This course will use Angel as our primary communication tool.

CATALOG DESCRIPTION:  Cultural Anthropology is the study of structure and process of culture.  The course presents major features of culture, including subsistence patterns, organizing devices, language, patterns of cultural transmission, political organization, religion, family forms, and cultural change.  The course also examines methods of anthropological research and major theoretical orientations.

GOALS:  Through anthropology, we can increase our awareness and understanding of human behavior and ultimately increase our power to make a difference in the world by seeing the commonalities in the human experience.  As with all things in life, you will grow from this class to the degree that you participate, so I encourage you to engage yourself fully.  By the end of the semester my specific learning goals for you as the student are to be able to:

• broaden your knowledge about other cultures
• understand that a society’s structure – it’s economic and political systems, its family and marriage forms, its religious structure – is based upon how people secure food
• understand the tools and methods used by cultural anthropologists
• integrate cross cultural knowledge in order to gain a better understanding of global issues – social, political, economic, health issues
• think reflectively about ones own cultural behaviors
• value humanity in all of its cultural forms

GRADING: 

Discussions

I will post one topic for discussion in Angel every week.  You will be required to post two kinds of responses.  Each week you will be required to respond to each discussion topic AND you will also be required to respond to a fellow student's contribution.  Each of these responses are worth 10 points each for a weekly total of 20 points.

There are 6 discussion topics for you to respond to and so the total amount you can earn is 120 points.  The topics will open on Mondays, beginning June 16, and will close on the following Sundays.

Weekly Quizzes

Each week you will at least 3 chapters to read and at least 3 quizzes to take; one for each chapter.  Each multiple choice quiz is worth 20 points each.  Quizzes will be accessible to students every Monday of the semester and will be closed every following Sunday.  You have only ONE chance to take each quiz.

There are 16 quizzes at 20 points each for a semester total of 320 points.

Exams

You will be required to take five essay exams over multiple chapters.  Each of these exams will be worth 50 points and will be open for one hour only.  There will be five exams at 50 points each for a semester total of 250 points.

Grading Summary and Scale

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Policies

The due dates for all quizzes, discussions, and exams are clearly marked on the "calendar" page of the course web-site.  You need to abide by all due dates as late work will generally not be accepted.

Students must keep copies of all work done for this class.  I will not accept late work because a student claims s/he e-mailed me a document by a due date but I have no record of receiving it.  I suggest that you keep a folder in your e-mail system specifically for this course and move all messages that you have sent to me in it.  Also, never delete work that you have done for a course until you are sure that the instructor has received the work and has given you credit for it.

Before you begin an Internet class, make sure that you have good, reliable access to the Internet.

Technology sometimes fails but as a student you need to responsible if and when this occurs.  If you have trouble accessing the Internet and a due date for an assignment is approaching you should do everything that you can to get access to the Internet.  You could go to a local library or to Parkland, if you are nearby, to either e-mail me about the problem or finish and submit the assignment.

If you have trouble accessing the Internet and you cannot find an alternative way to get access, you can call me at my office number and leave a message on my voice mail or call the department office (351-2229) and leave a message for me there.  If you cannot find access to the Internet and a due date is approaching you must call me RIGHT AWAY.  If I get a frantic message from a student before a due date has passed that her computer has crashed, I will probably grant that student an extension.  If I get a message two days after the deadline, I probably would not grant the student an extension.

Finally, I check my e-mail account daily during the week.  If you e-mail me and don't hear from me within two days, you might want to e-mail me again or call me at my office.  Although I do check e-mail occasionally on the weekends, sometimes, if I am out of town, I am not at my computer on the weekends.  So, if you e-mail me late on a Friday afternoon, I may not be able to get back with you until Monday morning.  Be aware of this, in case you need to contact me.

Withdrawals
On the ten day roster, I am required to assess your attendance. If you have not attended regularly to that point, you will be withdrawn. After the ten day roster, you should not plan on an instructor withdrawal if you want to drop the course. You are ultimately responsible for your own withdrawal by the withdrawal date. Nonattendance after the ten-day roster will result in an F if you don't withdraw yourself. 

Withdrawals for online students
If you complete the first quiz and the first discussion, I consider that you have attended the course. If, subsequently, you make no further postings, take no other quizzes, and do not contact me about your absence, I will be forced to withdraw you for nonattendance. Such a withdrawal does not entitle you to a refund!

Academic Policies
Anyone found to be cheating may be removed from the class and receive a failing grade. The complete policy may be found in the Student Policy and Procedures Manual. An atmosphere of mutual respect between and among teachers and students is expected. Finally, late work or make-ups will not be accepted unless the student can demonstrate they had no other alternative and the student informs the instructor in advance (excepting emergencies).

CENTER FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS:  The Center for Academic Success provides a wide range of academic support services to enable you to learn well, grow as a student, succeed in your classes, and excel at what you do.  These services include the following:

• Tutoring and Learning Assistance:  Make use of walk-in tutoring services provided by faculty, staff and trained peer tutors on a daily basis.  Many students come to get help in reading, writing, math (all levels), and study skills. 
• For-credit Instructional Modules and Supplemental Tutorials:  Enroll in one-credit hour Tutorials to supplement classroom instruction in reading, writing, and math.  Instructional Modules are also available to eligible students to complete certain coursework requirements.
• Advising and Advocacy:  Work with our team of advocates and academic advisor to plan a semester schedule, understand transfer requirements, or manage issues that stand in the way of school.  For more information, please contact:

    Anita Taylor    Room D120    403 - 4580

    Gail Hoke        Room D120        351-2441     or  send e-mail to CenterForAcademicSuccess@parkland.edu

If you believe you have a disability for which you may need an academic accommodation (e.g. an alternate testing environment, use of assistive technology or other classroom assistance) please contact:

    Becky Osborne, Coordinator, Office of Disability Services    Room X148        353-2082

    or send e-mail to bosborne@parkland.edu

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"... we must recognize the whole gamut of human potentialities, and so weave a less arbitrary social fabric, one in which each diverse human gift will find a fitting place"

Margaret Mead

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Page last updated June 9, 2008 by Suzanne Reilly