ANTH 480:  Fall 2007

History of Anthropology

Saturday 2-4:45 pm MH-463

Course Description | Required Textbooks | Course Exams and Assignments| Grading| Course Policies | Schedule | Important Dates | Download Syllabus

 

Instructor:        Dr. Barbra Erickson                                    

Office Phone:    (714) 278-5697         

Office:                           MH 426-E                                       

Office Hours:    Tuesday and Thursday 3 to 6pm; Wednesday 4 to 6pm; or by appointment

Email:                beerickson@fullerton.edu     

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course surveys the intellectual traditions and worldviews of the Western Tradition that form the historical context for modern anthropology; the principle contributions of anthropologists between about 1850 and 1950; and the evolutionary, diffusionist, historical particularist, configurationalist, and culture and personality theoretical approaches in anthropology.

 

REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS:

(1) Readings for a History of Anthropological Theory, by Erickson & Murphy

(2) A History of Anthropological Theory, by Erickson & Murphy

(3) The Mismeasure of Man, by Stephen J. Gould

 

Note: Syllabus, study guides, lecture outlines, and handouts will be posted on Blackboard.  If you do not know how to use Blackboard, please see me.  

 

COURSE EXAMS and ASSIGNMENTS:

(1)  Exams (300 points possible)       

Three exams will be given: two midterms and a final.  Midterm #1 (9/22) covers Weeks 1 through 5; Midterm #2 (11/3) covers weeks 7 – 11; the final (12/8) covers the remaining weeks.  The final will include some questions taken from the information presented by students in Weeks 14 and 15, as well as questions on readings and lecture materials during Weeks 12 and 13.  You will be given a set of study questions prior to each exam. Bring a large Blue Book for the midterms; bring a large Blue Book and a Scantron 882-E for the final.  Limited notes will be allowed for the final exam only.

(2)  Essays (35 points each, 105 points possible).

Students will write three essays, based on groups of assigned original writings (from Readings for a History of Anthropological Theory beginning with those assigned Week 7—see Schedule for due dates).  Each essay must discuss all 3 assigned chapters; you may decide how to do this (e.g. compare and contrast, or identify some common theme).  Each of the 3 essays must be typed and double-spaced, each minimally 3 pages in length. Papers must be submitted in person—Emailed papers or papers placed in mailbox will not be accepted.  Late papers may be accepted but 5 points will be deducted for each day or partial day past the due date.

(3)  Research paper on an anthropologist (100 points possible)

On or before the last regular day of class (12/1), students must submit a 10-page (minimum) paper on an anthropologist from the list included in this syllabus.  Papers should include brief biographical information, but must focus on the following components: (a) the theoretical and/or methodological contributions of the anthropologist, and/or significance to a particular theoretical and/or methodological orientation; (b) his/her historical significance as a leading anthropologist of a particular period; and (c) his/her major written works (if applicable to that person). Read the guidelines carefully (SEE SEPARATE HANDOUT). 

(4)  Class presentation and handout (60 points possible)

During weeks 14 and 15, each student will give a presentation about a leading anthropologist (50 pts).  On the day of your presentation, you will circulate copies of a 1-page handout to everyone in the class (10 pts). Your handout should contain very brief biographical information; more importantly, it must include a synopsis of (a) the major contributions of the anthropologist to a particular theoretical and/or methodological orientation; (b) his/her historical significance as a leading anthropologist of a particular period; and (c) his/her major written works (if applicable to that person).

(5)  Attendance and Participation (35 points possible)

Your regular attendance is expected.  In particular, please be sure to attend class during the final weeks when your classmates will be giving their presentations.  Being a good audience and asking appropriate questions is part of your participation in the class.  Another element of participation is to come to class prepared, and to make comments, ask questions, and join discussions. 

Attendance/Participation points are specifically as follows: 

Library Training                                  = 10 points

Participation and general attendance  = 25 points 

GRADING600 points possible.  Final grade is based on a percentage of total points earned.

Midterms                                 = 200 points                Presentation and handout         =   60  

Three essays on readings         = 105                           Attendance & participation    =   35  

Research paper                        = 100                                Final Exam                              = 100                                      

GRADING SCALE:

92 – 100 % = A                       78 – 79%    = C+

90 – 91 %   = A-                     71 – 77%    = C

88 - 89%     = B+                    69 – 70%    = C-

82 – 87%    = B                       60 – 68%    = D

80 – 81%    = B-                      Below 59%   = F

 

COURSE POLICIES

 

Assignment Policies:  

Assignments are due at the beginning of the class period on the assigned day.  It is my policy NOT to accept late work, although under certain circumstances I may do so.  However, any work accepted late will lose 5 points per day or partial day late, without exception.

 

Please do not email an assignment to me unless you have made prior arrangements with me. Please do not put assignments in my mail box; I cannot be responsible for lost or misplaced materials.

