Introduction to Anthropology

ANT 105 004

Fall 2009

 

Dr. Nora Reber

TR 11:00 AM-12:15 PM

SBS 205, x-7734

SB 210

Office Hours  MW 1-2 PM T 3:30-4:30 PM

http://www.uncwil.edu/people/rebere

And by appointment

rebere@uncw.edu

 

Course Description:  Anthropology 105 is an introduction to the four fields that make up anthropology as a whole: cultural anthropology, archaeology, physical/biology anthropology, and linguistics.  Since anthropology is the study of human beings from their first evolution to the present day, a very large field of study is included in this class.  Luckily for all of us, the goal of this class is not to thoroughly understand all of this information.  The goal of this class is to understand the wide range of issues covered by the fields of anthropology, the ways in which these issues are studied by specialists in the field, and the practical effects of the questions covered by anthropological study.  In order to survey such a wide range of issues, the class is structured in a standard lecture format, with small group exercises and class discussions.

 

Evaluation: Grading in this class will be based upon the three exams (65% total), classwork (25%), and class participation/attendance (10%).

 

Attendance: In general, you should give Dr. Reber a valid or creative excuse before an absence.  More than three absences without a good excuse will lead to progressive reductions of the class participation/attendance grade.

 

Makeup Work:  Assignments not turned in on time due to an excused absence may be turned in for full credit for up to two weeks after the original absence.  After that, 10% of the points are deducted per week.  Assignments not turned in on time due to an unexcused absence may be turned in for half credit up to two weeks after the original absence, and after that 10% of the points are deducted per week.  An excused late assignment turned in four weeks late is worth 80% of the original point total.  An unexcused assignment turned in four weeks late is worth 30% of the original point total. Simply put—MAKE UP YOUR EXERCISES WITHIN TWO WEEKS!!  Excused long absences due to illness, family problems or other disasters should be negotiated with Dr. Reber—she should be notified as soon as you know you have a serious problem. 

 

Exams: There will be three exams over the course of the semester, each covering one of the three major units that we will discuss over the course of the semester.  The first exam (cultural anthropology unit) will be September 22, the second (biological anthropology unit) will be October 29, and the third exam (archaeology unit) will be on our final date, which is Tuesday, December 8, at 11:30AM-2:30 PM.  There will be review sheets for each exam, which will be both posted on the class website at least a week before the exam, and passed out in class at least a week before each exam.  There will be a short in-class review session for the 1st and 3rd exams.  If people are interested in longer review sessions for those exams, or an in-class review session for the 2nd exam, I am open to scheduling one outside of regular class time.  The exams will all be in short answer/essay format, with perhaps some matching.  I don’t do multiple choice.

 

Reading Assignments:  The textbook for this class is Clifford Kottak’s Anthropology: the Exploration of Human Diversity, 13th ed.  Readings from this text will be assigned throughout.  The 12th edition of the same textbook will be fine, as long as you check with Dr. Reber in order to learn which chapters have been changed between the two editions.  Additional readings will be placed on electronic reserve in the library.  For the status of reserves, check the website or Dr. Reber.  If papers have been lost, mangled, unlinked, or scrambled, e-mail Dr. Reber immediately! 

 

Written Assignments:  Assignments will be handed out throughout the class as either homework or in-class assignments. 

 

Web Page:  The class web page is linked to Dr. Reber’s personal web page, http://www.uncwil.edu/people/rebere.  The syllabus, course assignments, related links, and text of assignments will be posted on this site, as well as a brief schedule of readings and class topics coming up.  Occasional web bonus points will be posted on the web page that will not be mentioned in class.  The finer points of the class schedule will ALWAYS be posted, and may be viewed as official; Dr. Reber posts dates and information on the web so that she doesn’t have to remember it—always check the web first!

UNCW Honor Code (straight from the Handbook):  The University of North Carolina Wilmington is a community of high academic standards where academic integrity is valued. UNCW students are committed to honesty and truthfulness in academic inquiry and in the pursuit of knowledge.  This commitment begins when new students matriculate at UNCW, continues as they create work of the highest quality while part of the university community, and endures as a core value throughout their lives.

UNCW Honor Pledge:  As a student at The University of North Carolina Wilmington, I am committed to honesty and truthfulness in academic inquiry and in the pursuit of knowledge.  I pledge to uphold and promote the UNCW Student Academic Honor Code.

Help:  Dr. Reber will always be happy to help you during office hours and through e-mail (with a reasonable response time).  If you want or need more assistance, the University Learning Center offers free help, including tutoring for all basic studies courses such as this one.  You can find the Learning Center on the first floor of Westside Hall (WE 1056).  Its phone # is 962-7857 and its website is www.uncw.edu/ulc.  It is open M-R 8am–9pm; F 8am–5pm, and Sunday 3pm–9pm.

 

Odds, Ends, and Pet Peeves:  Please turn off cell phones in class!!

 

Point totals will be handed back to students twice during the semester—when both the first and second exams are graded and given back.  Anyone wanting point totals at any other times should ask Dr. Reber.  Grades and point totals may be sent via e-mail if you give permission.  Please keep in mind that basic mathematics applies to the grades—even if you turn in late assignments for 50%, you will need a B in other categories to get a C in the class.  Since 10 bonus points are offered per semester, point grubbing is, well, pointless and will be ignored.

 

You may not take exams while wearing any sort of electronic listening device—ipods, etc.