Ethnobiology – Spring 2015

Course:BIOL 350 Ethnobiology: People, Plants and Animals (5 credits)

Meeting Details:Mondays and Wednesdays from 1:30-3:50 pm in NE113 (in Building 16) (or as arranged)

Instructor Information:

Instructor:Brian D. Compton, Ph.D.

Office Location:Kwina Office/Classroom Complex #110 (in Building 15)

Office Hours:As posted and by appointment

Telephone:(360) 392-4321

Fax:360-392-4333 (c/o NWIC Enrollment Services, "ATTN: Brian Compton")

Email:

Blog:

Science Writing Mentor Information:

Please note that this course involves several writing assignments that are to be developed through collaboration with Science Writing Mentors at Northwest Indian College, i.e., Lynda Jensen and Rebecca Saxton, whose contact information is presented below. Please consult with them for further details regarding their availability and turn-around time for reviewing and providing editorial feedback on writing assignments.

Writing Mentor:Lynda Jensen, M.A.

Office Location:Although it is not my office, when I am not in class, I am most reliably found in NE 106 (the lounge in Building 16).

Office Hours:By appointment.

Email:

Writing Mentor:Rebecca Saxton, M.F.A.

Office Location:Room 208, Building 4, Lummi Campus

Telephone:360-392-4330

Email:

Availability:As posted and by appointment

Course Description:

Ethnobiology is the study of the interrelationships between people and biological organisms. It is a multidisciplinary field of inquiry where the subject matter and approaches to subjects may vary greatly. This course will focus on topics and concerns of relevance to Native Americans with special emphasis on the Pacific Northwest. Prerequisites: BIOL 202, Plant Biology and BIOL 203, Animal Biology

Course Overview:

This course will involve a variety of activities including lectures, reading, writing, class discussions, projects and one or more field trips. Ethnobiology will be examined in terms of multiple worldviews and in relation to the past, present and future. The topics to be examined may vary in terms of the order and depth in which they are considered, but will include examination of a range of cultural, environmental, biological and academic topics that are within the realm of ethnobiology, such as:

  • Cultural contexts of ethnobiology—ways of knowing and understanding the living world
  • Relationship of people and place to ethnobiological considerations
  • Ethnolinguistic, ecological and biological diversity
  • Relationship of native science, traditional ecological (or environmental) knowledge, and Western science to ethnobiology
  • Relationships between living things
  • Language, culture, cognition and life—naming and thinking about organisms
  • Cultural roles of biological organisms and associated values, traditions and techniques
  • Local/regional ethnobiological species
  • Developmental and seasonal considerations (cycles of life, culture and place)
  • Ethnoecology and resource management
  • Intellectual property rights/protocols and priorities involved in the transmission of ethnobiological information
  • Erosion and reclamation of traditional knowledge about and connections with the living world

Recommended Reading:

Anderson, E. N., Pearsall, D. M., Hunn, E. S., & Turner, N. J. (Eds.). (2011). Ethnobiology. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell. [ISBN-10: 0470547855, ISBN-13: 978-0470547854; Lummi Library: GF 512 .H83 M33]

  • The single comprehensive treatment of the field, from the leading members of the Society of Ethnobiology.

Albuquerque, U. P., Cruz da Cunha, L. V. F., Paiva de Lucena, R. F., & Alves, R. R. N. (2014). Springer Protocols Handbooks: Methods and techniques in ethnobiology and ethnoecology. New York, NY: Humana Press. [ISBN: 978-1-4614-8635-0]

  • The first comprehensive book of ethnobiological methods in English. Includes methods of both natural and social sciences. A practical and simple guide in ethnobiology research methods and techniques in a single book.

Additional course reading may be determined based upon seasonal, geographic and cultural considerations; student interests; and their relationship to course content and flow

Note: The student is strongly encouraged also to utilize EBSCO Environmental Complete, Worldcat.org, and other research databases to identify, locate and obtain journal articles and related information on ethnobiological topics.

