INTRODUCTION TO ANTHROPOLOGY - ANT111

Cave Sculpture of Bison from Southern France

Fr. Raymond A Bucko, S.J.
Administration Building Room 335
Spring Semester 2005
Tu Th 9:30 - 10:45 am

Course Schedule

Virtual Classroom

COURSE DESCRIPTION AND GOALS:

This course provides an introductory survey to the basic theory and practice of the four classic fields of anthropology: physical anthropology; archaeology; linguistics; and cultural anthropology. The goal of the course is to stimulate independent reasoning and judgement by addressing profound questions and using rigorous standards to engage in analysis. We will accomplish this by focusing on:

• the physical evolution of the human species,
• the structure and usage of language and its relationship to culture
• the reconstruction of the past through archaeological analysis,
• the development of scientific analsisof culture, the creation of ethnographic materials.

Anthropologists examine culture comparatively and holistically to understand similarities, differences, and interconnectedness through globalization. In this couse we also examine the ethical implications of scientific research on culture. The student will become familiar with the basic concepts of anthropology, its subdisciplines, methods utilized to study and understand other cultures, and the general theories of culture itself. The student will also develop research skills by learning how to critically utilize the internet as a source of research and ethnographic information. Observational and analytical skills will be honed through four field trips. The course concludes with the analysis of an ethnographic text. Ethnography is the process of describing and analyzing a particular culture through a written account. It stands as the hallmark of the discipline of Anthropology.
 

COURSE FORMAT:

The course will be divided into lectures, films and group discussions conducted both in-class and via the medium of the interent. Basic concepts and issues will be covered both in class and in the readings. Students are expected to view films on their own at the College library.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Office: Administration Building 433

Office Hours (please sign for an appointment on my door):
Tuesday 8::00 - 9:00 AM
Wednesday 1:00 - 3:00 PM
Thursday 8:00 - 9:00 AM
and by appointment

Phone:
OFFICE EX 3587
HOME EX 3115 (do not call after 9:00 PM)

E-mail Address: bucko@creighton.edu
Mail for Fr. Bucko There will be a sign-up sheet on my office door. Please sign up for as much time as you think will be necessary.

E-Mail Office Hours:
I normally check my e-mail several times a day. I receive over 100 e-mail messages a day. Generally you will receive a brief reply from me. I am not being dismissive of your message but expeditious in working through my mail. If you find my response inadequate, please notify me and I will respond again more fully. If your question or request is complicated, I may ask you to sign up for office hours rather than respond to you by e-mail. Because I encourage electronic communications, I guarantee that I will check my e-mail and respond to your questions and requests at minimum on the following days and times:

Monday 6:00 AM

Wednesday 6:00 AM

Friday 6:00 AM

 

COURSE TEXTS:

These required texts can be obtained through the bookstore:

Abu-Lughod, Lila. Veiled Sentiments: Honor and Poetry in a Bedouin Society. Berkely: University of California Press. Updated Edition with a New Preface. 1999.

Sculpin, Raymond, and DeCorse, Christopher. Anthropology: A Global Perspective Fifth Edition. Engelwood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall. 2004.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

