Anthropology 207-001: General Archaeology

Dr. Nora Reber &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; MWF 11-11:50 AM

SBS 100 F = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = Spring 2007

X-7734 = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = SBS 210

Office Hours: MW 3:30-4:30, TR 10-11:30 &= nbsp; rebere@uncwil.edu

And by appointment &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; http://www.uncwil.edu/people/r= ebere

Course Description: This class i= s an introduction to general archaeology. General archaeology covers the history of modern humans on the planet for the past 30,000 years or so. This class will not, therefore, attempt to cover all of this period. Instead, we will take= a thematic approach to the past, centering around domestication and farming and its effect on archaeological cultures from the New and Old Worlds, with some emphasis on North America and China. We will also discuss the history of archaeology and archaeological thought (the two are not necessarily the sam= e), with a brief unit on archaeological methods and dating techniques. The main goal of this class is to = see and understand how knowledge about past people can be learned from their material remains. To fulfill = these goals, this class is structured in lecture format, with some opportunity for class discussion and small-group activities.

Evaluation: Grading in this class will be base= d on in-class and take-home written assignments (25%), a term paper of 5-10 pages (20%), a midterm (20%), a final (25%), and a class participation/attendance grade (10%).

Grading is on a modified bell curve, meaning that my c= lasses will always average between a C+ and a B, unless an exceptionally brilliant class shows up. Above average grades will, obviously, do better; below average will do worse. 99.9% of all failures are from a f= ailure to show up and learn anything. In-class assignments and homework do matter!

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. Classwork from excused absences must be made up if yo= u want credit for it, as described below.

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 aft= er the original absence. After t= hat, 10% of the points are deducted per week.&n= bsp; 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 a= fter 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 ASSIGNMENTS WITHIN TWO WEEKS!! Excused long absences due to illness, family problems or other disas= ters should be negotiated with Dr. Reber—notify her by e-mail as soon as y= ou know you have a serious problem.

Exams: A midterm and final exam are given= in this class, which together make up 50 % of the grade. The midterm exam will be held on F= riday, March 2 with a review session on Wednesday, February 28. Material covered until Friday, Feb= ruary 23 will be covered on the midterm. The final will be held on Wednesday, May 2 at 11:30 AM-2:30 PM. Two-thirds of the final will cover= the 2^nd half of the class. The remain= ing 1/3 will cover essential concepts from the first half of the class. The review session for the final w= ill be Monday, April 30, the last day of class.&n= bsp; Do not attempt to take the final at any time other than that assigned unless you have a very good reason.

Written Assig= nments: A term paper has been assigned for= this class on a topic of your choice. It should be 5-10 pages long, typed, double-spaced, in 10-12 point font and with 1-inch margins. Topics should be chosen in consult= ation with Dr. Reber, and are due on February 12. The papers are due April 4, but tu= rning in the paper early is deeply appreciated, and is worth a bonus to the class participation grades. Citation should be in MLA or American Antiquity format—American Antiquity is a typical archaeological format. Late term papers will be marked off 10% for every two days late, although extens= ions can be negotiated ahead of time for good reasons. If you negotiate an extension afte= r the due date, it will be marked off until the day on which you got your extension. Talk to me!

If your computer crashes, or a print-out is not possib= le, you may turn the paper into me on disk; please do not turn them in electronically without warning me in advance, as my e-mail account tends to explode under pressure.

One-page written assignments will be given as in-class exercises or as homework throughout the semester.

Reading Assignments: the textbook for this class is Cra= btree and Campana’s Exploring Prehistory. Readings from thi= s book, as well as others, will be given throughout the semester. Additional readings will be placed= on electronic reserve, which can be found on the library website, and also on the class website. For the status of reserves, check t= he website or Dr. Reber. If rese= rves have been lost, mangled, scrambled, de-linked or disfigured in a particular= ly interesting way, e-mail Dr. Reber immediately!

Web Page:= The class web page is linked to Dr= . Reber’s personal web page, http://www.uncwil.edu/people/r= ebere. 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 sche= dule 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!

Odds, Ends, a= nd Pet Peeves: Please turn off c= ell phones in class!!

Please back your papers up to disk, CD, or flash memor= y when writing them. You have no ide= a how much pain and suffering this will save you…but I do!

Wikipedia does not count a= s a source on a term paper, as by definition everything in it is public knowled= ge, and therefore not sourceable. It can be a good place to start research, however.

Point totals will be handed back to students twice dur= ing the semester—at the midterm and before the final. Anyone wanting point totals at any= other times should ask Dr. Reber. G= rades 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.

Plagiarism is defined as using someone else’s wo= rk without citing it, and can be divided into direct copying, mosaic copying, = and insufficient attribution. It = hurts three groups of people: the p= erson plagiarized, as their work has been stolen; classmates, since it unfairly s= ets the curve and unrealistically raises the performance bar; and the plagiaris= t, since you can’t get a decent education stealing other people’s work. The minimum penalty is a complete rewrite for a potential high grade of C and a long discussion with= Dr. Reber about exactly why it is a bad idea.&= nbsp; The potential maximum penalties are decided by the Judicial Board or Dean of Students. Don’t= do it!!