Course Policies:

  1. Student Rights & Responsibilities—These will be observed as described in the Northwest Indian College Catalog and in accordance with Northwest Indian College policies.
  2. Attendance & Participation—Regular attendance and participation are essential to your success in this course. It is your responsibility to attend class meetings regularly and on time. Necessary absences should be reported to your instructor and multiple unexcused absences may result in grade reductions that will prevent you from passing this course.
  3. Assignments & Due Dates—All assignments are to be submitted as indicated by the instructor and in supporting course materials. You must complete your work as indicated in class or you will not receive credit for that work. Unless otherwise instructed, please submit your work via email to Brian Compton at . I will not accept late assignments without prior approval.
  4. Assessment & Grades—The grades that I will report on the class grade roster at the end of the quarter may be determined through a combination of faculty and student self-assessment as detailed in this syllabus or described in class and course materials.
  5. Electronic Devices (e.g., cell phones and laptop computers)—Please be sure to reserve cell phone and laptop use for outside of class unless they are being used with the instructor's approval and in direct support of your on-task course work.
  6. Email—I will use your NWIC email address to communicate with you in this course, so you must access it to receive any messages that I send to you via that address.

College and Course Outcomes:

Students taking this course will…

NWIC Outcomes:

  • Communicate in class and field activities with each other, and in response to information provided by the instructor, and

Course Outcomes:

  • Identify, distinguish and describe the various aspects of ethnobiology as cultural and academic concerns (e.g., cultural priorities and protocols; history of the named discipline, subject matter, methods, etc.
  • Read, analyze and discuss the various aspects of ethnobiological research reports
  • Identify 25 species of ethnobiological significance
  • Produce an ethnobiological research project
  • Discuss different cultural approaches to the examination of ethnobiological topics

Outline/Schedule of Topics:

BIOL 350 Syllabus S15.docpage 1

Ethnobiology – Spring 2015

Week 1:

  • Course introduction
  • Anderson, et al. (2011) Chapter 1 (pp. 1-14): Ethnobiology: Overview of a Growing Field
  • Anderson, et al. (2011) Chapter 2 (pp. 15-26): History of Ethnobiology

Week 2:

  • Anderson, et al. (2011) Chapter 3 (pp. 27-50): Ethics in Ethnobiology: History, International Law and Policy, and Contemporary Issues
  • Anderson, et al. (2011) Chapter 4 (pp. 51-64): From Researcher to Partner: Ethical Challenged and Issues Facing the Ethnobiological Researcher
  • Due: Short Paper #1 @ 5:00 pm Friday

Week 3:

  • Anderson, et al. (2011) Chapter 5 (pp. 65-81): The World According to Is'a: Combining Empiricism and Spiritual Understanding in Indigenous Ways of Knowing
  • Anderson, et al. (2011) Chapter 6 (pp. 83-96): Ethnozoology

Week 4:

  • Anderson, et al. (2011) Chapter 7 (pp. 97-113): Ethnobiology, Historical Ecology, the Archaeofaunal Record, and Interpreting Human Landscapes
  • Anderson, et al. (2011) Chapter 8 (pp. 115-132): Ethnobiology as a Bridge between Science and Ethics: An Applied Paleozoological Perspective
  • Due: Short Paper #2 @ 5:00 pm Friday

Week 5:

  • Anderson, et al. (2011) Chapter 9 (pp. 133-147): Ethnobotany: The Study of People-Plant Relationships
  • Anderson, et al. (2011) Chapter 10 (pp. 149-171): Reconstructing Past Life-Ways with Plants I: Subsistence and Other Daily Needs
  • Due: Formal Paper Topic, Thesis (or equivalent) & Preliminary Bibliography Draft @ 5:00 pm

Week 6:

  • Anderson, et al. (2011) Chapter 11 (pp. 173-187): Reconstructing Past Life-Ways with Plants II: Human-Environment and Human-Human Interactions
  • Anderson, et al. (2011) Chapter 12 (pp. 189-212): History and Current Trends of Ethnobiological Research in Europe
  • Due: Short Paper #3 @ 5:00 pm Friday

Week 7:

  • Anderson, et al. (2011) Chapter 13 (pp. 213-230): Ethnomycology: Fungi and Mushrooms in Cultural Entanglements
  • Anderson, et al. (2011) Chapter 14 (pp. 231-247): Ethnoecological Approaches to Integrating Theory and Method in Ethnomedical Research
  • Due: Formal Paper Annotated Bibliography @ 5:00 pm

Week 8:

  • Anderson, et al. (2011) Chapter 15 (pp. 248-266): Assessments of Indigenous Peoples' Traditional Food and Nutrition Systems
  • Anderson, et al. (2011) Chapter 16 (pp. 267-284): Ethnoecology and Landscapes
  • Due: Short Paper #4 @ 5:00 pm Friday

Week 9:

  • Anderson, et al. (2011) Chapter 17 (pp. 285-304): Traditional Reproduce and Environmental Management
  • Anderson, et al. (2011) Chapter 18 (pp. 305-318): Ethnobiology and Agroecology
  • Due: Formal Paper DRAFT Version @ 5:00 pm

Week 10:

  • Anderson, et al. (2011) Chapter 19 (pp. 319-334): Linguistic Ethnobiology
  • Anderson, et al. (2011) Chapter 20 (pp. 333-349): Cognitive Studies in Ethnobiology: What Can We Learn About the Mind as Well as Human Environmental Interaction?
  • Due: Short Paper #5 @ 5:00 pm Friday

Week 11:

  • Anderson, et al. (2011) Chapter 21 (pp. 351-369): The Symbolic Uses of Plants
  • Anderson, et al. (2011) Chapter 22 (pp. 371-387): Learning Ethnobiology: Creating Knowledge and Skills about the Living World
  • Preparation for final week of the course (completion of final versions of all relevant course materials)
  • Due: Formal Paper FINAL Version @ 5:00 pm

Week 12:

  • Final research oral presentations due

BIOL 350 Syllabus S15.docpage 1

Ethnobiology – Winter 2013

Outline/Schedule of Topics with Assignments and Due Dates:

This course is based on a series of weekly topics and related questions, which will be addressed in reading assignments, videos, classroom discussions, written assignments and oral presentations as indicated below.

Topics and Assignments / Due Dates
Week 1: See Instructor’s blog
Short Paper #1 / N/A
Week 2: See Instructor’s blog / Short Paper #1 due: Friday of Week 2 @ 5:00 pm
Week 3: See Instructor’s blog
Short Paper #2 / N/A
Week 4: See Instructor’s blog / Short Paper #2 due: Friday of Week 4 @ 5:00 pm
Week 5: See Instructor’s blog
Formal Paper Topic, Thesis (or equivalent) & Preliminary Bibliography Draft
Short Paper #3 / Formal Paper Topic, Thesis (or equivalent) & Preliminary Bibliography Draft due: Friday of Week 5 @ 5:00 pm
Week 6: See Instructor’s blog / Short Paper #3 due: Friday of Week 6 @ 5:00 pm
Week 7:See Instructor’s blog
Short Paper #4 / Formal Paper Annotated Bibliography due: Friday of Week 7@ 5:00 pm
Week 8: See Instructor’s blog / Short Paper #4 due: Friday of Week 8 @ 5:00 pm
Week 9: See Instructor’s blog
Formal Paper DRAFT
Short Paper #5 / Formal Paper DRAFT Version due: Friday of Week 9 @ 5:00 pm
Week 10: See Instructor’s blog / Short Paper #5 due: Friday of Week 10 @ 5:00 pm
Week 11: See Instructor’s blog
Formal Paper FINAL Version / Formal Paper FINAL Version due: Friday of Week 11 @ 5:00 pm
Week 12: See Instructor’s blog
Formal Paper (Final Project) Oral Presentations / Oral Presentations due: Monday and Wednesday of Week 12 in class

Assessment—Assignments & Grading

Note: Additional details regarding assignments may be posted to the instructor's blog. Please check it for details regularly.

Requirements:

  1. Classroom Attendance and Participation (in all class meetings) (1 point possible for each of 20 class meetings for a total of 20 points possible for 20% of the total grade)
  2. Biweekly Short Paper (Short Research Report of from 300-500 words, with a minimum of two references, and otherwise in accordance with APA style guidelines ["APA Formatting Sample," n.d.] – see rubric below) (25 points or 25% of total grade)
  3. Short Paper#1 (5 points possible for 5% of the total grade)
  4. Short Paper#2 (5 points possible for 5% of the total grade)
  5. Short Paper#3 (5 points possible for 5% of the total grade)
  6. Short Paper#4 (5 points possible for 5% of the total grade)
  7. Short Paper#5 (5 points possible for 5% of the total grade)
  8. Formal Paper/Final Project (Formal Research Report of 10 pages in length, with a minimum of four references, and otherwise in accordance with APA style guidelines ["APA Formatting Sample," n.d.]) to consist of the following components:
  9. Topic, Thesis (or equivalent) & Preliminary Bibliography—(5 points or 5% of final grade)

(A topic related to TEK is identified, a clear thesis statement (or equivalent) is developed, and a preliminary bibliography of relevant references that relate to the topic and thesis is included.)