 

Academic Misconduct Policy: 

Please consult the Student Handbook for University policies on academic misconduct.  An important example of misconduct is plagiarism (the representation of another’s work, including information from the Internet, without acknowledgment), which will not be tolerated.  Violations will result in a failing grade for the assignment and potentially, a failing grade for the course.

 

You will be provided with detailed instructions on how, when and why to cite properly; however, please consult me if you have ANY questions concerning proper citation, or what constitutes plagiarism. 

 

Students with Special Needs: See Disabled Student Service Office in UH-101 regarding accommodations. Phone: (714) 278-3117. Website: http://www.fullerton.edu/disabledservices/

 

TEXT BOOKS:

 In this course we will cover the text books as follows:

  • Mismeasure of Man: All

  • A History of Anthropological Theory: Through page 111

(Note: If you have a different edition, page numbers may vary somewhat)

  • Readings for a History of Anthropological Theory: Introduction, Conclusion, Chapters 2-6, 8, and 10-15

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CLASS SCHEDULE:   Note: “Text”       = A History of Anth Theory (small book)

          “Readings” = Readings for a History of Anth Theory (big book)

 

Wk 1 (8/18)     Introductions. Why study the history of anthropology? Other kinds of “anthropologies.” Terms and concepts.

Read:  Text pp. 15-20; Readings Intro. Overviews & Cnclsn; Gould Ch. 1

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Wk 2 (8/25)     Greek anthropology, theological anthropology; medieval anthropology and archaeology; the “medieval paradigm of history.”

Read:  Text pp. 21-37

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Wk 3 (9/1)       Renaissance and the scientific revolution; the Age of Exploration, monogenesis and

polygenesis. The Enlightenment and Anthropology.

Read: Text pp. 37 – 46

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Wk 4 (9/8)       Darwin and predecessors; biological evolution, archaeology.

Read: Text pp. 57-72; Readings Chapter 5; Gould Chapter 2 (discuss in class)

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Wk 5 (9/15)     American polygeny and craniometry. Scientific racism, eugenics, the fallacy of

IQ tests. Bring Gould Study Questions (on Blackboard) for discussion.

Complete any unfinished discussions; Review for exam.

                                    Read:  Gould Chapters 3 through 7

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Wk 6 (9/22)     Midterm  (Bring large size Blue Book)

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Wk 7 (9/29)     Evolution and culture; Spencer, Tylor, Morgan, psychic unity, “social Darwinism”

                                    Read:  Readings Chapters 2, 3, and 4 (discuss in class)

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Wk 8  (10/6)    American cultural anthropology, influence of Boas, historical particularism, physical

anthropology, language, American archaeology.

Read: Readings Chapter 8, 9; Text pp. 73 – 78 (discuss in class)

DUE: Essay #1 (Chapters 2, 3, 4)

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Wk 9 (10/13)    French sociology, British social anthropology, structuralism, functionalism.

                                    Read: Readings Chapters 6, 15, 16; Text pp. 89 – 111

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Wk 10  (10/20)  American anthropology, culture and personality, language and culture,

  diffusion, culture areas. German influences.

Read: Readings Chapters 10, 11, 12; Text pp. 78 – 89

DUE: Essay #2 (Chapters 6, 15, 16)

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Wk 11 (10/27)   American anthropology, culture and personality, language and culture,

  diffusion, culture areas. Influence of Freud, Marx.

            Read: Readings Chapter 1; Freud article; Text pp. 83-88

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Wk 12 (11/3)   Midterm #2

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Wk 13 (11/10)  Anthropological trends 1900 to 1950

Read:  Readings Chapters 7, 13, 14, 17 ; Text pp. 78 – 89

DUE: Essay #3 (Chapters 10, 11, 12)

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Wk 14 (11/17) Student Presentations

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Thanksgiving Recess

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Wk 15 (12/1)   Student Presentations

Ø  Research Papers due

o   No email or mailbox submissions will be accepted.

o   No late papers accepted                           

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Final Exam:   Saturday 12/8/07 regular time (Bring a Scantron 882-E)

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SUMMARY of  IMPORTANT DATES:

TBA                Required Library Training: Date to be announced

 

9/15                 Finish Gould book by this date

 

9/22                 Midterm #1

 

10/6                 Essay #1 DUE

 

10/20               Essay #2 DUE

 

11/3                 Midterm #2

 

11/10               Essay #3 DUE

 

11/17               Student Presentations

 

11/24               No class; Thanksgiving recess

 

12/1                 Student Presentations

 

12/1                 Research paper DUE

 

12/8                 Final Exam

 

Download syllabus Microsoft Word (.doc) file. If you do not have Word, please use the Word Viewer.

 

Link to the additional materials: