. Although subsistence methods and ecology are an important part of the course,
also covered are the kinds of social behavior, social institution, rituals and religion that are associated
with economic behavior. Material on social change, globalization, nationalism, migration, and the
environment, is also included.
In addition to the textbook, a number of films and film clips have been made available as
supplementary reference material (see Appendix). Even though you will not be tested directly on the
contents of these films, you are strongly encouraged to view as many of them as possible to help with
your understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity. (See Course Requirements.)
Required Text
Culture Sketches: Case Studies in Anthropology, 6th Edition, (2011). Holly Peters-Golden is the
author and McGraw-Hill is the publisher. This edition includes new materials on global issues such as
how societies cope with earthquakes, AIDS and environmental events of contemporary importance and
concern.
Prerequisite
Any lower division anthropology course; or a course in GE categories III B-2 or B-3, or III C-1 or C-2;
or permission of the instructor (granted in advance).
How to Use This Text
The textbook for the course was chosen, not just for its content but also for its lucid style and
organization. Professors and students asked to evaluate this book have commented on its readability
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and thoroughness. To get the most out of it in preparation for a test, it is best to read each chapter at
least twice: the first time for general information about the subject culture, and the second time to take
notes. During the first reading, you bring your curiosity to discover the basic facts about the cultures
in question, their geographical location, their relative size, their worldviews, cultural practices, beliefs
and life styles, etc. Then in your second reading, you take brief notes about their terminologies,
concepts, and the unique features of the group to serve as reference later when reviewing for the test,
refresh your mind about each group by going over your notes. The last thing you want to do is to
waste time flipping through the textbook in search for answers to specific questions. This not only
creates distraction and pressure, but it also leads to panic as the time rolls by.
Learning Goals for Anth 304 as a General Education (GE) Course
This course satisfies the requirements for GE Category III.B.3 [Implications, Exploration, and
Participatory Experience in the Arts and Humanities] and Category V [Cultural Diversity].
Course Learning Goals
As you complete this course, you should:
• Understand broad, unifying themes in the social sciences from cross-disciplinary perspectives
• Solve complex problems that require social scientific reasoning; improve critical thinking skills
• To relate the social sciences to significant social problems or to other related disciplines
• Acquire an understanding of the traditional life ways of various cultural groups worldwide
• Consider how the constraints of climate and environment contribute to shaping culture
• Learn how societies adapt culturally to environmental, political and social change
• Gain an appreciation for both the differences and similarities in the human experience
Course Requirements
There are THREE OBJECTIVE TESTS (multiple choice, matching, true-false) that will be given at the
designated times in the CLASS SCHEDULE Section of this syllabus. It is your responsibility to note
the period during which each test will be available in Titanium. Please read the assigned chapters. The
first two tests are worth 100 points each, and each is pre-timed for 50 minutes with 50 questions per
test. The third test has 20 questions, for a total of 40 points. The allotted time for test #3 is 25 minutes.
Please be sure you are familiar with the Titanium testing procedure and environment.
Summary of Requirements and Grading Scale :
Total Possible: 240 points
A=
94-100%
A- = 90-93%
B+ = 87-89%
B=
84-86%
B- = 80-83%
C+ = 77-79%
C=
74-76%
C- = 70-73%
D+=
67-69%
D=
64-66%
D- = 60-63%
F=
59 and below
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Test Questions
The student should understand that the questions are designed to test
comprehensive knowledge of the information provided in the textbook. No
questions are designed as trick questions; instead, the use of various question
formats (such as, Multiple Choice, Fill-in-the-Blank and True/False) is designed to
allow students with different learning experiences a fair and reasonable chance to
do well in the course. This is especially true of a GE course where students from
diverse disciplines are enrolled.
One of the things to note is that, with multiple choice questions, it is always
important to understand that even though it may often be possible to make a case
for more than one of the four options usually provided, there is always one that is
the most appropriate in the context of the question, and therefore the correct one.