• Attendance: If you miss more than three classes you will lose a half grade for each excessive absence. If you miss more than three days without notifying the professor ahead of time, you will be in danger of failing the class.
• ACTIVE Class participation: You are expected to read the texts, view films, and answer pertinent questions BEFORE each class. Readings and assignments are due on the date they are listed in the Syllabus. Thus, the readings for September 14th are to be read for the class to be held on September 14th. Participation includes the following:
  • speaking in class,
  • adding sites to our anthropology research page that you have found while surfing the net to the BSCW,
  • using the academic resources of the college such as writing center and office hours which the professor holds.
    You are also expected to check the on-line course page at least twice a week for new material. Attendance, deep thought, attentiveness, and interest are all vital to your success in class but represent passive participation. Active participation enhances the educational experience for everyone in the class. You will be asked to evaluate our own participation performance twice during the semester. It pays to examine the self-evaluation form ahead of time to see the criteria for evaluation. The professor will take your own evaluation into consideration when formulating your participation grade.
• Four Field Events: Students are required to spend two hours each at the Henry Doorly Zoo ( at a discounted $5.50 fee), Surfing the Net, the Joslyn Museum, and observing a Good Friday ritual. You are expected to go on your own time-- you are compensated during the semester with a certain number of class periods free. The professor has designated these compensation days on the course page below. You can vist the Joslyn Museum free of cost. Creighton students need only show their id cards to gain admission to the museum. It is recommended that you advise the minister or other Church leader where you will observe Good Friday that you will be there respectfully for a school project.
• Four Short Papers: Each student is required to write four 3 - 5 page papers during the semester on each of the four field events. One paper is on observations of a single group of primates at the Henry Doorly Zoo. You will be admitted to the zoo at a discounted $6.75 fee. Your professor will distrubute tickets that will be scanned at the Zoo so that you reveive the discounted admission. If you go before I receive these tickets you will need to go to the Visitor's Services Entrance between the Imax Theater and the Main Entrance and identify yourself as a member of this class. The second paper is an investigation of an ethical issue in archaeology on the web. The third paper is an ethnographic field experience: observing a Good Friday ritual. The fourth paper is an analysis of an exhibit at the Joslyn Museum or a report on an event you attended that is not part of your own cultural experience.
• Eight quizzes: Each student will take 8 quizzes on the reading and lecture material. The lowest quiz will be dropped. There are no make-up quizzes. If you miss one quiz that is the one that will be dropped.
• Four Exams: Three exams are on the course material to that date (non-cumulative) and the final exam is selectively comprehensive.
• Regular electronic contact: You are expected to read your e-mail at least every other day and respond when appropriate. You are also expected to participate in our list discussion. To write a message to the list use the address: ant111@creighton.edu

PAPER TOPICS:

Details on how to write each paper are linked to the course schedule.

Paper #1 Physical Anthropology
You will visit the Henry Doorly Zoo to observe primate social behavior and compare them to aspects of human behavior.

Paper #2 Archaeology
You are asked to identify a site on the web that deals with ethincs and archaeology and write an anlaysis of the site and the ethical issues presented.

Paper #4 Field Research
You will observe a Good Friday ritual in a Church not of your own denomination and write an ethnographic account of the event.

Paper #3 Cultural Anthropology
You will visit the Joslyn Museum to review the Western Art and to discuss issues of cultural representation.

PAPER SUBMISSION:

The printed versions of your papers are each to be 3 - 5 complete pages long, 12 point Font, and 1 inch margins on all sides of each page. Please use spell-check to proof for spelling errors. A visit to the Writing Center for review of your draft will greatly improve clarity. You may also ask me to review a draft of your paper before submission provided you give me sufficient time to read the paper and meet with you again.

A half letter grade will be deducted for each day an assignment is late unless there are special circumstances and the professor is notified no less than 24 hours before the assignment is due. Note that missing the class on the day which an assignment is due does not give you an extension for the assigment. You need to notify the professor why you were absent for that day and turn in your paper that day unless you have made previous arrangments or there are extenuating circumstances.

For each of the four papers required this semester you are required to submit both a hard copy of the paper and a digital copy which you will upload to the proper folder on the BSCW. I do this for two reasons: 1) I link examples of outstanding papers to the course page for the rest of the class to read provided I have the permission of the authors; 2) I maintain a digital database of previous papers to ensure that there is no plagiarism in these assignments either among classmates or from year to year. If there is a suspicion of plagiarism I will utilize copyfind to susbtantiate or disprove the suspicion. On each of your papers you are requeired to provide the following information: Name, Course Number (ANT111), Course Section (A or B or C), File Type (Microsoft Word 2000, Word Perfectetc.). If you are using a MAC or Microsoft Works please save your paper in Rich Text Fromat (RTF) before uploading it to the BSCW. You do not have to digitally submit ancillary materials such as field notes in digital form unless you wish to do so. If you are not technologically inclined I am most willing to help you provided you come for office hours well in advance of the due date for the first paper, preferably in the first two weeks of the semester.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:

Students are required to adhere to the requirements of integrity as outlined in the Creighton University Creighton College of Arts & Sciences Committee on Academic Policy, Discipline, and Appeals. Students are expected to interact with each other in a way which will enhance the learning experience of all and which is never destructive of other pesons. Because of the importance of acknowledged collaboration, students are required to cite all assistance, including that gained from peers. Students must never plagiarize. The professor maintains an audit policy for this course to both reward extraordinary performance and to guard against misuse of sources. Infringements of academic integrity will be delt with according to Creighton University norms.

