FALL 2009 (sec 8061) Instructor : Chris P. Gaugler

Class Meets: Tuesdays, 7:00-9:50 PM , Aug. 18 – Dec. 15, Los Banos B -106

Los Banos message line: 209-381-6417

Required resources

Cultural Anthropology in a Globalizing World Barbara Miller (M)       one copy is on reserve)

Conformity & Conflict ed. 11 (on reserve) (C)

Culture and Conduct (on reserve) (B)

Access to the internet

Advisories: Eng A, Eng 41

This course is an introduction to cultural anthropology, i.e. the study of human culture, examining its development, its diversity, and including a brief survey of the other fields of anthropology and their methods and goals. We will examine the elements of cultures, past and present, large and small, in an effort to understand the structure and dynamics of human culture and what it means to be human.

A. Differentiate and appraise the major anthropological approaches to the study of human culture

B. Compare and contrast the various anthropological theories

C. Critically analyze existing anthropological research.

D. Examine and assess the basic concepts and findings of cultural anthropology.

E. Demonstrate a knowledge and appreciation of man’s cultural diversity.

F. Relate anthropological insights to the problem of interacting with people of differing cultural

                backgrounds both at home and abroad.

ESO’s provided ESO’s evaluated

A & B lectures, readings, re-iteration                                         Exams

C exposure to recent and/or ongoing projects                            Class discussion and written analyses

D lectures, videos, readings                                                         Exams

E & F integrated into every session                                             Class discussion and written analyses

This instructor also hopes that you will become familiar with the scope of anthropology and the unique anthropological perspective, come to appreciate the world’s diversity of economic, political, religious and family structures, increase your understanding of your own culture and others, and develop an interest in this broad and dynamic discipline.

note: registered students will have first priority, students on wait list have second priority, other students will be added if possible. Students who do NOT attend opening session lose any preferences and MAY be dropped.

note: If you have a verified physical, medical, psychological, or learning disability that may impact your ability to carry out assigned course work, please contact the Disabled Student Services (DSS) office. DSS staff will review your needs and determine what accommodations are necessary and appropriate. All information and documentation is confidential. DSS is located in the Lesher Student Services Bldg. Room 234, phone 384-6155. In Los Banos, DSS is located in Building A, phone 381-6423.

It is your responsibility to officially withdraw from courses before the withdrawal deadline. If you do not do this you may receive an ‘F’ for those courses. There is also a deadline to opt for the credit/no-credit option. Deadlines are printed in the semester bulletin.

All regular Merced College rules are in effect for this course. Copies of student guidelines are available in the administration office. I welcome interaction, but not distraction.

How will you do well in this course?

-Approach this course as though it were important to you.

-Keep up with readings and other assignments.

-Pay attention and ask questions.

-Take useful notes.

-Find one or more study-buddies.

Believe it or not, your teacher wants for you to succeed.

Grades are assigned based upon total points in the class.

Points are accumulated according to the following assignment schedule:

Exams = 70-100 each Three Analyses = 35 each Culture paper = 100

Vocabulary list = 75 4-8 quizzes = 10 pts each (A-B-C-D = 90-80-70-60%)

Running averages will be kept by the instructor and will be available regularly.

1) A 5 or more page research paper on a non-western culture (get approval). You must

3) A 2+ page analysis of a contemporary cultural problem in any other country.

4) A 2+ page analysis of a contemporary cultural problem in the U.S.

Note: Each student must also give an oral presentation on either their personal analysis, foreign analysis, U.S. analysis, or culture paper. These will be short (2 - 5 minute) presentations in class, open to questions, and will be assigned after that paper has been tentatively graded. Failure to present negates all points for lowest scored paper!!

PLAGIARISM: Merced College has adopted new policies to deal with this problem. Plagiarism is essentially copying, or claiming another person’s work as your own. I will clarify this, but be sure that you do understand, and that you don’t do it. The least that can happen to you is a zero grade on your paper. Don’t gamble on this, as I will know if you plagiarize.

Writing for college (and the professions) entails a number of important factors. You must write to the level of your target audience, you must write coherently and with a clear purpose, you must write in an organized and consistent manner, and you must avoid errors in such things as spelling, sentence and paragraph structure, factual data, and avoid substituting opinions for hard evidence. This does not mean you can not say how you feel about your subject, only that you distinguish between feelings and facts.

You will be given a grade for papers you write in this class and others. In real life you will be judged on your communication competence. How well you write will determine whether you one day at work say, "Thank you all for being here this evening for my presentation on this critical issue", or ,"Would you like fries with that order?".

