COURSE DESCRIPTION FROM THE CATALOG

Prerequisite: Anthro 102, 103. Archaeological survey of principal Mesoamerica pre-Columbian cultures north and west of the Maya area. The Aztecs and their predecessors, religion, art, architecture, intellectual achievements and the Olmec heritage.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

This course is a detailed survey of Mexican archaeology and prehistory. It will begin with the earliest evidence for human occupation in Mexico and continue through the decline of the Aztec civilization.  The focus of the course is on non-Maya Mexico, i.e., the area north/west of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.  After several introductory lectures, the class will cover the significant cultural developments, prominent cultures, and major sites over the centuries (e.g., early hunter-gatherers, the Archaic period and the beginnings of agriculture, settled villages and the rise of social complexity, and the development of urban civilization [see Class Schedule below]). The format will be a combination of PowerPoint-illustrated lectures, weekly readings, and video clips of the week's major topic(s).

Anth. 424 is taught primarily for advanced undergraduate and graduate students, and the coverage of materials will be intensive and detailed.  We will deal with information from excavations and the artifact data underlying current interpretations, and we will also consider what those data can tell us about the societies and people who inhabited various regions of prehistoric Mexico.  The course requires you learn about both the basic archaeology of the area (chronologies, site and phase names, some significant pottery types, etc.) and about the societies themselves.  Anth. 423, a separate course taught in the fall semester, covers the Maya of southeastern Mesoamerica.

Mexican prehistory is not an “absolute,” already understood and simply waiting there for you to memorize. Our knowledge depends upon archaeology, and in spite of nearly a century of fieldwork, only a very small sample of Mexico’s past has been recovered.  Present interpretations are based upon that small sample, and each new archaeological project provides fresh information.  Therefore, our understanding of Mexican prehistory is always in a state of change, constantly in need of up-dating.  Because our knowledge of Mexican prehistory is based primarily on the interpretations made of the artifacts and patters uncovered by archaeological fieldwork, it is also captive to the quality of those interpretations.  Interpretations are not always completely free of biases, and they can be influenced by many factors far removed from basic archaeology.  Thus, throughout the semester I will continually challenge you to think critically about the data and interpretations being presented in the lectures, and those which underline the “definitive” statements in your textbook (and elsewhere) about particular time periods, sites, societies, “events,” “influences,” and Mesoamerican prehistory in general.  An important component in this course is critical thinking!

Online lectures and the text are the primary source of information and data in this course (note: I will occasionally disagree with the textbook and the web is full of misinformation!).  Although your textbook is new and up-to-date, no textbook can adequately cover all topics nor keep up with all the new data or changing ideas.  Also, every text is influenced to some extent by the viewpoint of the author.  Use your textbook as a source of general information to assist you in understanding chronologies and general developments, and for basic information on particular sites.  I also require a number of supplementary readings to enrich and expand the information available to you.  The online lectures and supplementary readings will frequently up-date information from the text.

STUDENT LEARNING GOALS

Upon successful completion of Anthropology 424, students will have acquired the following knowledge as part of the learning goals and objectives of the course.

1.      Attaining advanced knowledge in archaeology

2.      Gaining familiarity with the cultures of a major world region (Western Mesoamerica)

3.      Applying methods specific to an anthropological sub-field – understanding how archaeological knowledge is constructed using material remains to infer past behaviors and to reconstruct past lifeways

4.      Describe and explain the diversity of opinion apparent in a contemporary archaeological controversy

5.      Describe the ways in which specific Mesoamerican cultures adapted to their local environments

6.      Detect and describe the key features of any Mesoamerican culture that set it apart as a distinct culture

7.      Describe the ecological diversity over time and space of Mesoamerican Indian cultures

8.      Communicating effectively in written and oral forms

9.      Conducting library research using modern methods

10.  Using a computer for research and writing

11.  Thinking critically and creatively about issues requiring a synthesis of perspectives from the humanities and the social sciences

12.  Understanding processes of cultural change in a range of human societies by examining long-term processes and using multi-causal models

