South American Ethnography

SOUTH AMERICAN ETHNOGRAPHY--ANTH 348-901- WRITING INTENSIVE
FALL 2005, MONDAY, 4-6:40, OLIVER 2125
Dr. Turner, cturner@vcu.edu, http://www.people.vcu.edu/~cturner/

PLEASE NOTE:

THERE IS A PREREQUISITE OF ANTH 103 (OR ITS EQUIVALENT) AND ENGL 200 FOR THIS COURSE THAT WILL BE STRICTLY ADHERED TO. PLEASE DO NOT ASK FOR AN EXEMPTION.

DESCRIPTION:

The course will include a general ethnographic survey of a number of indigenous cultures of South America and some historical background from the time of Conquest. I will provide you with a general ethnological base for a broader understanding of the social and cultural contexts of South American lifestyles. The class lectures will cover various types of indigenous cultures found in Latin America, including highland populations and cultural changes due to European contact. However, the lectures will be minimal as the class is designed to be self-generating and interactive. There are five ethnographies that are required reading for the course. The class will initially discuss and analyze the texts in small groups. Then discussion will continue with larger class participation and class presentations. The final portion of the class includes an ethnographic research paper and individual class presentations of your own research. Initially, the reading and course requirements may appear to be a heavy load, but you will find that reading ethnographies is fun as well as fascinating. The same can be said for the course.

VCU/ SWS GENERAL EDUCATION GOALS:
Interdisciplinary
advanced writing skills , oral competency, technology skills, critical thinking, computer literacy, scientific literacy

GOALS:

1.	The first is to introduce an alternative perspective to thinking about culture than people are usually exposed to on an number of levels--partially presented by myself, partially presented by the authors, and partially presented by yourselves. Therefore, we will not be focusing on the type of dominant culture types that you are most familiar with. We will be investigating sociocultural patterns and ways of perceiving the world that vary depending on the structural complexity of the specific culture and the historical background of each.
2.	After my general introduction to the topic and a brief summary of generalized anthropological knowledge that you should have (from ANTH 103), you will analyze and interpret the texts vis-à-vis your own individual goals for this class. The students will essentially take responsibility for a large portion the educational process and for fostering discussion between the differing world views academic perspectives that are sure to be represented in the class.
3.	A third goal for the class is to facilitate your ability to research and write a 15 page research paper with good form and content. This will be invaluable for you in your future no matter what direction you take
4.	The ultimate goals for the student is to learn to think analytically, to grasp the range of human adaptability, and to reinforce tolerance for the differences found in the interdependent world of today.

TEXTS:

CO-WIVES AND CALABASHES, Sally Price, 1993, University of Michigan Press.

'TAMBO, LIFE IN AN ANDEAN VILLAGE, Julia Meyerson, 1990, University of Texas Press.

CHRONICLE OF THE GUAYAKI INDIANS, Pierre Clastres, 2000, Zone Books.

TSEWA'S GIFT , MAGIC AND MEANING IN AN AMAZONIAN SOCIETY, 1986 Michael F. Brown, Smithsonian Institution Press.

CONSUMING GRIEF, COMPASSIONATE CANNIBALISM IN AN AMAZONIAN SOCIETY, 2001, Beth A. Conklin, University of Texas Press.

THE LAST CANNIBALS, A SOUTH AMERICAN ORAL HISTORY, 1995, Ellen Basso, University of Texas Press.

SCHEDULE:

Please read this course outline carefully and keep it updated for any changes.