There is usually a process of elimination involved, and if you’ve read the text
carefully, it is usually quite easy to eliminate the wrong answers. Another thing
you want to watch out for is questions with a negative qualifier in their phrasing.
For example, in the question below:
Which of the following US states is not part of the North American mainland?
Select one:
a. Texas
b. Hawaii
c. Alaska
d. California
Your choice of (a), (c) or (d) would suggest that either you overlooked the negative
in the question, or your geography of the US is weak.
Like a DMV test, or any institutional measurement, the aim is a testing of the
knowledge about the subject or text, and not a reflection of actual skills. In a sense,
such tests are also meant to train students for test environments in American
society. Most of the questions have been pretested and evaluated.
Other Information and Policies
Makeup Exams: NONE.
Assignments: Assignments are due as scheduled. Note that once a test is accessed it must be
completed in the allotted time during that session. THERE WILL BE NO SECOND CHANCES.
Make sure you are familiar with TITANIUM testing procedures.
TO TEST TAKERS:
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1.) For any technical difficulties please contact the Help Desk and its technical
support staff for assistance.
2.) For any computer or exam errors that are my fault, I will rectify and make
suitable adjustments.
3.) Each test is made available at specified times in a three calendar day period
during which you are expected to choose the time most convenient for you to access
it and take it within the allotted time. Failure to take the test during the
availability period in the scheduled three days, FOR ANY REASON, will result in
a zero score for that test, and this is non-negotiable.
4.) Each test is programmed to enforce ONE ATTEMPT only. This means that
once you access a test, you must complete it and submit your answers at that
session before leaving the test environment. Remember, NO SECOND
CHANCES!
5.) If you leave a test session without properly submitting your answers, not only
may your answers not be saved, but you will also be permanently locked out of the
test environment. If this happened for VERIFIABLE technical reasons (such as
power failure, official shutdown of access, etc.) you may be given a second chance
to re-take the test, BUT you may be limited to a 70% maximum score for the test.
6.) If you are not familiar with the test environment in Titanium, you’d be advised
to take the test early in the availability period, rather than waiting till the last hour
of the last day. That way, if you run into any technical difficulties, you will have
ample time to get help from the Help Desk before it’s too late.
7.) There are no extra options such as extra-credit, or late make-ups.
8.) There are no reminders of test dates or times. The dates and times are those
listed on the syllabus, and in the Test Announcement in Titanium. Test-takers have
the responsibility to know and remember those dates.
9.) Grades are not curved.
Please note that the responsibility for your passing the course is entirely yours.
The rules and guidelines applicable to tests and grading above, and as spelled out
in the introductory instructions to each test in the Titanium , are quite explicit.
You are strongly advised to familiarize yourself with them. They apply across
board and cannot be waived or modified arbitrarily or on individual basis.
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Academic Misconduct:
Please consult the Student Handbook for University policies on academic misconduct. Examples
include cheating on tests, or plagiarism [representing someone else’s work (including information from
the internet) as your own, without acknowledgment]. Cheating and/or plagiarism will not be tolerated.
Violations will result in a failing grade for the assignment, or exam, and potentially a failing grade for
the course. The Dean of Students Office, Judicial Affairs, has produced a guide on how to avoid
plagiarism, which can be accessed at
http://www.fullerton.edu/deanofstudents/judicial/Plagiarism.htm.