MUTUAL EXPECTATIONS :

Below are mutual expectations for this course. I invite students to amplify the list for this specific course for both expections of me and of yourselves.

You can expect me to :

• be on time for class and office hours
• be prepared for class
• return tests and papers promptly with sufficient comments so you understand why you received the grade you received
• distribute grade reports electronically so you can check the accuracy of my gradebook and know your standing in the class at any given time
• allow students to question grades without prejudice and, when asked, re-evaluate work based on the material you initially gave me
• be respectful and attentive when you speak
• give prior notice of any necessary changes made in the syllabus and make additions or alterations only with the consensus of the class
• treat you with respect, fairness and impartiality
• tell jokes and make humorous remarks, some of which may actually be funny
• create at least one opportunity for students to socialize with each other and the professor over a gourmet meal

I expect you to:

• be on time for class (Note: When people arrive late for class, they interrupt the work that has begun. If you are late, I believe an explanation is due us immediately after class.)
• do all assignments on time and be prepared for class by completing all the required readings and pre-discussions
• sign up for office hours at least 24 hours before the actual appointment and be on time for the appointment.
• be respectful and attentive when I speak and when your classmates speak. Never hold a private conversaion in class once we have begun.
• treat each other and me with respect consistent with the norm of academic freedom and the Jesuit tradition's focus on the dignity that is due all individuals
• not leave class once it has begun unless some truly critical situation arises (Note: If you know you must leave class before the period ends, you should explain this to me before class; if you find that you must leave class without prior notice, you should explain the situation to me by the next class meeting.)
• attend class and give prior notice of illness or other events that prevent you from attending class
• give me prior notice of important events/conditions (e.g. disabilities, medical conditions, child and other care-providing obligations, work schedules, etc.) in your life that may influence your performance in the class, if you believe that these events/conditions put you at an unfair disadvantage relative to other students and you believe that there is some way in which I can assist you (Note: prior notice is essential. Once exams are taken and papers turned in, my ability to assist you is extremely limited.)

 

GRADING:

Grades will be determined in the following manner:

Participation	10%
Quizzes	20%
Exams	50%
Papers	20%

Letter Grades are Awarded as Follows:

A	100 - 90
B+	89.9 - 85
B	84.9 - 80
C+	79.9 - 75
C	74.9 - 70
D	69.9 - 65
F	Below 65

A half letter grade will be deducted for each day an assignment is late unless there are special circumstances and the professor is notified no less than 24 hours before the assignment is due.

GRADING CRITERIA:

Participation:
You will be asked to evaluate our own participation performance twice during the semester. It pays to examine the self-evaluation form ahead of time to see the criteria for self-evaluation. The professor will take your own evaluation into consideration when formulating your participation grade.

Papers:
In terms of style and execution I utilize the grading criteria of of the English Department for papers sumbitted to its English 150: Rhetoric and Composition Course. The following are the department's specific norms which I will utilize in this class:

These comments refer to the evaluation of the end product of a lengthy process--the final revised version of a paper, not the first or even the second draft. It is the policy of many composition programs and English departments that global and local revision are vital components of the writing of any student.

An A (outstanding) paper is unique, original, engaging, and full. It will have virtually no grammatical, usage, punctuation, or spelling errors. It has an unique "voice" that reflects an individual writer behind it, and will speak with authority and clarity. It is rich in detail, showing a clear understanding of differences in levels of specificity; it provides justification or support for all general assertions. Its treatment of the topic avoids a feeling of "anonymity." It addresses the assignment directly without avoiding specific requirements.

