ANT 2233 INTRODUCTION TO CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY

Spring 1998, TR 12:30-1:45, Wilson 103
Instructor: Richard Burns
Office: Wilson 213
Office phone: 972-3043
Office hours: TR 8:30-9:30 AM; 2-2:45 PM; or by appointment

Required Texts:

Hicks and Gwynne, Cultural Anthropology, 2nd edition (=CA).
Chagnon, Yanomamö, 5th edition.
Farrer, Thunder Rides a Black Horse, 2nd edition.

Course Outline (subject to modification):

Jan. 6: Course Introduction
8: The Nature of Anthropology (CA, Ch. 1)
13: The Concept and Nature of Culture (CA, Ch. 2)
15: Theories in Anthropology (CA, Ch. 3)
20: Fieldwork and Ethnographic Research (CA, Ch. 4)
22: Fieldwork among the Yanomamo (Yanomamö, pp. 1-43)
27: Examination #1
29: Language and Culture (CA, Ch. 5)
Feb. 3: Language and Culture (Video: American Tongues)
5: Subsistence Patterns (CA, Ch. 6)
10: Subsistence Patterns (Yanomamö, pp. 45-97)
12: Economic Systems (CA, Ch. 7)
17: Sex, Gender, and Culture (CA, Ch. 8)
19: Family and Descent (CA, Ch. 9)
24: Examination #2
26: Marriage (CA, Ch. 10)
Mar. 3: Groups and Social Stratification (CA, Ch. 11)
5: Ethnography #1: The Yanomamo (Yanomamö, pp. 121-158)
10: Political Organization (CA, Ch. 12;Yanomamö, pp. 159-183)
12: Warfare and Alliance (Yanomamö, pp. 185-226)
17: Spring Break
19: Spring Break
24: Belief Systems (CA, Ch. 13; Yanomamö, pp. 99-119)
26: Examination #3
31: Belief Systems - Sample Ethnography #2: Thunder Rides a Black Horse (pp. 1-39)
Apr. 2: Ethnography #2: Thunder Rides a Black Horse (pp. 41-82)
7: Ethnography #2: Thunder Rides a Black Horse (pp. 83-108)
9: Expressive Culture (CA, Ch. 14)
14: Folklore
16: No class: Delta Studies Symposium IV (attendance of one symposium session is required--more on this later)
21: Culture and the Human Body (CA, Ch. 15)
23: Culture Change (CA, Ch. 16; Yanomamo, pp. 227-260)
28: Catch-up and review
May 5: Final Examination, 12:30-2:30 PM Course Requirements

1. Examinations. (27 Jan., 24 Feb., 26 Mar., and 5 May). These will be objective and use a variety of testing methods. The final will have a comprehensive component, and is mandatory to pass the course; otherwise, each exam counts 20% of your final grade.

2. Reading Quizzes. Expect short multiple-choice quizzes over assigned readings, which I will frequently give at the beginning of class. Since I will give numerous quizzes during the semester, I will average your ten best scores, which will count 20% of your final grade. There are no make-up quizzes, regardless of the reason(s) you might miss taking one or more. To take a quiz, you must be seated at the time I distribute it.

3. Make-Up Work. Exams can be made up only with a verified, justifiable excuse (illness, serious family emergency, university business, inclement weather [commuter students only]). A make-up examination must be taken within one week of a student's return to class. If you do not take a required exam, you will receive a zero for 20% of your final average. Quizzes may not be made up under any circumstances (see #2).

4. Attendance Policy. The university attendance policy specifies that missing more than two weeks' worth of classes (four classes) without a verified, justifiable excuse (illness, serious family emergency, university business, inclement weather [commuter students only]) may result in a failing grade for the course. However, I have moderated this policy for this course by lowering your final average by one grade if you miss six classes and failing you if you miss eight. Leaving a class immediately after taking a quiz will be considered an absence. Similarly, excessive tardiness will also be considered an absence.

5. Grading Scale. The numerical ranges of letter grades for mid-term and final reports will be: A = 90-100, B = 80-89, C = 70-79, D = 60-69, F = below 60.