REQUIRED READINGS

Evans, Susan Toby

2008    Ancient Mexico and Central America: Archaeology and Culture History, Thames & Hudson, London.  (ISBN: 978-0-500-28714-9)

There will also be required supplementary readings (REQ) assigned each week, as well as a number of optional readings for undergraduates (SR and GS, see below), some of which are required for grad students enrolled in the Anthropology MA program (see symbols below).  All readings will be available on the course Blackboard site for students to download and read.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING POLICY FOR THE COURSE

The grading in this course will be based on 3 exams, 5 quizzes, and 4 projects (and a term paper for students taking the course for graduate credit).  Students who use this 400-level course for their Anthropology graduate study plan are required to present more detailed knowledge, skills, and research than upper division students.  Additional requirements for students seeking graduate course credit are: the successful completion of a research paper.   

Successful progress in the course requires that students keep up with the assigned material.  This is an online course and has no scheduled class meetings.  Students will be expected to keep up to date on assignments, and will access instructional materials (supplemental readings, video clips, lectures, etc.), quizzes, and projects online.  The overall structure of the course is provided in this syllabus.

Undergraduates

Sixty-five percent of your course grade will be based upon two Midterm Exams (20% each) and a Final Exam (25%).  The remaining 35% will be derived from 5 weekly Quizzes and 4 Problem Write-ups (rather than a term paper).

Graduate Students

Your course grade will be based upon two Midterm Exams (15% each) and a Final Exam (20%), plus the 5 weekly Quizzes (15%), 4 Problem Write-ups (15%), and a Research Paper (20%). 

Online Quizzes

There will be five (5) on-line quizzes (30 questions each). Each of these quizzes will be worth 3% of the final grade. Taking the quizzes will be a good preparation for the bigger on-line examinations. Weekly quizzes and will be posted on Monday and are due by 10pm on Saturday of that week.  Once you begin the quiz, you cannot come back to it so make sure you are prepared before you start.  So, attempt each Quiz only after you have completed the week’s reading, viewed the lecture, and viewed the any videos or other content.  .

Problem Write-ups

During the span of the semester there will be 4 problems assigned. Together the assignments will constitute 20% of the student’s grade (15% for graduate students). The nature of each assignment will be detailed in the instructions for each problem.  

Research Paper (graduate students)

Each graduate student will complete a 10-page research paper on a topic dealing with Ancient Mexico.  All topics must be approved by the instructor.  A preliminary statement concerning the paper topic must be submitted to me via email by July 26.  A paper outline and preliminary bibliography is due by August 2 and the final paper is due on August 7.  Graduate students must consult with me (via email) during the development of their topic.  Please use American Antiquity / Latin American Antiquity reference format, which is explained in the October 1992 issue of American Antiquity vol. 57, pp. 749-770, and can be read on the Web at http://www.saa.org/Publications/StyleGuide/styframe.html.

Online Examinations

Three exams will be given during the semester.  Exam 1 and 2 are non-cumulative.  Most of the Final Exam covers material from the last 1/3 of the class, but it also covers materials from the first 2/3 of the course.  Exam 1 will become available on Monday, July 14 at 8am, and remain available until Saturday, June 19 at 10pm.  Exam 2 will become available on Monday, July 28 at 8am, and remain available until Saturday, August 2 at 10pm.  The Final Online Exam will only be available for one day – Friday, August 8 from 8am to 10pm.  You will have one hour and fifty minutes to take Exams 1 and 2, and two hours to take the Final.  You must complete each exam in one sitting (i.e., you cannot come back to it), so make sure that you have a block of time when you won’t be interrupted.  You will not be able to open either exam up once you have closed it. 

Extra Credit

This course does not include an extra credit option.

