CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY SYLLABUS Instructor: Michael Blood
Anth 120 - 3136 Grossmont College Phone: (619) 286-4837
Spring '08 Tu/Thur 3:30 To 4:45 PM <mlblood@cox.net>
Room 544A Jan 29 through May 27
TEXT: (Required): Culture Anthropology by William Haviland, (Latest Ed. preferred)
(Optional): Study Guide for same
COURSE DESCRIPTION: The nature of culture; cultural growth & history; a survey of the range of cultural
phenomena, including material culture, social organization, kinship systems, religion, language & other topics.
Systematic study of similarities & differences among cultures through investigation of selected preliterate societies.
COURSE SCHEDULE: For the purpose of lectures, exam preparation and the coordination of reading assignments the course is divided into four sections. In addition to the reading, a one to two page paper will be required as well as 4 take home exams and one kindred chart.
NOTE: the following day by day brake down of information will "ebb & flow" (not always occur on the EXACT day listed
due to questions, class discussions, videos, illness, etc) but will be the basic chronological order of lecture topics, so,
if you miss a given day, you can see what information it is you missed. You are strongly encouraged to get copies of notes
on same from your fellow students) NOTE: Dates of exams may be changed. If so, there will be a minimum of 2 class
sessions warning in advance.
SECTION 1: REQUIRED READING: Ch 1,2 & 3 Introduction, History of Anthropology, Man as a Primate
ARTICLE at the following web site:
http://seamonkey.ed.asu.edu/%7Emcisaac/emc598ge/Unpacking.html
TUE Introduction to Anthropology, Culture vs Society, Ethnocentrism/Cultural Relativism, the 4
Jan 29 divisions of the discipline: Physical, Cultural, Archaeology & Linguistics. Understanding the significance of each branch. Syllabus Review
THUR History & particulars of Archaeology, Dating Methods, Relative & Absolute, examples, Linguistics,
Jan 31 types, The Whorfian Hypothesis,
TUE Ethnology/Ethnography. The History of Anthropology, Herodotus, Marko Polo, Bernardino Sahagun,
Feb 5 Malthus, Charles Darwin, Natural Selection & Survival of Fittest,
Arch Bishop Usher & Lightfoot, The significance of time.
THURS The Cultural Evolutionists, Morgan to Marx, Modern Anthropology: Franz Boaz, Mead & Benedict,
Feb 7 Radcliff-Brown, Malinowski, the Neoevolutionists: White. Characteristics of Anthropology: Wholism,
Relativism, Comparison/Contrast & Synthesis. The Scientific Method, Paradigms
FRI Feb 8 (NO CLASS) Last day to Register or to drop without a "W" / Last day for refund
TUE Linnaeus & Taxon of life, human place Mammals: Monotremes, Marsupials & Placentals, The Order
Feb 12 Primates. Review of Culture, Ideal Beh, Reported Beh, Observed Beh, Participant Observation.
THURS Video: How Cultures are Studied - Shagnon. Video Discussion.
Feb 14 Roles of women in cultural studies, Mead & the Feminist movement, Cultural Adaptation,
TUE Cultural Change, environment, values & outside influences, Frank's primary relationship
Feb 19 Theory, Humans as Primates, Aspects of the order Primates, Hominids & Early human evolution
SECTION 2: REQUIRED READING: Ch 4,5,6 & 7 Language, Culture & Personality, Subsistence Patterns, Economics
THURS Culture as adaptation & Language dependence, Signal vs Symbol, Descriptive, Historical &
Feb 21 Ethno Linguistics
TEST 1 PREP: JEOPARDY
TUE TEST / TEST 1 TAKE HOME DUE
Feb 26
THURS Phonetics, Phonemes, Morphemes, Bound & Free, Allomorphs, Syntax, Grammar,
Feb 28 Video: The "Our Father" 1200 AD / 900 AD, Frame Substitution, Paralanguage Vocal Characteristics, Qualifiers& Segregates, Kinesics/Proxemics & Civil Inattention,
TUE Historical Linguistics, Language Change, Families & Divergence, Glottochronology & Core Vocabulary,
Mar 4 Linguistic Nationalism. Lost in Translation, Ethno linguistics, The Whorfian Hypothesis, Dialects,
Sociolinguistics, Code Switching, John Locke's "Tabula Rasa," Enculturation, Plato's Allegory of the Cave.
THURS Self Awareness, Nature vs Nurture, Agents of Enculturation Phys. Env, Time & Space, Values & Ideals,
Mar 6 Cognitive Map, Personality, Patterns of Affect Coming of Age In Samoa, IQ & its limitations.
TUE Male & Female Roles, Dependence/Independence training,
Mar 11 Modal Personality, National Character, Francis Hsu, Core Values, Mental Illness, Morality,
Subsistence Patterns: H & G, Horticulture, Agriculture & Pastoralist, Ecosystem, Adaptation,
THURS Preadaptation, Convergent & Parallel Evolution, Culture Area, Culture Type, Social Structure,
Mar 13 Culture Core, Ethno science, H & G, Food Producers, 5 Areas of occurrence, Pastoralism
Urbanization, Rise of writing, Economic Systems, Resources,
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TUE/ THURS March 18 & 20 No Classes - Spring Break
TUE Division of Labor by Gender & Age, Leveling Mechanisms, Reciprocity: Generalized, Balanced
Mar 25 & Negative,Redistribution, Market Exchange, Conspicuous Consumption. Wealth/Power/Prestige
Class Structure, in the US,
THURS Caste, Market Exchange, World Economics, Multinational Corporations.
Mar 27 Test 2 Prep - JEOPARDY
SECTION 3 : REQUIRED READING: Ch 8, 9, 10 & 11 Sex & Marriage, Family, Kinship & Descent, Groupings
TUE
April 1 TEST 2
THURS Primary Function of Marriage, Rules for Sex Conjugal Bond, Consanguinial Kin, Affinal Kin,
April 3 Incest Taboo, Exogamy/Endogamy, Monogamy, Polygamy, Polygyny, Sororal, Polyandry, the
Levirate & Sorrorate, Serial Monogamy, Choice of Spouse
TUE Class Q & A re sex. Cousins as Preferred Marriage Partners: Patrilateral Parallel/Matrilateral
April 8 Cross-Cousin,
THURS Bride Price, Bride Service, Dowry, Divorce, Woman-woman Marriages of Africa, Nuclear Family,
April 10 history of in West Dowry, Divorce, Woman-woman Marriages of Africa, Nuclear Family, history of in
West, Industrialization, Function of Family, Household, Conjugal, Consanguinial & Extended Families,
TUE 5 Residency Patterns: Patrilocal, Matrilocal, Ambilocal, Neolocal & Evunculocal & implied economic & April 15 subsistence patterns, Descent Groups, Unilinial, Patrilinial, Matrilineal, Double, Ambilinial,
Bilateral & their functions, Lineages, Clans, Fission, Totemism, Phratry, Moiety & Kindred.
Kinship Terminology. How to make an accurate Kindred Chart
THURS The 6 Major Kinship Systems: Eskimo, Hawaiian, Iroquois, Crow, Omaha & Descriptive
April 17 & their implications. Grouping by: Gender, Age, Grades & Sets,
TUE Common Interest Associations, Social Stratification, Wealth, Power & Prestige, The 7 Social Classes
April 22 in the US - Education, Income & Occupation as measurements, Social Mobility, Caste Systems,
Egalitarian Cultures,
SECTION 4: REQUIRED READING: Ch 12, 13, 14, 15 & 16 Political Organization & Social Control, Religion &
THURS Magic, Art, Culture Change & The Future of Humanity
April 24 Bands, Tribes, Chiefdoms & States: TEST 3 PREP / JEOPARDY
FRI April 25 (No Class - Last day to drop)
TUE TEST 3 / Take Home Test 3 Due. Kindred Chart Due.
April 29
THURS Band H & G, decision making. Tribe, defined, Big Man, Chiefdoms: Ranked, Centralized. State:
May 1 Centralized. Social Control, Internal & External.