DATE	TOPIC	ASSIGNMENT
8/29	Introduction to the course
9/12	Introduction to Latin America	Be sure to have your first ethnography read for next week and bring it with you to class.
9/11	'TAMBO, LIFE IN AN ANDEAN VILLAGE	Start thinking about your research paper topic.
9/19	CHRONICLE OF THE GUAYAKI INDIANS	'TAMBO essay due. Group discussion and class presentations.
9/26	LIBRARY TRIP--This will help you immensely in writing your research paper for this class and achieving the grade that you would like. How to Write a Research Paper	CHRONICLE OF THE GUAYAKI INDIANS essay due. Be prepared to start your library research, i.e., a general or specific idea of what you would like to research.
10/03	CO-WIVES AND CALABASHES	Research paper topic and annotated bibliography due. Make sure you use your guide sheet- How to Write a Research Paper.
10/10	TBA	CO-WIVES AND CALABASHES essay due. Group discussion and class presentations.
10/17	TSEWA'S GIFT	Paper thesis and outline due with sources (from your bibliography) listed in the appropriate sections of the outline. Make sure that you include your original bibliography. Make sure you use your guide sheet- How to Write a Research Paper. Group discussion and class presentations.
10/24	Kayapo	TSEWA'S GIFT essay due.
Drop Day--I will academically drop students at this point for missing more than two classes. Those of you not participating in the small group discussions, or failing to complete written work should seriously consider dropping.
10/31	CONSUMING GRIEF	Group discussion and class presentations.
11/07	RESEARCH RESEARCH PAPERS DUE. You will need to resubmit all of your previous work (bibliography, thesis, outline) at this time as well.	Research Papers Due. Make sure you use your guide sheet- How to Write a Research Paper. CONSUMING GRIEF essay due.
11/14	LAST CANNIBALS-	Group discussion and class presentations.
11/21	Oral presentations begin. Be prepared to do a short oral presentation on your research and your findings (the order will be decided by lots or personal preference).	LAST CANNIBALS essay due. You should have my written comments on your paper by this time. You may rewrite to improve your grade, if you so desire. This is a chance to assure a high grade in this course.
11/28	Presentations of your work.	Final Paper rewrites due. Make sure that you turn in ALL PREVIOUS WORK with the rewrite or I will not reevaluate it.
12/05	Presentations of your work.
12/12	Final Exam, regular class period.

BLACKBOARD 6: You will be expected to access this course and to make sure that your email address is correct and forwarded to your home account, if necessary. I will email any important class information or changes to you using the email function of Blackboard. If your email information is not correct, then I can not contact you with class information and updates. You can do this by clicking on Bb6 Help for Students on the opening page, Student Help Screen, Getting Help With Your Email Account. Your syllabus is also located in Blackboard as well as on my personal web page. http://www.people.vcu.edu/~cturner

ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH PAPER AND PRESENTATION OF WORK: You will need to decide upon a research topic or question, formulate a thesis, produce an outline and write a logically thought out research paper at least 15 to 20 pages in length which you will also be presented in summary form for the class. You will be provided with a paper copy of the style and guide sheet (electronically linked to the online syllabus) to help you with this. The possible topics and subsequent research theses are open to your choice but do need to deal with a South American topic. Do not alter your paper margins, the fonts, or the typeset, nor use any sort of creative spacing to stretch your paper length. Plagiarism in any form will be punished to the fullest extent possible.

For the first phase of your project you will need to produce a thesis statement and an annotated bibliography of the work that you will be using (use your Guide!). You should use the information that you received during the library session and make sure you include solid academic sources, journal articles, etc. There should be at least ten refereed academic sources besides any other references you may have (such as "Natural History" or the like). When in doubt, ask your research librarian or me (email, cbturner@vcu.edu, is best unless it is during class or my office hours, do not leave phone messages for me to call you back). Start preparing early for the final product and make sure you consult your style sheet when preparing your bibliography and outline. You will have an opportunity to rewrite you thesis and bibliography, if necessary. As you proceed through the successive stages, ALWAYS TURN IN EVERY PIECE OF PRIOR WORK with your current submissions or I will not grade them or reevaluate them.

How to Evaluate Your Sources- http://www.library.vcu.edu/help/evaluate.html

When you have successfully formulated a thesis from your topic and completed a satisfactory bibliography, the next phase is to produce a detailed outline of the structure of your research paper. As you outline, be sure to indicate where in your paper your referenced library material will be used. Make sure you include your previously submitted bibliography. At this point your work will be evaluated in the following manner:

THESIS, BIBLIOGRAPHY, AND OUTLINE EVALUATION: There are five parts to the evaluation, each worth 20 points. Together they add up to a possible 100 points. The parts are graded individually on a 20 point scale (see below) and then added together. EXAMPLE OF REQUIRED WORK

1. thesis
2. appropriate number of scholarly citations
3. logical structure of outline
4. appropriateness of citations for topic
5. style/format of bibliography (follow style format from in your guide)

The third phase of your research paper project is to turn in a preliminary copy of your work for evaluation. This is not a mandatory phase, but many students find it helpful to get some feedback before it is too late to rectify any problems. Of course, you may also consult with me individually during my office hours or by email (cturner@vcu.edu).