Other Helpful Links
Academic Calendar: http://www.fullerton.edu/academiccalendar/
CSUF Policies on Academic Integrity: (see UPS 300.021)
Information about students’ rights to accommodations for documented special needs via the Disabled
Student Services Office, UH 101 (657) 278-3117 or as documented at www.fullerton.edu/disabled
services/
Use of Titanium and Computer
This course is offered as a WEB class, accessed through TITANIUM, a web-based application made
available by the university. All course-related materials, such as syllabus, reading, exams, visual
materials, grades and other resources are accessed in Titanium. The use of a computer and access to
the Internet are required to participate. In addition you will need to be familiar with the terminology
and online environment you will be working in and have the technical skills to function effectively in
an online course. If you need help in any of these areas, go to http://distance-ed.fullerton.edu/bb/
To access the Titanium system, do the following steps:
1. Go to your student portal page at http://my.fullerton.edu
2. Select the Titanium tab and login to the course
If you have any problems getting access to Titanium, please contact Help Desk at (714) 278-7777, or
http://www.fullerton.edu/helpdesk. Do not contact me or the Anthropology Department. Students are
responsible for accessing Titanium and for the technical know how needed to operate in that environment.
Online Etiquette: Please go to http://nursing.wsu.edu/current/netiquette.pdf.
Use of Email in Online Course:
•
Please make sure that the e-mail address listed for you on Titanium is the one you use and check
regularly. All CSUF students receive a student e-mail address, but you may have it changed to
another one you prefer to use (e.g. aol.com or gmail); remember that it is your responsibility to
arrange this. Receiving email for this class is YOUR responsibility, and it is YOUR responsibility
to verify your correct e-mail address.
•
All emails to me must have the Course Name AND Section Number in the Subject line and signed with
your real name, or they will not be read.
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CLASS SCHEDULE
WEEK 1: July 8 – July 13
Introduction and overview: Anthropology and culture, basic terms and concepts;
subsistence strategies, cultural adaptations to diverse environments, how environment influences
culture.
Read:
Chapter 10: The Ojibwa: “The People” Endure
Chapter 5: The Hmong: Struggle and Perseverance
___________________________________________________________________
WEEK 2: July 15 – July 20
The Roma in Europe; Haiti and its history, present and future; the Aztecs and who they were and are
today. Emphasis is on social change and both historical and contemporary cultures.
Read:
Chapter 11: The Roma: Romanipe, Rights, and the Road Ahead
Chapter 2: The Aztecs: Ancient Legacy, Modern Pride
Chapter 4: Haiti: A Nation in Turmoil
ONLINE TEST: Available from 7:00 a.m, July 18. – 11:00 p.m., July 20
_____________________________________________________________
WEEK 3: July 22 – July 27
The African continent, geography and ecological zones; European colonialism and its influence on
modern Africa; hunting and gathering among the Tiwi of Australia; hunting and gathering in the
Kalahari Desert among the Ju/’hoansi.
Read:
Chapter 6: The Ju/’hoansi: Reciprocity and Sharing
Chapter 13: The Tiwi: Tradition in Australia
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_________________________________________________________________________________
WEEK 4: July 29 – August 3
Horticulture in Sudan (Azande); pastoralists in the eastern plains (Nuer); the Mideast and its historical
and ecological background (Basseri).
Read:
Chapter 1: The Azande: Witchcraft and Oracles in Africa
Chapter 9: The Nuer: Cattle and Kinship in Sudan
Chapter 3: The Basseri: Pastoral Nomads on the il-Rah
ONLINE TEST: Available from 7:00 a.m., Aug 1 – 11:00 p.m., Aug 3
_____________________________________________________________
WEEK 5: August 5 – Aug 10
Selected Indonesian (Minangkabau) and South Pacific cultures (Trobriand Islands).
Read:
Chapter 8: The Minangkabau: Matriliny and Merantau
Chapter 14: The Trobriand Islanders: The Power of Exchange
ONLINE TEST: Available from 7:00 a.m., Aug 8 – 11:00 p.m., Aug 10
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Appendix
Supplementary Films and Film Clips:
(Please note that, to run any of these films online, you need to hold down the Ctrl key as you click on
the link).
