ANTHROPOLOGY 100

INTRODUCTION TO CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY/SUMMER 2018

Instructor: Moises Munoz Plascencia

Email –Plascencia_Moises@sac.edu

COURSE MATERIAL REQUIRED TEXTS Guest, Kenneth J., (2016) Essentials of Cultural Anthropology: A Toolkit For a Global Age by W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.  ISBN: 978-0393265019 IMPORTANT DATES:            Class Room: D-401 CLASS HOURS: T-TH 06:00 PM - 9:10PM                   Last day to add a class 06/19/18 Last day to drop and not owe fees  6/21/18 Last day to drop class without a “W”  6/25/18                 Last day to drop class with a “W” 7/26/18 Student Hours: By apt. only

WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF ANTHROPOLOGY!  I am excited to be your guide through the journey through one branch of this discipline.  The people next to you will be on this journey with and part of your community of learners.

 

SANTA ANA COLLEGE MISSION STATEMENT

The Mission of Santa Ana College is to be a leader and partner in meeting the intellectual, cultural, technological and workforce development needs of our diverse community.  Santa Ana College provides access and equity in a dynamic learning environment that prepares students for transfer careers and lifelong intellectual pursuits in a global community

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The main goal of cultural anthropology is to promote understanding amongst today’s societies.  This is an increasingly important endeavor in a progressively more interconnected global community. Understanding human diversity promotes the understanding that diversity does not create "them" and "us," but a more interesting "us."  This course presents a cross-cultural description of the major areas of cultural anthropology including subsistence patterns, economic and political systems, family and kinship, religion, and cultural change. This course also includes contemporary issues facing humankind such as the environment, resource depletion, ethnic conflict, globalization, nationalism, and warfare. 

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES AND STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

This course provides an introduction to the study of cultural anthropology.  Anthropology is a changing and diverse field.  Anthropologists use a variety of theoretical approaches and techniques for collecting and analyzing information.  This course will present the student with a sampling of the diversity of the discipline of cultural anthropology from the past and the present.  The student learning outcomes are the following:

• Define the scope of anthropology and discuss the role of cultural anthropology within the discipline.
• Recognize the methods, theories and perspectives used to study and understand human cultures.
• Explain the importance of the ethnographic method in the study of culture.
• Employ the relativist perspective while discussing cultural variation.
• Demonstrate an understanding of anthropological concepts including ethnicity, gender, political organization, economic systems, kinship, rituals and belief systems.
• Explain the interconnectedness of the economic, political and sociocultural forces of globalization amongst diverse cultural groups.
• Analyze and evaluate the ethical issues anthropologists encounter, and professional ethical obligations that must be met in the study of and application in cultural groups different from their own.

Communication Skills  

• Reading and Writing - Students will clearly and accurately use course terminology and key concepts on exams, in written assignments, and/or in class discussions.

Thinking and Reasoning  

• Read all course materials analytically and critically using an anthropological perspective and conceptual framework.
• Recognize and differentiate the validity of various anthropological theories and paradigms; including the ways differing paradigms can affect data collection, analysis, and research conclusions.
• Synthesize both the scientific and humanistic aspects of the anthropological perspective.

Diversity             

• Explain the historical and cultural construction of gender, age, ethnicity, race and class, and analyze how these social categories affect "life chances".
• Assess the culture-bound concepts of progress and development as "lenses" through which we evaluate other groups and cultures.

 

 

COURSE READINGS

“Reading is not walking on the words; it's grasping the soul of them.” ― Paulo Freire

There is one textbook to purchase for this course!!!

Additional course readings for this class are available on Canvas 

The readings are in PDF format.  You will need an adobe acrobat reader to open these files.  You can download a free adobe acrobat reader online if your computer does not already have the application.  You can purchase the books online if you would like.   Please keep up with the readings! 

You will not do well in this class if you do not read.  The readings are for your benefit and questions based on the readings as well as the lectures will appear on all of the exams.

 

 

COURSE EXPECTATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

 

 

1. You are expected to bring book/s to every class.
2. Class reading will be expected to be read before you come to class.
3. Classroom discussion and participation are important if you wish to do well in the course.
4. You are expected turn in all assignments in on time
5. You are expected to keep track of your grade, if you are concerned about your grade please email.