The B (above average) paper falls short of an A paper usually in two areas: style and development. It has some errors in grammar, usage, punctuation, or spelling, but usually very few; or it has some awkward phrases--but in neither case enough to impede the reading of the paper. Its development is consistently strong, with detail and support present in most, but perhaps not every, instance. Its sense of audience is clear. The B paper addresses the assignment directly and satisfies almost all of its requirements. The B grade is not given to a paper that is not clearly and demonstrably above average.

The C (average) paper addresses the assignment directly and relatively clearly, but without significant depth or clarity. Stylistic errors may be noticeably present, but not in such quantity as to impede the reading in a significant way. A C paper generally provides some support for assertions, but not enough to give the impression of complete thoroughness. The tone and voice of a C paper are fairly clear but often lack a sense of individuality of author or sense of authority. A C paper often has an "anonymous" quality to it, restating standard opinion or assertions without going into significant depth. A C paper is in control of its subject in a reasonable but not yet comprehensive manner.

It is important to note that a C grade on a paper does not mean that the writing, or the student's performance, is in any way poor or substandard. A C means that the work is basically solid and acceptable.

A grade of C+ may be given to a paper whose elements place it in the upper range of C papers, but which is still not of B quality.

The D (below average) paper addresses the assignment only in a brief way, avoiding some of the requirements of the assignment. Many general statements without proof, support, or justification often characterize it. Its usage, grammar, punctuation, or spelling are such that reading the paper is somewhat difficult; it has more than a few such errors per page. It is kept from being an F paper by the fact that it does address the assignment in some way and that it has some structure and does make coherent points.

An F paper has many grammatical, stylistic, punctuation, usage, or diction errors (enough to make reading the paper difficult); it makes few if any coherent assertions about the point; it has little structure; or it has any combination of these problems. A paper which may be acceptable in style and development, but which does not address the assignment at all, may also be given a grade of F.

Special thanks to Bob Whipple for use of these criteria.

Exams:
Examinations will consist in both objective questions of fact to see if the student has a control of the data presented in the course and essay questions which will test the students' ability to synthesize material. Each exam will be graded on a 100 point scale.

Quizzes
Quizzes are designed to keep the students dilligent in reading and note taking. Each quiz will consist in 10 short questions and will test both reading and retention of lecture/discussion material. Quizzes will cover the material from the time after the last quiz (class material but not reading material) up the the reading due for the day the next quiz is administered.

Contesting a Paper Grade:
If a student feels that a paper was not graded accurately the student should do the following: 1) print out the full requirements for that particular paper; 2) print out a copy of the "exemplary student paper" posted to the BSCW, 3) write a single page explanation of why the grade is inaccuarate based on the content of the submitted paper, the paper requirements and the exemplary paper. Note that I cannot grade you on what you intended to say or do or mean unless I have evidence of this in the paper you sbumitted. Please give all this material to the professor and allow 48 hours for a reevaluation of your paper.

ATTENDANCE POLICY:

You are allowed (but not encouraged to use) three excused absences during the semester. If you exceed two unexcused or three excused or a combination of excused and unexcused absences that totals more than three, you will lose a half a grade from your final average (if you have a B you are dropped to C+ for one excessive absence) unless you can demonstrated that you are in a special situation have made arrangements before time with the professor.

An excused absence is defined as an absence in which the student advises the professor by e-mail or phone before the class takes place and the student substantiates the absence through written documentation which is due within seven days of the absence.

SPECIAL NEEDS:

If you have any special learning needs or are in circumstances which necessitate special consideration, please contact me at the beginning of the semester. If you have a documented disability and wish to discuss academic accommodations, please contact me within the first week of class or as soon as possible. Students who believe that they have a disability that may influence their academic performance, but who have not yet had the disability documented, should immediately contact and meet with Denise Le Clair, Coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities. If a student suspects a disability, he or she can meet with Linda Pappas who is the Academic Success Counselor at Creighton's Counseling and Pyschological Services.
 

  North Carolina Algonkian Socio-Spatial Arrangements (De Bry 1619)

COURSE LECTURES AND READINGS:

Please refer to the course schedule for a comprehensive listing of readings and other assignments.

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This page is managed by Rev. Raymond A. Bucko, S.J. of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Creighton University. E-Mail: bucko@creighton.edu Page Last Updated: November 20, 2003

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