Holly Woolson

Anthropology 102 Home page

This course gives students an understanding of the nature of culture and its significance in human life. The course compares the diverse ways that humans repond to universal problems such as how to make a living, how to organize power in society, how to create families, how to relate to the supernatural and how to express oneself. The course focuses on several cultural groups in depth through readings, films, lectures and guest speakers. There is an emphasis on traditional and tribal societies. We address questions regarding globalization and the influence of larger, industrialized societies, like our own, on smaller scale, simpler societies as well as the lessons those simpler societies can teach us.

Syllabus for Spring 2009:

Oxnard College
Anthropology R102
Introduction to Cultural Anthropology

Course Meets: Tuesdays 7:00 - 9:50 pm. Room LA-8
Instructor: Holly Woolson
Office Hours: Tuesdays 6:45 pm in LA-8
Phone: 640-9548 (between 9am and 9pm only)
email: Hwoolson@vcccd.edu

Two Required Texts:
Main Text:
Heider, Karl G. Seeing Anthropology: Cultural Anthropology through Film, 4th edition

Supplemental and Homework Readings:
Ferraro, Gary Classic Readings in Cultural Anthropology, 2nd edition

Course Description: The goal of this course is to give students an understanding of the nature of culture and its significance in human life. The course takes a comparative perspective on the diverse ways that humans have responded to universal problems. To illustrate, we will study specific examples from different cultures throughout the world, emphasizing non-Western, non-industrial societies presented both through text and film. Students are also encouraged to become more conscious of their own cultural experiences and understandings.

Student Evaluation: There will be two exams - one midterm and one final. In addition, your course grade will also be based on your own original written work presented in a term paper. The remaining part of your final grade will be based on weekly homework assignments, in-class writing assignments and pretests given at the beginning of each class.

Grading Breakdown
Midterm exam 200 points
Final exam 200 points
Term Paper 200 points
Homework/Pretests/In-class assignments 400 points______
Total 1000 points
Grades are assigned on a modified curve based on the standard 90%-A; 80%-B,70%-C, 60%-D. Total points earned for the course:
Not more than 900 points: A
Not more than 800 points: B
Not more than 700 points: C
Not more than 600 points: D
Below D level will result in a failing grade for the course.

Attendance Policy: Consistent attendance in the course is required. In accordance with Oxnard College's attendance policy, if you are absent from this class three times, on the day after your third absence you may be dropped from the class and receive a grade accordingly. For example, if you miss three classes before the end of the fourth week of instruction and are dropped, it will have no effect on your transcript. If you miss three classes prior to the last day of the 14th week of class and are dropped, you will receive a W on your transcript. If you miss your third class after this day, you may receive an F on your transcript.

LAST DAY TO DROP WITH A 'W':___April 24, 2009_____________________

What if you have THREE ABSENCES and want to stay enrolled?
Contact me Immediately and tell me that you do NOT want to be dropped within 24 hours of your third absence AND complete a special assignment to make up NO MORE THAN FOUR ABSENCES.

"Absence for any reason does not relieve the student from the responsibility of completing all class requirements." - The Oxnard College Catalog

Making up exams: The midterm exam can be made up only due to illness or emergency. To make-up the midterm, you must request a make-up exam PRIOR to the scheduled midterm examination time and provide the appropriate documentation before a make-up can be scheduled. See the list of classes for Oxnard College's policy on making up final exams.

Late work: All written work must be turned in by the end of class on the assigned due date to receive credit. NO late pretests, homework, term papers or other assignments will be accepted.

Incomplete Grade Policy: Incomplete grades will be given only in special circumstances as outlined by Oxnard College policy.

Academic Integrity: Students are encouraged to share intellectual views and discuss freely the principles and applications of course material. However, graded work must be the product of independent effort unless otherwise instructed. Students are expected to adhere to the Oxnard College‘s Code of Academic Integrity as described in the Catalog. Cheating and plagiarism will NOT be tolerated and result in a failing grade or removal from course enrollment.

Special Needs and Accommodations: Students needing special accommodations or special services should contact the Educational Assistance Center, Student Services Building, Suite 105, 986-5830; 488-8022 TTY. The student must provide the appropriate documentation of need for accommodations.

Subject to Change Statement: Other than the student evaluation criteria and attendance policy, policies and assignments are subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.

Readings: Each week's course topic corresponds to an assigned reading in our textbooks. You should complete the reading prior to the week when the topic will be covered in class. Readings in the Heider text are listed below in bold by chapter number, while readings in Ferraro are listed in italic by article number. For assigned films, see individual chapters in Heider.