• You are expected to live up to your own potential and engage course material and broaden your awareness of themes and concepts in the course.

YOUR EXPECTATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

 

1.____________________________________

 

2.____________________________________

 

3.____________________________________

 

4.____________________________________

 

 

 

 

 

 

CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE

To maintain a positive learning environment and demonstrate respect for your classmates there are a few rules that I ask you to keep in mind.

 

1. Challenge the idea not the person!!! We are going to discuss many debatable topics.  Please remember this is a playground for the mind and is a safe space.
2. Leave the stories, here take the lessons.
3. Treat other the way they would like be treated. Rude, racist, sexist, and discriminating comments are not encouraged.  If you have strong critique please present your thought in a clear collected way.
4. Laptops and other wireless devices are NOT permitted in this class, unless approved by the instructor. Please bring pen and/or pencils and paper for note-taking purposes.  
5. CELL PHONE USE DURING IS PROHIBITED UNLESS WE ARE USING CELL PHONES OR SMART DEVICES FOR IN CLASS ASSIGNMENTS, SURVEYS, OR ALLOWED BY INSTRUCTOR: Using these devices during lecture is a nuisance and distraction to the entire class. If you must have a conversation via voice, cell or text, please take it outside of the classroom.  Thank you!

 

 

ATTENDANCE

Miss three class periods and it will be grounds to drop you from the course.  Please be on time and ready to learn about the wonderful world of anthropology.

 

It is critical that you attend every class, classes are filled of important information that is crucial for quizzes and Academic Puzzles.  If you miss two or more classes, you will be required to give a valid reason. 

OUTLINE OF ASSIGNMENTS

8 Short Writing Exercises	150 points	15% of total grade
8 Quizzes	150 points	15% of total grade
Class Participation	100 points	10% of total grade
Three Academic Puzzles/Exams	125 points each exam totaling 375 points	37.5% of total grade
Exam/Project	225 points	22.5% of total grade
Total	1000 points	100%

 

SCALE

                 Grading in this class will be based on a standard scale:

A	B	C	D	F
900–1000	800–899	700–799	600–699	599

 

GRADING STANDARDS AND CRITERIA

 

WRITING RESPONSES:

Writing exercises should be double spaced, font 12, in times new roman font, and a minimum of 250 words.  This course will require you to respond on Canvas writing responses.  Choose to make a thread and put your name in the subject line of your response.  We may discuss writing responses in class

 

GRADING RUBRIC	POINTS
Mechanics: 1.      Sentence structure 2.      Grammar 3.      Punctuation 4.      Spelling	Points Available 2.75
Organization of responses: 1.      Clarity 2.      Transitions between paragraphs are smooth 3.      Connections among paragraphs are clearly articulated	Points Available 4.75
Use of anthropological terms and concepts: 1.      Connecting concepts to writing 2.      Connects to terms clearly 3.      Demonstrating understanding of key concepts 4.      Demonstrates a firm understanding of the author’s arguments and provides examples. 5.      Evidence used to support the central point is rich, detailed and well chosen.	Points Available 4.75
Length of assignment: 1.      Assignments should be within the minimum page or word count 2.      Assignment should be no longer than one page over required length of assignment	Points Available 3.75
Citations in MLA format (or any format that you are attempting to master).  1.      At least three in-text effective citations 2.      A work cited page if needed	Points Available 2.75

 

 

QUIZZES:

Quizzes will be online.  You will be assessed on key term, concepts, and course readings.  Quizzes will contain questions from our main texts, as well as from assigned articles.  Missed quizzes cannot be made up without proper documentation.  You may drop your lowest quiz score from you final grade.  Quizzes are designed to encourage you to learn and check your knowledge

 

PARTICIPATION

Impact in class

ACADEMIC PUZZLE/EXAMS

There are a total of three exams.  Academic puzzles will be proctored in class by the instructor.  Each exam will be a combination of 50 multiple choice, true/false, and/or matching questions for a total of 125 points possible.

 

BE PREPARED ON EVALUATION DAYS WITH THE PROPER MATERIALS.   All in-class evaluation are open book.  However, you should study as if you did not have the book.   You will need a Accuscan answer sheet. 

Make up exams are allowed under specific circumstances:

1. Medical emergency (proper paperwork will be needed)
2. Child or significant kin medical emergency
3. Pending asteroid collision with the earth

 

If you need to take a make-up exam, it is up to you to talk to the instructor to make arrangements within one week of the day the midterm was given; otherwise you might not be allowed to take a make-up.  If you miss a make-up exam, or if you request to make-up more than one exam, you will be required to provide documentation justifying the privilege of taking a second make-up.

 

ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY

Please note that any cheating is grounds for failure of the assignment and referral to further discipline by the campus administration.

 

Policy on Cheating and Plagiarism – All work must be the student’s own original work. Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated and either action will result in a grade of “F” for the assignment and referral to campus administration for further disciplinary action. 

 

MAKE-UP POLICY & LATE WORK

Late work must be received no later than one week after the original due date.  Late writing exercises and papers will automatically lose half a complete grade letter (for example, from “B” to “C”) and will thereafter drop one grade level (from a “C” to “C-“) for each day late.

CONTACTING ME

My office hours are by appointment only.  You can arrange to meet with me at a mutually convenient time.  You can e-mail me at Plascencia_Moises@sac.edu, if you have an urgent need to get in contact with me please do so in a professional manner.  I do not check emails on the weekends; please email me prior to Friday at 5pm.  Please do not leave messages for me with the departmental secretary.

 

ONLINE ELEMENTS:

We use CANVAS for some parts of this course.  Please make sure you have your account set up and have access the first day of class.  If you have any questions or need additional assistance, please contact Santa Ana College Distance Education:

Phone Number: 714-564 6725

Email: sac_disted@sac.edu

 

Email Etiquette–Emails can be used to communicate concerns or questions. Disrespectful, impolite or otherwise inappropriate emails will be deleted.

 

Instagram: I will take photos of assignments and post them on the course Instagram account hashtag #SACANTHRO.  You can use this to communicate with me as well. 

 

Polls Everywhere:

• We will be using in class polling on various subjects. The answers are anonymous and are used to encourage student participation.  Especially for those who do not always like to comment in class.

 

Downloads In order to view certain multimedia elements and documents on the Web, you need specific plug-ins. The most popular plug-ins are QuickTime, Real, Flash, Shockwave, and Acrobat Reader, and they are all freely downloadable.

• Get the QuickTime player Get RealPlayer. Look for the free player, not a free trial version. The free player is hard to find, but it's there.
• Get Flash player
• Get Shockwave
• Get Acrobat Reader

 

WITHDRAWAL POLICY

Keep in mind that you are responsible for the completion of every course in which you are enrolled.  If you choose not to complete the course it is your responsibility to drop or withdraw from the course.  The last day to drop this class with a “W” is________________________

 

As an experiment to see if people are actually reading their syllabus, those of you who can print a picture of Alf (popular character from an 80’s sitcom) receives 5 points extra credit.

 

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

Your success in this course is important to me. Santa Ana College and I are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for all individuals with disabilities. If you have a disability that may have some impact on
your ability to do well in this course, I encourage you to speak with me as soon as possible. “A student with a disability, who would like to request an academic accommodation, is responsible for identifying herself/himself to the instructor and to the Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSPS).  To make arrangements for academic accommodations, contact the DSPS Office in Johnson Center, U-103, or phone (714) 564-6264, TTY (714) 564-6284 for a referral to the appropriate DSPS Department.

It is the disabled student’s responsibility to contact the course instructor at the beginning of the semester to discuss potential plans when classroom evacuations are necessary.

 

EXTRA CREDIT

You may earn up to 35 points of extra credit by combining any number of these options for the total points.  Remember all assignments must be completed before extra credit is accepted.

1. News or additional article (5): A critical analysis of article in relation to a section in to text books or a critical analysis of an anthropology article. 
2. Museum (10) Visit a museum exhibit that relates to cultural anthropology and write a review on one of the exhibits. Your paper must include the following: (a) a critique and explanation of the exhibit, (b) how does this exhibit related anthropology? (c) a self-reflection on what you learned from the exhibit and what are your thoughts on the exhibit?  Paper must be at least two pages. [Suggestions:  The Bowers Museum, free entrance first Sunday of the month and every Tuesday]
3. Off Campus Lecture (5): Any anthropological lecture at an accredited institution on anthropology.
4. Enroll in Reading 096 course to help with critical thinking and reading capacity.
5. Tutoring(10)