A: Introductory Anthropology:
Guns, Germs, and Steel: Conquest
http://distance-ed.fullerton.edu/bbpresentations/misc/GGS_conquest/player.html
Guns, Germs, and Steel: Into the Tropics
http://distance-ed.fullerton.edu/bbpresentations/misc/GGS_into_the_tropics/player.html
Guns, Germs, and Steel: Out of Eden
http://distance-ed.fullerton.edu/bbpresentations/misc/GGS_out_of_eden/player.html
How Beliefs Define Culture
http://distance-ed.fullerton.edu/bbpresentations/misc/how_beliefs_define_culture/player.html
Humans_who_are_we
http://distance-ed.fullerton.edu/bbpresentations/john_mcdermott/humans_who_are_we/player.html
Understanding race
http://distance-ed.fullerton.edu/bbpresentations/john_mcdermott/understanding_race/player.html
Kinship and Descent
http://distance-ed.fullerton.edu/bbpresentations/john_mcdermott/kinship_and_descent/player.html
How to Behave
http://distance-ed.fullerton.edu/bbpresentations/Linda/how_to_behave/player.html
"PATTERNS OF SUBSISTENCE: FORAGERS & PASTORALISTS" (Faces of Culture Series
#207); 25 min.
Patterns of Subsistence:
http://distance-ed.fullerton.edu/bbpresentations/Linda/Patterns%20of%20Subsistence/player.html
"THE FOOD PRODUCERS: HORTICULTURE & AGRICULTURE" (Faces of Culture Series #208);
25 min.
http://distance-ed.fullerton.edu/bbpresentations/Linda/Food%20Producers/player.html
ECONOMIC ANTHROPOLOGY (Faces of Culture Series #211); approx. 25 min.
http://distance-ed.fullerton.edu/bbpresentations/Linda/Economic%20Anthropology/player.html
ECONOMICS & POLITICS (approx. 3 min):
http://distance-ed.fullerton.edu/bbpresentations/Linda/economic_and_political/player.html
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B: South East Asia:
House of Spirit: Perspectives on Cambodian Health Cure
http://distance-ed.fullerton.edu/bbpresentations/Linda/house_of_spirit/player.html
The Split Horn:
http://distance-ed.fullerton.edu/bbpresentations/john_mcdermott/Split%20Horn/player.html
C: The Kalahari Desert:
Bitter Melons
http://distance-ed.fullerton.edu/bbpresentations/Linda/bitter_melons/player.html
D: Papua New Guinea:
E: The South Pacific:
Releasing the Spirits: A Village Cremation in Bali http://distanceed.fullerton.edu/bbpresentations/Linda/releasing_the_spirits/player.html
The Goddess and the Computer
http://distance-ed.fullerton.edu/bbpresentations/Linda/goddess_and_the_computer/player.html
F: The Nuer:
The Nuer
http://distance-ed.fullerton.edu/bbpresentations/Linda/the_nuer/player.html
G: Papua New Guinea:
Trobriand Cricket: An Ingenious Response to Colonialism http://distanceed.fullerton.edu/bbpresentations/Linda/trobriand_cricket/player.html
Dani Sweet Potatoes
http://distance-ed.fullerton.edu/bbpresentations/Linda/dani_sweet_potatoes/player.html
PALM GRUBS AND JUNGLE EDIBLES; about 5 min.:
http://distanceed.fullerton.edu/bbpresentations/Linda/Palm%20Grubs%20Jungle%20Edibles/player.ht
ml
Harvesting Sago 1
http://distance-ed.fullerton.edu/bbpresentations/Linda/Harvesting_Sago1/player.html
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Harvesting Sago 2
http://distance-ed.fullerton.edu/bbpresentations/Linda/Harvesting_Sago2/player.html
Harvesting Sago 3
http://distance-ed.fullerton.edu/bbpresentations/Linda/Harvesting_Sago3/player.html
H: The Yanomamo
The Ax Fight
http://distance-ed.fullerton.edu/bbpresentations/Linda/the_axfight/player.html
A Man Called Bee
http://distance-ed.fullerton.edu/bbpresentations/Linda/a_man_called_bee/player.html
The Feast
http://distance-ed.fullerton.edu/bbpresentations/Linda/the_feast/player.html