Welcome! Introduction to Cultural Anthropology is a course designed to expose students to nonwestern cultures, to compare other societies to western cultures, and to expand their knowledge of the world. By studying things like art, religion, kinship, food production, marriage patterns, and so on, students come to understand the social science of anthropology through the observations of everyday behaviors.
Instructor: Maia Greenwell-Cunningham
Office Hours: Mondays 7:30-8:00 am 11:30-12:30, Tuesdays 10:00-11:30 am, Wednesdays 11:30-12:30, Thursdays 10:00-11:30 am or by appointment.
Virtual Office Hours: By appointment using MSN instant messenger user name mgcanthropology - Please email me to set up appointments.
Office Phone/Voice Mail: (626) 852-8086
E-mail Address: mcunningham@citruscollege.edu
Mailing Address:
Maia Greenwell-Cunningham
Citrus College Behavioral Sciences Department
1000 West Foothill Boulevard
Glendora, California 91741-1899
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Introduction to Cultural Anthropology is a course designed to expose students to nonwestern cultures to expand their knowledge of the world.
By studying things like art, religion, kinship, food production, marriage patterns and so on, students come to understand the social science of anthropology through the observations of everyday behaviors.
COURSE GOALS
By the end of the semester students will have an understanding of cultural anthropology and be able to comfortably use anthropological terms, and to have a solid foundation on which to base further education. Students will have a firm grasp of what it means to take a distance education course and can inform other students of its benefits and challenges.
REQUIRED MATERIALS
You have a bundle of books/website for this class. It includes ONE chapter textbook (Bonvillain), ONE reader/article book (Spradly/Greenwell), and ONE website myanthrolab.com All three are bundled together either in an online format or a hard copy format. You may purchase one of two ways its up to you but these are the ONLY way to get the books (ask me if you have questions). I have done this for you to make it as CHEAP as possible!! You will also be signed up automatically for blackboard which is the holding area for the syllabus, class instructions, review sheets for the exams, and class powerpoints. You can also email each other from there.
TRADITIONAL HARD COPY BOOK WAY (this is the more expensive way and please note you CAN NOT sell back the bundle at the end of the semester the bookstore won’t take the cheapest books back, but you CAN resell to a new student if you want).
You can purchase a hard copy traditional book from the Owl Bookshop You will get the chapter book in a binder (makes it cheap), a small reader textbook, and a card with an access code that will allow you to register for myanthrolab.com
OR
ONLINE BOOK WAY
I have a PORTAL page where you access and pay for the bundle. Both books are in an ECOPY book version. Go to http://www.pearsoncustom.com/ca/citrus_anthro/ and click on PURCHASE ACCESS and follow the steps.
- Go to http://www.pearsoncustom.com/ca/citrus_anthro/
- Click on purchase access
- The license page will pop up hit “I accept”
- It will say “myanthrolab for cultural anthropology”
- Click on if you have an account or need an account (you will need one)
- Continue with the steps, use your debit/credit card to pay and away you go!!
- REMEMBER to write down your log on and password you need them everytime!
ONCE YOU PURCHASE HOW YOU GET TO THE ONLINE WEBSITE FOR EITHER JUST MYANTHROLAB (the card that came with the traditional books) OR THE WEBSITE AND EBOOKS (you just purchased online)
Go to http://www.pearsoncustom.com/ca/citrus_anthro/ and click on LOGIN
If you have ANY questions whatsoever do NOT purchase anything until you talk to me! :)
Technical Needs:
- Reliable Internet Access
- Working email address
- Ability to send and receive attachments in MICROSOFT WORD SAVED AS A .doc, a .docx or as an .rtf FILE. I can also accept .pdf but you won't get your comments within the file (its the word comment feature). If you have a MAC save as an .rtf trust me it just works better!!
PLEASE NOTE THAT IF YOU HAVE TECHNICAL FAILURE YOU NEED A BACK UP. THE SCHOOL HAS COMPUTER LABS FOR FREE MAKE A PLAN FOR JUST IN CASE!! I'M HAPPY TO GIVE YOU A FEW DAYS IF AT SOME POINT YOUR COMPUTER FREAKS OUT BUT YOU DO NOT GET TO SAY HEY MY COMPUTER BROKE CAN I TURN IN ALL 15 WEEKS OF WORK ON THE LAST DAY? Uh no.....
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
- Students will email the professor at the beginning of the first week to note presence in the class and email address
- Students will turn in eight weekly discussion questions pertaining to readings and related web sites. See the discussion questions link for details
- Students will write four, short papers based on article readings available in the custom reader. See the short paper guidelines link for details
- Students will take two quizzes a midterm and a final worth 50 points each watch the message board postings from the prof on when and how to
- Students will participate in class discussion based on readings, discussion questions, related web sites, and personal observations. See student interaction link for details. Class interaction is crucial to success, without full interaction points it is impossible to receive an A in the class no matter how well you do on other assignments. Make sure to contact the professor with any questions regarding the message boards and chat rooms.
- Students will check the "announcements from the prof" conference on the message boards frequently to check for changes and updates
- Students will keep a copy of all e-mail sent to the professor in case of computer problems. It is the students' responsibility to make sure the professor receives all work. Homework will not be returned. The professor will respond to all homework with a "received" reply. If the student does not get a "received" reply the professor did not get the materials. It is the student’s responsibility to save the "received" reply emails in case of confusion. CITRUS EMAIL DOESN'T ALWAYS LIKE TO WORK WITH ATTACHMENTS. IF YOU DO NOT SAVE EVERYTHING YOU COULD BE IN TROUBLE SO SAVE YOUR WORK!!
- Any student caught cheating will automatically fail the class and will be recommended for student discipline, no exceptions
- Students will follow the rules of conduct as outlined in the Citrus Student Handbook
- Students will immediately report all e-mail/computer problems to the professor and it is the students responsibility to complete the course even in the face of computer failure
ON-CAMPUS MEETING SCHEDULE
There are no required meetings on campus. You are of course welcome to visit me during office hours or make an appointment, but on campus visits are not required. Please note if you wish to use the free textbooks you must come to the campus library.
GRADING AND ASSESSMENT
Grades are based on:
- Two 50 point quizzes, 100 points total
- Four short papers based on Haviland/Gordon readings and discussion questions - 25 points each -- 100 points total
- Eight sets of Discussion questions 20 points each -- 160 points total
- Participation points: 100 points total
460 points possible for the course. Divide the total points earned by the total points possible to receive a percentage. Please note that interaction is crucial to your total grade. If you do not complete your required 100 points of interaction regardless of how well you do on all other assignments you cannot earn an A.
Students often ignore this and then get very angry with me at the end of the semester when their grade is much lower than they expect. I am very serious and I am giving you fair warning INTERACTION IS MANDATORY (but don't panic its easy).
Grades are based on standard below:
90-100% = A
80-89% = B
70-79% = C
60-69% = D
Below 60% = F