  1. Annotated Bibliography—(5 points or 5% of final grade)

(This will consist of an annotated bibliography corresponding to APA style and containing a minimum of four references related to the project topic.)

  1. Preliminary Draft—Produced in accordance with APA style guidelines, submitted a minimum of one time to a science writing mentor for review and feedback, and submitted in electronic form to the course instructor for review and feedback; this must incorporate all editorial review and feedback (20 points or 20% of final grade)
  2. Final Version—Produced based on preliminary draft(s), incorporating editorial review and feedback from science writing mentor and instructor, and developed in accordance with the corresponding rubric (see below) (20 points or 20% of final grade)
  3. Oral Presentation of final research report—Presented to the class with optional electronic support (e.g., PowerPoint or Prezi) (5 points or 5% of final grade)

Rubric for Bi-weekly Short Papers and Formal Paper FINAL Version:

Assessment Attribute / Possible Points
Complete & Concise: All components of APA style as indicated for the assignment are included (format, number of words or page length, references and citations, etc.) and writing is economical and direct / 1-4
(1 for short papers, 4 for formal paper)
Correctness: All aspects of grammar, spelling, punctuation and word choice are present / Ditto
Coherence (& Control): Ideas are presented logically and in a unified manner with good flow, paragraph construction, sentence content, etc. / Ditto
Clarity: Topics and questions are addressed in a clear and unconfused manner and relate directly to the stated assignment objective(s) / Ditto
Content: Writing shows evidence of full and complete comprehension of subject matter and ideas communicated are substantial and relevant / Ditto
All Attributes / 5-20 total points (possible as indicated above)
Summary of Requirements & Points
Assignment Type / Assignment Breakdown / Possible Points
Classroom Attendance and Participation / 1 point/class meeting / 20 points
Bi-weekly Short Papers / 5 @ 5 points each / 25 points
Formal Paper (Final Project) / Topic, Thesis (or equivalent) & Preliminary Bibliography: 5 points / 5 points
Annotated Bibliography: 5 points / 5 points
Preliminary Draft: 20 points / 20 points
Final Version: 20 points / 20 points
Oral Presentation: 5 points / 5 points
Total: 100 points possible for the course

Grading:

  • Completion of a total of 70-79% of the requirements is required for a student to be eligible to earn a grade of C.
  • Completion of a total of 80-89% of the requirements is required for a student to be eligible to earn a grade of B.
  • Completion of total of 90-100% of the requirements is required for a student to be eligible to earn a grade of A.

Please also note the following details regarding grading:

  • Completion of an assignment does not ensure receipt of full credit for that assignment. I will assess your work for its appropriateness, completeness, quality and relationship to one or more assessment rubrics. All work should be completed by the final class meeting or—with permission of the instructor—by noon of the last day of the quarter.
  • Grade qualifiers (- or +) may accompany your final grade depending upon various factors to be determined by your instructor with respect to the quality and promptness of your efforts.
  • A grade of "Incomplete" is available only in accordance with details as presented in the Northwest Indian College Catalog.
  • Lower grades, including D and F, also are possible for unsatisfactory or failing performance such as not fulfilling the requirements for C level assignments or failing to submit materials when they are due. Except in rare special circumstances, if you have not submitted all your assignments on the established due dates, and within the quarter in which you enrolled in this class, then the highest grade you will be eligible for in the course is a C level grade, and you may receive a lower grade as a result of chronically late assignment submissions or for otherwise not meeting the expectations of the assignments at an appropriate level of academic accomplishment. If you do not clearly understand this grading policy, or if you have questions regarding it, please consult your instructor. For other details regarding grades that are available to you, please consult with Enrollment Services.

BIOL 350 Syllabus S15.docpage 1