For your analysis papers, pick your cultural issues soon. You can find them in the newspaper and on television every day (e.g. Honduras, Palestine, Rep. Congo, Iran, bi-lingual education, abortion clinic bombings, urban sprawl, school suicides, etc.). Define and discuss the cultural problem, how it arose, where it stands now, and how it was or is going to be resolved (or not). Identify the micro-cultural classification and the elements that are in conflict.

For the culture paper, you will need to create a suitable (for college) ethnographic study of your selected culture. You will include pertinent elements, such as: religious beliefs, kinship structure, mode of subsistence, political organization, material culture, symbolism, art, rites of passage, marriage and family patterns, language, etc.. You will learn more about these categories as we go. The culture paper must include acceptable citing in text and a bibliography.

Grading criteria: T (0-10), RT (0-10), R (0-20), W (0-10), C (0-50).

For all writing assignments, missing elements = missing points.

All papers should be typed using a standard 12 point type face, double spaced, and with one inch margins all around, unbound and stapled in the upper left corner. Most word processors do this for you automatically. Don’t feel that this is something you cannot do. Remember, you can bring me rough drafts or idea sheets any time for comment and guidance. Use the writing center. Get feedback from your friends. Don’t delay getting started on this paper. The sooner you start, the more chances you will have to get it right. Most of your future teachers will not look at rough drafts. They will expect a completed paper turned in on time. Take advantage of this opportunity to develop your research and writing skills.

PLAGIARISM: Merced College has adopted new policies to deal with this problem. Plagiarism is essentially copying, or claiming another person’s work as your own. I will clarify this, but be sure that you do understand, and that you don’t do it. The least that can happen to you is a failing grade on your paper. Don’t gamble on this, as I will know if you plagiarize.

Withdrawal & credit/no-credit: It is your responsibility to officially withdraw from courses before the withdrawal deadline. If you do not do this you may receive an ‘F’ for those courses. There is also a deadline to opt for the credit/no-credit option. Deadlines are printed in the semester bulletin. All regular Merced College rules are in effect for this course. Copies of student guidelines are available. I welcome interaction, but not distraction.

DATE LECTURE TOPICS                                 READINGS                                                             ASSIGNMENTS

AUG 18 Course discussion                                 Nacirema                                                             Find a link to the WWW

What is anthropology?

Fields of anthropology

Cultural universals

AUG 25 Methods in anthropology                         M 1,2, B 1,2,3                 `                                Research culture

The web and other resources                                 C 2,5

Genetics & evolution

SEP 01 Humans & language                             M (language) Research culture?

Subsistence patterns                                             C 3,10,11

SEP 08 Subsistence patterns                                 M3

Exchange                                                                                                                                             Personal analysis DUE

SEP 15 Kinship                                                                                                                                    EXAM 1

SEP 22 Kinship                                                 M 4,8,9 C 15,20,22

SEP 29 Kinship & domestic groups

OCT 06 Marriage & reproduction                             M5+6                                                             Foreign analysis DUE

Childhood & growth

Aging & rites of passage                                                                                                                         EXAM 2

OCT 13 Social order                                                 M11+12

OCT 20 Political anthropology                            M10, C 10,17, 24,25,31,33

OCT 21 Stratification                                                         B7

Gender

NOV 03 Gender                                                                                                                                     U.S. analysis DUE

Psychological anthropology

NOV 10 Cosmology                                                     M14+15, B6

Material culture

NOV 17 Material culture                                                                                                                           EXAM 3 

NOV 24 Culture change M16, B5,                                                                                                         Vocabularies DUE   

                                                                                    C 4,14,28,36,37

DEC 01 Development &   Fourth world                                                                                                    Culture paper DUE

DEC 08 Medical anthropology                                        M7                                           

Applied anthropology

DEC 15 FINAL EXAM                                                                                 FINAL EXAM

note: The instructor reserves the right to adjust content and scheduling as he deems appropriate or necessary.

STUDENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL MATERIAL PRESENTED, INCLUDING LECTURES, FILMS, READINGS, WEB ASSIGNMENTS AND PERSONAL WRITING ASSIGNMENTS.

I SINCERELY HOPE THAT EVERY ONE OF YOU BENEFITS FROM THIS COURSE EXPERIENCE. I WILL DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO ASSIST YOU. DON’T HESITATE TO CONTACT ME IF YOU ARE HAVING PROBLEMS. THAT’S WHY I AM HERE. CHRIS