Week Date Topic Assigned Readings

1 1/13 Course Introduction: The Study of Human Diversity Heider: Chapter 1*
Guidelines for film viewing Heider: Appendix pp. 434-440

2 1/20 Understanding Culture Heider: Chapter 2 Ferraro: Article 1

3 1/27 Doing Anthropology: Fieldwork and Theories Heider: Chapter 3
Ferraro: Article 2

4 2/3 Meanings: Language, Symbols and Art Heider: Chapter 4
Ferraro: Article 3

5 2/10 Meanings: Language, Symbols and Art - continued Heider: Chapter 4
Ferraro Article 4

6 2/17 Psychology and Culture Heider: Chapter 5
Ferraro: Article 8

7 2/24 Patterns of Production Heider: Chapter 6
Ferraro: Article 6

8 3/3 Distribution and Consumption Heider: Chapter 7
Ferraro: Article 5

9 3/10 Midterm Examination
Marriage and Family Heider: Chapter 8*
Ferraro: Article 7*

10 3/17 Social Organization and Kinship Heider: Chapter 9
Ferraro: Article 11*

11 3/24 Power and Politics Heider: Chapter 10
Ferraro: Article 12

12 3/31 Facing the Supernatural: Magic, Religion & Ritual Heider: Chapter 11
Ferraro: Articles 13 & 14
*Homework based on these readings due the following week.
13 4/7 NO Class - Spring Break

14 4/14 The Cultural Construction of Gender & Sexuality Heider: Chapter 12
Ferraro: Article 9

15 4/21 The Cultural Construction of Gender & Sexuality Heider: Chapter 12
continued Ferraro: Article 10
16 4/28 Culture Change Heider: Chapter 13
Ferraro: Article 15

17 5/5 Medical Anthropology and the Future Heider: Chapter 14
Ferraro: Article 16

18 5/12 Course Review - Class Potluck
Term Paper DUE

19 5/19 Final Examination

 
Homework

Every week you should plan to complete homework based on the readings and film viewing assignments for that week. Written homework assignments should be typed or legibly hand-written and include your name, the due date, and the headings as described below.

ALL Homework Assignments are graded CREDIT/HALF CREDIT/NO CREDIT (see below)

Weekly Homework Assignments:
1)Read the week's assigned chapter in Heider and turn in your written answers to the set-up questions for the "Seeing Anthropology" film. Heading should read: Set-up Questions for (Film Title) in Heider, Chapter (List Chapter number).
2)Read the week's assigned article in Ferraro and turn in your written answers to the discussion questions listed at the end of the article. Heading should read: Discussion Questions for (Article Title) in Ferraro, (Article Number).

DUE DATE: Chapters and Articles

1/20: Set-up Questions for The Goddess and the Computer in Heider, Chapter 1
Set-up Questions for Latah in Heider, Chapter 2
Discussion Questions for Body Ritual Among the Nacirema in Ferraro, Article 1

1/27: Set-up Questions for Neighborhood Tokyo and Dead Birds in Heider, Chapter 3
Discussion Questions for Queer Customs in Ferraro, Article 2

2/3: Set-up Questions for Box of Treasures in Heider, Chapter 4
Discussion Questions for Rapport-talk and Report-talk in Ferraro, Article 3

2/10: Discussion Questions for The Sounds of Silence in Ferraro, Article 4

2/17: Set-up Questions for How to Behave in Heider, Chapter 5
Discussion Questions for Death without Weeping in Ferraro, Article 8

2/24: Set-up Questions for Dani Sweet Potatoes in Heider, Chapter 6
Discussion Questions for The Domestication of Wood in Haiti in Ferraro, Article 6

3/3: Set-up Questions for Appeals to Santiago in Heider, Chapter 7
Discussion Questions for Eating Christmas in the Kalahari in Ferraro, Article 5

3/10: Midterm Examination - No homework due

3/17: Set-up Questions for Dadi's Family in Heider, Chapter 8
Set-up Questions for The Nuer in Heider, Chapter 9
Discussion Questions for Arranging a Marriage in India in Ferraro, Chapter 7

3/24: Set-up Questions for the Cows of Dolo Ken Paye in Heider, Chapter 10
Discussion Questions for The Kpelle Moot in Ferraro, Article 11
Discussion Questions for Anthropology and the Counterinsurgency in Ferraro, Article 12

3/31: Set-up Questions for El Sebou': Egyptian Birth Ritual in Heider, Chapter 11
Discussion Questions for The Notion of Witchcraft Explains Unfortunate Events
in Ferraro, Article 13
Discussion Questions for Baseball Magic in Ferraro, Article 14

4/7: No Homework Due - Spring Break

4/14: Set-up Questions for N!ai: The Story of a !Kung Woman in Heider, Chapter 12
Discussion Questions for Society and Sex Roles in Ferraro, Article 9
4/21: Discussion Questions for Women and Men in !Kung Society in Ferraro, Article 10

4/28: Set-up Questions for Trobriand Cricket in Heider, Chapter 13
Discussion Questions for Steel Axes for Australians in Ferraro, Article 15

5/5: Set-up Questions for The Medium is the Massuese in Heider, Chapter 14
Set-up Questions for House of the Spirit in Heider, Chatper 14
Discussion Questions for Globalization and Thomas Friedman in Ferraro, Article 16