RESEARCH PAPER EVALUATION: There are five parts to the evaluation, each worth 20 points. Together they add up to a possible 100 points. The parts are graded individually on a 20 point scale (see below) and then added together for the research paper grade. 1. thesis, bibliography, outline grade converted to a 20 point scale (from earlier evaluation, but subject to change if your work changes substantially)
2. writing and grammar--20 pts.
3. research grade--quantity and quality of research (papers that are not 15 pages, that fail to use all ten sources, or that rely on one or two sources will suffer here)--20 pts.
4. correct format, citation style, attribution, bibliographic form--20 pts. (failure to use the Guide will lower your grade significantly)
5. specification of theme, established well, logical conclusions--20 pts. (failure to exercise critical thinking will lower your score in this area)

18-20--A
16-17--B
14-15--C
12-13--DYour final score is the sum of the parts and will be on a 100 point scale.

PLAGIARISM: Plagiarism in any sense of the word is unethical and defeats the purpose of learning. Your Guide discusses plagiarism and what it entails. Your Blackboard announcements discusses palgiarism and what it entails. I will fail you on the assignment if there is any plagiarism of any sort or any violation of VCU's Honor Code. I will report you to the Honor Board whether you plagiarism is deliberate or not. You should be conversant with the section titled "VCU Honor System" located in your "VCU Resource Guide."

PARTICIPATION EVALUATION: Your grade in this section of the course will be based on your ability to contribute to your group’s discussions, the general class discussions and the critiques of the groups’ analyses of the text. Obviously, if you are not in class or have not read the ethnographies, you will not receive a grade. There are three sections of work for each ethnography, group discussion, class discussion and written essay. These essays will consist of each student’s evaluation of the text, the discussion, and of their cohorts' preparedness for the given tasks of the week (this last will help me in my own evaluation of your participation and contribution to the discussion). They should be typed and at least two double-spaced pages in length. Each ethnography can potentially receive 20 points (10 for class discussion/10 for critiques) which will be converted to 50% of your final grade.

PRESENTATION EVALUATION: The School of World Studies and the Anthropology Program are using specialized "rubrics" to evaluate oral presentations, critical thinking, and writing abilities. I (and possibly other anthropology faculty) will be using these rubrics to evaluate your presentation of your work.

FINAL GRADE FORMULA:
Research paper -- 45%
Participation, preparedness, critiques -- 50%
Presentation of work -- 5%

Initially, the reading and course requirements may appear to be a heavy load, but you will find that reading ethnographies is fun and easy as well as fascinating. The same may be said for writing research papers when you learn how. I hope you enjoy the class and that we all meet our projected goals.

DIRE WARNINGS SECTION:
This class is designed to be innovative and self-directed and incredibly interesting. It will not work:
1. if you do not attend class. After three absences I will academically drop you from class. Since this is a three hour evening course, "absence" is taken to include the time following the break.
2. if you do not do the readings and come to class prepared. You being graded on participation in a number of different ways and a major portion of the class revolves upon your participation.
3. if you do not turn your written work in on time. In a class this size that meets only once a week it is imperative that the graded work be received and graded together and on time. ALL late work will be penalized by a reduction in grade. I have not held to this in the past, but I will now as tardy papers have become all too common.
4. if you plagiarize in any sense of the word because it defeats the purpose of learning (as well as being actionable meaning that I will fail you on the assignment and if it is egregious you should be conversant with the section titled "VCU Honor System" located in your "VCU Resource Guide"). We, the anthropology faculty, regularly find we need to "police" cheaters, as unpleasant as it is. Make sure you don't add to the list.

FINAL DIRE WARNING: I will mention all of this as well as the specifics of what plagiarism entails once. (Your "Writing Guide" also details just what exactly plagarism is, as does your "VCU Resource Guide" and the opening page of you Blackboard for this class.) It is up to you to know what is due when and what you are doing in class at any given moment. You are responsible for any changes in the syllabus whether you were in class that day or not.

RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES: "It is the policy of VCU to accord students, on an individual basis, the opportunity to observe their traditional religious holidays" (VCU Undergraduate Bulletin).

HOW TO FIND THE PROF: daily by appointment, 310 N. Shafer St., Room 201, 827-7869 (don't leave a message, it is better to email), cturner@vcu.edu