Cultural Anthropology

Instructor:  Todd Holmberg

 

The term anthropology instills visions of Indiana Jones acquiring artifacts of antiquity or archaeologists scraping for bone fragments of an extinct species of man.  While these visions are indeed accurate, they make up only a small portion of the field of anthropology.  In the next several weeks, we will delve into culture, the products of human existence.  It is my goal to challenge you to discover the universality of the elements of human culture and to understand why there is such a degree of variance in how man achieves these elements.  I am very excited to be able to share the fascinating field of Cultural Anthropology with you this semester.

 

TEXT and OTHER SOURCES

You will be issued a copy of Introduction to Cultural Anthropology by Bailey and Peoples.  It is a college level textbook, but don’t worry; it is only one source that we will use.  The book is a soft cover and is expensive so please take care of it. There is a supplemental text that you will get next unit as well.  You will also receive many additional articles regarding course topics.  All of the sources of info will be fair game for exams.  You will want to maintain a folder or a three ring binder for these articles.

NOTEBOOK

It would probably be a good idea to maintain a log of class information.  A spiral notebook would be great. All discussion notes will be posted on my website. 

EVALUATION

You will be graded on everything that you do for this class. I always expect you to do your best in and out of the classroom.  Your grade will be determined by a cumulative amount of points in the following categories:

 

Exams

There will be unit exams following the conclusion of each unit of study.  They are difficult.  Information from class discussion, text, supplemental articles, and audio-visual sources will all be eligible for the exam material.  Exams will make up approximately 35% of your grade.  Make up exams will be given after school within two days of the student’s return to class.  Cheating of any kind on a test will result in a zero.

 

Homework

Written homework will be somewhat infrequent.  There will, however, be frequent readings in the text or in supplemental articles. Homework will comprise approximately 35% of your grade.  Collaboration with homework is a good thing, but all written work must be written in the student’s own words or will not be accepted.  Late homework, for any reason, will be reduced by 50%.  Late work will only be accepted during the unit of study to which it relates.

In Class Work

Many assignments for Cultural Anthropology will be done in class.  Most will involve a presentation of your work to the class.  Your concerted efforts during class will be essential to your success and the success of your classmates this semester.  Your efforts with in-class work will make up roughly 20% of your grade.

Quizzes

Quizzes will be announced and unannounced or not used at all.  They will make up an undetermined amount of points throughout the semester. Cheating of any kind on a quiz will result in a zero.

Class Participation

This course is a discussion course.  Your ideas and opinions are desired and are necessary for our class to be successful.   This class is an elective, so make it fun.  TALK and learn from each other.  This is where the class truly depends on you.   I guarantee that you will not be disappointed if you put in the effort.  Come to class prepared with a positive attitude, ready to be active in your own learning.   Due to the personal nature of class discussions, it will be imperative that you will show the utmost respect for your colleagues.   All put-downs, disruptive behavior, and negatives are obviously not welcome in our classroom. Class participation will make up about 10% of your grade. So get used to it!

 

The Indigenous Culture Study

Each student, in a group, will complete a research project on an indigenous culture.  Your analysis of this culture will demonstrate the knowledge that you gained throughout this course.  Your research will be presented in a paper that will be turned into the instructor.  The information from this paper will be delivered orally to our class. The Indigenous Culture Study is a course requirement.  You must submit a paper and present it to receive a passing grade.   More information will follow regarding this assignment.  The culture study is 20% of your semester grade. 

1st Qtr= 40%       2nd Qtr=40%     ICS =20%

A =90%  B=80%  C=70%    D =60%    F =59%

 

 

 
 

 

 

CONTACTING ME

If you need extra help, I am available before and after school, fourth, fifth, and eighth hour. If you need to call me, my office phone number is 420-6456 and my voice mail is 420-6966  ext. 4100.    My email address is tholmberg@naperville203.org. Class information such as this syllabus and the course schedule is available at my web page on the school website.  The school’s web site is www.ncusd203.org/central.  Look under the tab “What we do” and then look under “Academic Departments.” My site is listed there.

The actual address is http://www.ncusd203.org/central/html/what/humanities/holmberg/index.html

 

I am excited for the semester to begin.  I am hopeful you will walk away from this class more open and knowledgeable about the world in which you live.

Mr. H