ANTH 1000
Anthropology: The Human Challenge, 14th Edition
Will an older version of the book work? Yes, it will, but I would not go earlier than the 13th edition. Version 13 will not be as up-to-date, but many of the concepts will be exactly the same. The textbook is not necessary until the last third of the quarter, although it will help considerably with the first part of the class.
BlackboardAnthropology is the study of humans. It is a synthesis of several different areas of study related to understanding what we are. Anthropology often emphasizes an extrinsic approach; one attempts to take a step back from one’s own culture and instinct to observe humans neutrally. Synthesizing information from such a perspective allows the discovery of patterns and processes related to the human condition that are extremely enlightening, especially when this perspective is combined with an appreciation of time. Anthropology combines fields as diverse as ethnography, archaeology, molecular biology, anatomy, cultural evolution, paleontology, medicine, forensics, language, evolutionary biology, economics, sociology, and psychology. Anthropology's unifying concepts are its focus on understanding humans and groups of humans, its holistic approach to this endeavor, and its emphasis on revealing our place in nature.
Student Learning Outcomes
After taking this class, students should be able to:
•identify, summarize and sequence the basic schools of anthropological thought in all four academic sub-fields of the discipline at an introductory level.
• apply basic qualitative and quantitative anthropology research methods and skills at an introductory level.
• examine human diversity holistically and scientifically, discriminating among and analyzing conceptions and misconceptions of ethnicity, “race,” and human biological variation at an introductory level.
• identify pragmatic uses of anthropological methods and perspectives in approaching real-world solutions, and identify instances of and opportunities for applications of anthropological tools and ideas in employment and community development, both locally and globally at an introductory level.
• perceive social groups and human diversity sensitively, realisitcally, effectively, and respectfully, evaluating social groups and situations while recognizing recognize ones own biases and stereotypes (ethnocentrism)
• develop a sense of global citizenship through appreciation of diverse experiences as sources of enrichment in your own life, your community, and your society(s);
• define a singular humanity by understanding human evolution and the essential similarity of all humans.
• understand the archaeological evidence for why we know we are not currently immune to overdevelopment, ecological disaster, and other large-scale failures.
• Consider the perspectives of various societies and people toward globalization and development.
If you have a documented disability and wish to discuss academic accommodations, or if you would need assistance in the event of an emergency evacuation, please contact me as soon as possible. Students with disabilities needing accommodation should speak with the Accessibility Services.
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By enrolling in this class the student agrees to uphold the standards of academic integrity described at academic dishonesty policy.
Notes, Quiz, and Exams:
There will be a quiz and two exams (a mid-term and a final exam). They are short-answer, multiple choice, and short essay questions. I expect you to come to class prepared and to have read the assigned material BEFORE class.
You will be evaluated on your effective participation in class discussions. Notes are to be re-copied using a word processor and submitted via blackboard (find this under COURSE MATERIALS in BlackBoard). One week's notes are dropped from the grade (you can miss one turn-in).
A wide range of student backgrounds are represented in big introductory classes. There are many attendance problems and many issues with classroom focus and lecture comprehension. A big part of a professor's job is addressing these issues, and this is the only way I can do it. But I know that many people have developed their own successful note taking habits. For this reason if you get A's on the exams you can elect to not turn in notes and your grade will not be affected, but why take the chance? Notes are graded subjectively.
Attendance:
Roll will be taken on random days. Missed days will negatively affect your participation grade. Missed exams, quizzes, or assignment deadlines MUST be cleared beforehand. If you get sick, go to the doctor and get a note. No note, no makeup.
Email:
Email will generally be addressed during office hours. Email must relate to course material or academic advice. ALWAYS put "ANTH 1000" in the subject or I WILL NOT RESPOND. It may take me two or three days to respond. This is especially true on the days just before exams. Also, expect emails to be terse and pointed. Due to the high volume of emails I will answer questions in a rather mechanical way.
Grading:
Notes: 10%; Quiz: 20%; Midterm: 30%; Final exam: 40%
Grading will be based on a curve, but watch out! The class average is set to a B. One standard deviation above this is an A. One standard deviation below this is a C. But here is the tricky part: C+ and A- are only 1/10 of a standard deviation from the mean, and there are no B+’s or B-’s. This means that there are NOT VERY MANY B’s, and that there are a lot of A-’s and C+’s. The grade of a D is assigned to grades that are 1.67 standard deviations below the mean. The grade of F is assigned to grades that are lower than 2 standard deviations from the mean.
Here is a table that you can use to figure out your grades (AVE=average score; StDEV=standard deviation):
A/A- cutoff AVE+StDEV
A-/B cutoff AVE+(.1*StDEV)
B/C+ cutoff AVE-(.5*StDEV)
C+/C cutoff AVE-StDEV
C/C- cutoff AVE-(1.33*StDEV)
C-/D cutoff AVE-(1.67*StDEV)
D/F cutoff AVE-(2*StDEV)