TUE PAPER DUE Sanctions, Formal & Informal, Positive & Negative. Laws, Crimes, Negotiation,
May 6 Mediation & Adjudication, Trial by Ordeal. Political Organization & External Control, World
View as related to social organization.
THURS Religion & Political Organization, Religion Defined, Supernatural Beings: Gods/Goddesses,
May 8 Ancestral Spirits, Non- Human Spirits, Animism, Anamatism, Mana, Religious Specialists:
Priests/Priestesses, Shamans. Ritual, Rites: Passage, Puberty, Intensification.
TUE Magic & Witchcraft. Revitalization Movements
May 13 Culture Change, Conditions, Perceptions, Outside Influences. Innovation: Primary &
THURS Secondary, Diffusion, Forced Change, Acculturation, Fission, Extinction, Genocide,
May 15 Syncretism, Revitalization Movements, Millinarism, Rebellion, Modernization, Skolt
Lapps, 3 rd World Nations,
TUE Art, Functions of, Manifestations, Verbal, Myths, Legends & Tales, Music & Tonality.
May 20 One World Culture Theory, World Population, Pollution Replacement Reproduction.
THURS Wrap up semester
May 22 TEST 4 REVIEW / JEOPARDY
Tue 3:30 to 5:30 PM TEST 4 (FINAL) Take Home Test 4 Due
May. 27 Make up tests where applicable. Final Grade Determined.
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CELL PHONES: Except in pre-cleared emergencies, if a student leaves class, there is no return.
Out of consideration of fellow students, please turn off all cell phones prior to
entering class. If you have a family emergency that would require you to leave if
contacted, please notify instructor before class and set phone to silent (vibrate).
WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS:
PAPER: For you paper, you may write a report on any of the following:
A RELEVANT -Newspaper or Magazine Article
-A visit to the Museum
-Scientific Journal Article
-TV Program (i.e. PBS, the Learning Channel, etc.)
-Video at the LRC (Listed under Cultural Anthropology)
-Internet article
You man NOT write on any of the following: the ice man, creationism or any citation of an
encyclopedia. All papers must be typed or computer printed - 12 or 14 point required,
Laser quality, double spaced, 1 page Minimum, 2 page Maximum, NO COVER SHEET no REF. PG.
Papers may not be returned, so, MAKE A COPY FOR YOURSELF. (If you do not make a copy
and I show no record of your paper, you will not receive credit (protect yourself!)
Grading of papers will be based on the following:
50% Demonstration of what you learned and HOW IT RELATES TO OR CONTRIBUTED TO YOUR
UNDERSTANDING OF THIS COURSE. Just describing the article will not do.
30% GRAMMAR, including punctuation, spelling, typos, etc.
10% Citation of source complete- you must include title, author, source, date (format is flexible)
10% for each of the following: Length/form, not less than 1, nor more that 2 pages
No Cover Sheet - Papers with 2 pages MUST be stapled, NOT paper clipped, dog eared, in binders, etc.
There will be 10% deducted per class from late papers
No paper will be accepted after 2 sessions from the date upon which it was due.
NO PAPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED VIA EMAIL.
NO PAPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED IN MY MAILBOX.