Makeup Exams and Late Papers

You must post assignments on time.  Five percent of the grade will be deducted from written assignments for each day they are late, no excuses.  Makeup exams will be administered only for excused absences.  Written email requests for makeup assignments must be made within one week after the missed quiz or exam.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to be familiar with, and adhere to, University policies on Academic Dishonesty.  Dishonesty of any kind will not be tolerated in this course. Dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarizing, fabricating information or citations, facilitating acts of academic dishonesty by others, having unauthorized possession of examinations, submitting work of another person or work previously used without informing the instructor, or tampering with the academic work of other students.  Students who are found to be dishonest may receive a failing grade on the assignment and/or in the course. The Dean of Students Office, Judicial Affairs, has produced a guide on how to avoid plagiarism, which can be accessed at http://www.fullerton.edu/deanofstudents/judicial/Plagiarism.htm.

Use of Blackboard

Since this is an online course, the use of a computer and the Internet is required. You will be utilizing Blackboard for quizzes and writing assignments, correspondence with the instructor, and posting of grades.  The syllabus is available on Blackboard where all the course information and activities required for your grade will be posted during the semester.  Blackboard is a web-based application provided by CSUF on which instructors can provide course documents and resources to students.  If you have difficulties using your computer or getting access to Blackboard, contact the Helpdesk at http://www.fullerton.edu/helpdesk, or (714) 278-7777 but do NOT call me or the Anthropology Department.  Please make sure that the e-mail address listed for you on Blackboard is the one you use (all CSUF students receive a student e-mail address, but you may have it changed to another one you use, such as gmail or yahoo; remember that it is your responsibility to arrange this; please do not use inappropriate email names).  Your not receiving e-mail because of not having verified your correct e-mail address is your responsibility; it may not be used as an excuse for missing assignments. If you are unfamiliar with Blackboard tools, there are several tutorials (http://distance-ed.fullerton.edu/bb/) that are offered through Blackboard and I encourage you to use them.  You are responsible for learning how to use Blackboard.  For a tutorial or access to the Blackboard Support Web Site, you can also click on “Need Help?” which you will find once you’ve clicked the Blackboard tab.  Students access Blackboard through their Student Portal.  Login to the portal at http://my.fullerton.edu; click the Blackboard tab; click the link ‘Click here to Access your Blackboard Classes’.   

Other Online Course Information

•           I will respond to student email within 48 hours.

•           I will post grades for the previous week’s assignments on the class Blackboard site one week after the due date, although there may be delays due to workload.

•           All posts and emails must be signed with your real name.

•           You need to be familiar with Windows and the use of a keyboard and mouse.

•           You will need access to a Windows based computer connected to the internet. There are many such computers available on campus.

•           In the event of technical problems, students can submit their work to my department office (MH-426H) or a Department of Anthropology staff during regular university business hours.   

Netiquette

Please observe standards of etiquette on the web.  Although this is an online environment, it is still in an educational and classroom format. Treat your postings and discussions in a professional and educational manner. It is not appropriate to discuss extracurricular activities that are irrelevant to course and content and class discussions. If you do feel the need to have such discussions, please utilize another internet resource such as AOL, Yahoo, or Gmail. Your postings on Blackboard are NOT private discussions and I will be monitoring them for content and for grading purposes.  Disruptive behavior online will not be tolerated, and I will block you from participating (which will affect your grade).  Be respectful and courteous to members of the class (including your professor).  Do not use all capital letters in your posts, and avoid personal comments. 

Basic Rules for Postings and Discussions:

•           BE sure to identify yourself

•           BE polite

•           BE sure to identify quoted material

•           NO long posts - 50 line limit

•           NO obscene language

•           NO religious or sexual solicitation

•           NO personal attacks on list members

•           NO long ASCII graphics

•           NO long quotations

•           Do your own work

Undergraduate Student Grading

The percentage breakdown is as follows:

Quizzes                                     (5)        15%

Problems                                  (4)        20%

Exam 1                                                  20%

Exam 2                                                 20%

Final Exam                                          25%

                                                Total:  100%

Graduate Student Grading

The percentage breakdown is as follows:

Quizzes                                    (5)        15%

Problems                                  (4)       15%

Research Paper                                   20%

Exam 1                                                15%

Exam 2                                                15%

Final Exam                                          20%

                                                Total:  100%