Introduction to Anthropology

2011 Spring

Introduction to Anthropology

ANTH 1306.001 UH 11

ANTH 1306.002 UH 11

Tuesday and Thursday: (001) 9:30- 10:50; (002) 11:00 – 12:20.

Dr. Joseph W. Bastien; ; http://www.uta.edu/chagas;

Office UH 444; Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 3:30 – 4:30

Objectives of Course: to introduce the students to basic concepts and terminology of cultural anthropology. The instructor presents lectures, slide shows, and movies on the various aspects of anthropology. The syllabus follows chapters in Introducing Anthropology, Fifth Edition, by D. Michael A. Park and Mountain of the Condor by Bastien. Power point presentations, slides and films are used and students are tested on this as well as lectures, student reports, and presentations.

Evaluation: Students are required to not only do extensive reading, but also know basic terminology and concepts of anthropology presented in lectures and from the readings. They are evaluated primarily by four tests and two assignments/reports. The four quizzes and reports are each rated at 15% of the final grade, totaling 60% of grade. There is no final exam, and students must take tests on assigned dates. No make-up tests are given!!! Those who do not take the test are assigned an automatic “0” score. Tests include essay questions and multiple choice questions. Students are required to do two tasks in field ethnography: 1) participant observation, 2) draw a kinship chart. For each assignment they will hand in a two-page report, as well as be able to present findings to the class. Each field assignment is worth 15% of grade. (Late assignments will not be accepted.) The remaining 10% is based on attendance in classes. Students are required to attend all classes and be on time. Students may not leave the class while it is in session. If they do, this is counted as an absence. Absences in excess of four classes result in automatic lowering of final/averaged grade one letter. Student opinions are encouraged throughout the class, and students are required to raise their hand to talk. Talking without permission is not permitted. Students are prohibited from text-messaging during class. Students may only use laptop computers for taking class notes. If someone is using the computer for other uses, it will be confiscated.

Required Texts: Introducing Anthropology, Fifth Edition, by Michael A. Park and Mountain of the Condor by Bastien. (See Siva at bookstore if you want to rent Introducing Anthropology.) Please purchase texts at the UTA Bookstore as soon as possible, because surplus copies are returned to vendor. Instructions on Kinship and Participation Observation assignments will be handed out.

Participation: Students are required to attend all classes, arrive at beginning of class, and remain until class is dismissed. Once class has begun, students may only leave the classroom with permission of Professor and his assistant. Failure to do this results in removal from the class and/or lowering of a grade. Students are to refrain from talking,or commenting among themselves while either the instructor or a student who has raised his or her hand is speaking. Whispering and talking among yourselves while someone has the floor is discourteous and the disruptive student may be asked to leave the classroom. Serious students have complained that students talking among themselves is a great distraction and annoyance during class. For those with disabilities of any sort, I am only too happy to make any provision necessary, but please inform me as soon as possible. I am also willing to accommodate during my office hours those who have any difficulty learning. Students will not be dropped from the class for non-attendance; however I strongly urge students to attend all classes, primarily for the interpersonal learning experience (you are paying money for each hour of class; so it is thrifty to attend every class). Students who wish to drop must inform me and do so before the drop date of April 1.

This class is in accordance with UTA’s academic dishonesty policy that includes but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, collusion, the submission for credit of any work or material that is attributable in whole or in part to another person,etc. The University of Texas at Arlington supports a variety of student success programs to help you connect with the University and achieve academic success. They include learning assistance; developmental education; advising and mentoring, admission and transition, and federally funded programs. Students requiring assistance academically, personally, or socially should contact the Office of Student Success Programs at 817-272-6107 for more information and appropriate referrals.

COURSE SCHEDULE

T Jan 18

Introduction; Syllabus; What is Anthropology?

Th Jan 20

Discipline; Four field disciplines

Read Park, Chapter 1, pp.1-20

Four field disciplines. Video on specialties

T Jan 25

Methods of Inquiry: Science

Mill’s laws of logic for efficient and material causality

Methods of Inquiry: Belief Systems

Aristotle’s formal and final causality

Read Park, Chapter 2, pp 21-36

Th Jan 27

Evolution; Change within species

Mendelian genetics

Read Park, Chapter 3, pp 37-47

T Feb 1

Adaptation: Darwin: Origin of species:

Read Park, Chapter 3, pp 48-64

Th Feb 3

Review of all of the above.

T Feb 8

Quiz 1

Quiz includes all material from beginning of classes

Bring scantron

Th Feb 10

Concept of Culture

Read Park, Chapter 4, pp 65-92

T Feb 15

Participant Observation; assignment will be due March 8

Read Bastien, Mountain of Condor, pp 1-50

Th Feb 17

Primates: Five Primates

Read Park, Chapter 5, pp 99-120

T Feb 22

Large brained primate

Read Park, Chapter 6, pp 121-158

Th Feb 24

Reproduction: the Sexual Primate

Read Park, Chapter 7, pp 161-186

T March 1

Biological Diversity and Race

Read Park, Chapter 8, pp 187-216

Th March 3

Review of material from Feb 10 until 24, chapters 4-7, Mountain of Condor 1-50

T March 8

Quiz 2

Quiz includes all material from Feb 8 until March 1

Bring scantron

Th March 10

Participant Observation DUE

Students share POs.

Spring Break March 14 to 18

T March 22

Food

Read Park, Chapter 9: pp 219-255

Th March 24

Groups; Kinship diagramming; Universal abbreviations .

Your family kinship chart: due on April 14

T March 29

Arranging our families: kinship terminolgy

Read Park, Chapter 10, pp 259-272

Th March 31

Arranging our societies: from tribes to nations

Read Park, Chapter 10, pp 272-280

April 1 is the last day to drop class

T April 5

Communication

Read Park: Chapter 11, pp 281-303

Ecology: environment and society in South America

Bastien/Wilson ppoint presentation.

Th April 7

Review of material from March 10 until April 12

T. April 12

Quiz 3

Quiz includes all material from March 10 until April 12

Bring scantron

.

Th April 14 your personal kinship chart is due

Maintenance of Order: Religion

Read Park, Chapter 12, pp 305-326

New Earth ritual in Andes

read Mountain of Condor 51-86

T April 19

The misfortune ritual and the dead

Mt. of Condor pp. 129-170

Th April 21

Culture Change

Read Park, Chapter 13, pp 329-344

Read Bastien; Mountain of the Condor; pp 170-end

T April 26

Evolution of Behavior

Read Park, Chapter 14, pp 345-372

Th April 28

Anthropology in Today’s World

Read Park, Chapter 15, pp. 375-end

T May 3

Review of material from April 14 to May 5

Th May 5

Quiz 4

Includes all material from April 14 to May 5

Bring scantron

NO FINAL EXAM