DUE DATE: Paper is due at the beginning of OR BEFORE the class of Test # 2 (TUE, April 1)
KINDRED CHART: This assignment will be discussed in class at length. You will be
given ample time to prepare. Late = - 10% each class date late - after 2 classes = 0
DUE DATE: At the beginning of or before the class of April 29
COURSE GRADE: Each in class test will count as 15 % of the final grade, each take home exam
will count as 5% of your grade, the score on your paper will count 10 % and the Kindred
chart will count 10 %. NO EXCEPTIONS). Letter grades are as follows:
90 to 100 % = A
80 to 89.99% = B
70 to 79.99% = C
60 to 69.99% = D
Under 60 % = F
PERSONAL RECORD: Record your scores below:
15% ea 5% ea 10% ea
Test 1 ______ Take Home Exam 1______
Test 2 ______ Take Home Exam 2______ Paper ______
Test 3 ______ Take Home Exam 3______ Kin. Chart ______
Test 4 ______ Take Home Exam 4______
Test Avg.________ Take Home Exam Avg.________ Paper _______ Kin Chart _____ =
(60%) (20%) (10%) (10%) = (100%)
EXTRA CREDIT: ______ _______ _______
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EXTRA CREDIT: Extra credit will be given as follows:
WRITTEN WORK: Read and make a 5 to 8 page report on one, 2 or all of the following:
Shogun by James Clavell (1 st 350 Pages only required). An historically accurate fiction about a westerner coming into contact with Japan. MANY anthropological dynamics are illustrated in this story. The first 40 pages are just OK, but from the moment he sets foot on Japanese soil, the history, intrigue, cultural interest, politics, suspense, drama, spiritualism, etc, make this the best fiction I ever read. Very long - but you can finish it later. Only 350 pages are required for this assignment (PS: If you saw the TV mini-series, it was NOTHING compared to this masterpiece of literature).
Back to the Top of the World by Hans Ruesch. (Out of print but easily available on line for a few bucks
at any of several used book sources, such as Alibris). An extremely humorous and fascinating book about
Polar Eskimos, of which there are only a couple hundred. MUCH better than the first book. This book illustrates how very different cultures can be and how environmental realities interact with culture. A
Police Officer comes to arrest the main character for murder and spends a season with him and his family
after having his life saved. He realizes he is in the presence of the most profoundly innocent man he has
ever met.
Autobiography of a Yogi by Parmahansa Yoganonda. The life and spiritual journey of an Indian
in a world very different from ours. Fascinating & well written
1 st of 2 or 3 = April 1 st
1 or 2 nd of 2 or 3 = April 17th
3 rd of 3 = May 8 th
You can earn up to 5 SEMESTER POINTS for each book report.. That is a potential of 1.5 GRADES
higher. Even with poor scores, if one read and reported on all 3 books it could easily = a full grade
increase.
NOTE: NO EXTRA CREDIT PAPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED LATE. THESE ARE ABSOLUTE CUT OFF DATES.
Most books available: http://used.addall.com/ or http://www.alibris.com/home.cfm - Compare prices - these sources have good, used & new CHEAP books!
MISSED EXAMS : If you miss an exam it can only be made up on the day of the final exam.
If you miss 2 exams, you will get a 0 (zero) on the 2nd missed exam.
You MUST hand in Take Home Tests the day of the exam. If you are going to be out,
have a student hand it in for you. Both the exam, itself, as well as your scantron are due.
(DO NOT write o the exam, itself) You may NOT leave Take Home Tests in my mailbox.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES who may need accommodations in this class are encouraged to
notify the instructor & contact Disabled Students Programs & Services (DSP&S) EARLY
IN THE SEMESTER so that reasonable accommodations may be implemented as soon as
possible. Students may contact DSP&S in person in Rm. 110 or by phone at 619 644-7112.
(voice) or 619 644-7119 (TTY) for deaf.
ATTENDANCE/TARDINESS: Attendance required. If you miss or are late to more than 6
classes you will LOSE 1 SEMESTER POINT FOR EACH DAY MISSED OR TO WHICH YOU ARE LATE.
In addition, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MISSED INFO due to your absence. You should
have a minimum of 2 students in the class with whom you share notes - if one of them is out
- Xerox your notes for them - they should do the same for you. NOTE: You are "present" only if
you make yourself heard by instructor when calling role or checking in after class if late.
DROP: To drop this course, you need only phone admissions to let them know. You are likely to
get an "F" for the course if you simply stop attending without notifying admissions by
April 25 th .
STUDY HINTS : The following are some techniques "A" students have used successfully:
-Buy and use the Study Guide
-make and study 3 X 5 cards, Buy and use the study guide if available, Study questions at end of chapters.
-highlighting ( 15% maximum) re-read highlighted sections only several times
-take BRIEF notes in class, reread notes after class & fill in information longhand .