 

HELPFUL HINTS FOR LEARNING SUCCESS

1. Utilize the index, often concepts and vocabulary words can be found easier by looking it up in the index.
2. Time management, set aside time to complete the readings.
3. Take Notes!!! Taking diligent notes can help you keep up with topics and key terms in the class. 
4. Your perspective is awesome, write down your own thoughts as you learn new concepts. It will help your understanding. 
5. Study Buddy, learning is shared. Contemplate the course material together, it will prove to be helpful.  You will be able to develop a study guide in groups, please use each other as resources to develop your chances of success.
6. Visit the Educational Learning Center; it can help you with learning citation formats and reading techniques.

 

WEEK	CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY READINGS	ADDITIONAL READINGS	DONE
1	Anthropology for the 21st Century, Chapter 1 Essentials of Cultural Anthropology Culture, Chapter 2:  Essentials of Cultural Anthropology	Nacirema
2	Language, Chapter 4  Essentials of Cultural Anthropology	Japanese Urban Princesses
3	Religion, Chapter 13 Essentials of Cultural Anthropology Sexuality, Chapter 8 Essentials of Cultural Anthropology
4	Gender, Chapter 7 Essentials of Cultural Anthropology	Five Sexes
5	Global Economy, Chapter 11 Essentials of Cultural Anthropology Class and Inequality, Chapter 10 Essentials of Cultural Anthropology	Food for the Few
6	Race and Racism, Chapter 5  Essentials of Cultural Anthropology	Justification for Whiteness
7	Ethnicity and Nationalism, Chapter 6 Essentials of Cultural Anthropology
8	Politics and Power, Chapter 12 Essentials of Cultural Anthropology

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is Culture?

Week 1

Brief Introduction to Anthropology

Culture and Meaning

Tuesday 6/19:

Readings:Chapter 1: Anthropology for the 21^st

Nacirema, by Horace Miner

Thursday 6/21:

Readings: Chapter 1: Anthropology for the 21^st

     Chapter 2:  Culture   

Assingments:

***Quiz #1

***Responses #1 (Due Midnight)

Week 2

Thursday 6/27

 Readings: Chapter 4: Language

Thursday 6/29

Readings: Chapter 4: Language

Urban Princesses: Performance and “Women’s Language” in Japan’s Gothic/Lolita Subculture

Assingments:

***Quiz #2

***Response #2 (Due Midnight)

 

Week 3

Tuesday 7/03:

Readings:

Chapter 13: Religion

Assingments:

***Academic Puzzle #1

Thursday 7/05:

Readings:

Chapter 7: Gender

Chapter 8: Sexuality

Five Sexes, Anna Fausto Sterling

Assingments:

***Quiz 3

***Response 3 (Due Midnight)

 

 

Week 4

The Social and Cultural Construction of Reality

Tuesday 7/10:

Chapter 8: Sexuality

Readings:

Film: In The Light of Reverence

Thursday 7/12:

Robbins, Chapter 4, cont…

Assingments:

***Quiz 4

***Response 4 (Due Midnight)

Week 5

Tuesday 7/17:

Readings:

Chapter 8: Sexuality

*** ACADEMIC PUZZLE#2

Thursday 7/19:

Readings:Chapter 11: Global Economy

Assingments:

***Quiz #5

***Response #5(Due Midnight)

Week 6

The Cultural Construction of Identity

Tuesday 7/24:        

Readings: Chapter 10:  Class and Inequality

Thursday 7/26: 

Readings: Chapter 10:  Class and Inequality

Chapter 5: Race and Racism

Assingments:

***ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

***Quiz #6

 

Week 7

The Cultural Construction of Social Hierarchy

Tuesday 7/31:

Readings: Chapter 5: Race and Racism

*** Academic Puzzle #3 

Thursday 8/02:

Readings: Chapter 6: Ethnicity and Nationalism

Assingments:

***OUTLINE OF BROCHURE

***Quiz # 7

Week 8

The Cultural Construct of Violent Conflict

Tuesday 8/7:

Readings:Chapter 12:  Politics and Power

Assingments:

***ROUGH DRAFT OF BROCHURE

***Quiz #8

Thursday

***FINAL BROCHURES AND RESEARCH FAIR